Friday morning, arriving in Rome: I worked from the hotel throughout the day. I paid for it with airline miles from my MileagePlus Account by the way so I was able to afford it for this night. On the last work day of this week I finished early as usual. I basically work my *** off the rest of the week. So I got to explore Rome all by myself before my friend was even on his plane.

Travel from and to Rome Fiumicino (FCO) is fairly simple by train. Just follow the signs once your out of the security zone. They will take you to the city center on a half hour train ride: the station is called Roma Termini (main station).

I opted for the so-called Leonardo Express which is just the option I described above. Even though I paid 14 Euros for this non-stop service, it was very convenient. This train runs every half hour. I already gained the impression that Rome is an extremely densely populated town though full of surprises. Depending on where you are staying, a suburban train, stopping every now and then, might be the better (and cheaper) alternative. It’s about 8 Euros one way and possibly offers stops closer to your destination in Rome.

Sundowner, the Italian way: Aperol Spritz

While I enjoyed the Italian way of life to the fullest during the day, I chose a rooftop bar close to the main station where I would be picking my friend up for a sundowner. Aperol Spritz, the traditional Italian cocktail with Prosecco, Soda and red Aperol liquor, should be added to your favorites by default. The rooftop garden was the perfect choice, it turned out, as you can tell by the pics!

//Rooftop garden: The Independant, Rome

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