Our Roman holiday kicked off in the most unexpectedly delightful way – at a cat sanctuary nestled among ancient ruins, where hundreds of strays roam freely and are lovingly cared for by volunteers. Sarah was in absolute heaven, and Scott had the very unpopular job of reminding her we couldn’t adopt any three-legged Roman cats (despite her best arguments). From there, we wandered to iconic spots like the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and, of course, the Colosseum – which absolutely lived up to the hype. Despite being just five days post-accident, Scott managed to traverse all three tiers of the Colosseum on crutches (which he’s casually hiding behind his back in the photos – injury chic at its finest). Then there was the Pantheon – still breathtaking at 2,000 years old. It’s been in continuous use as a holy place for two millennia and serves as the final resting place of legends like Raphael, making it one of the most humbling stops of the trip. We crossed the Bridge of Angels, lined with Bernini’s ethereal statues, on our way to Castel Sant’Angelo, a moment that felt pulled from a Renaissance painting. We fueled up along the way with perfectly crispy Roman-style pizza, and navigated the occasional chaos of crowds and transit mishaps, including Scott’s unforgettable stairlift entrance into the Sistine Chapel. It was three days of history, hilarity, and heart – a Roman adventure full of ancient wonders, cat cuddles, and carbs. Just the way we like it.

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