I thought I was prepared for Rome.

I’d seen the photos, read the blogs, pinned the highlights… all of it.

But nothing prepares you for the moment it actually hits you.

Somewhere between the jet lag, the noise, and the chaos of the city, Rome has a way of catching you completely off guard… and for me, it started with one very unexpected stop in the middle of the street.

And from that point on, everything felt different.

Here’s what surprised me most (and what I’d do differently next time).