#24 Rome City Guide
12 Beauty Products I'm Loving
Hello Friends,
Here’s what you can expect in this drop—
🇮🇹 Rome travel planning guide, including a Google map.
💄 12 beauty products I’m loving.
🔗 Links, Recipes, and Hot Spots.
P.S. This issue is packed. You may need to read it in the browser or hit “Expand” to see the entire newsletter. It’s also easier to click links via the browser format.
👉I have linked many resources for you. Press and hold the highlighted text to make reading the newsletter and opening links easier. This will display the shortcut menu. From there, tap open in a new tab. When you do this, the link opens in a new tab.
Please feel free to comment if you have questions, responses, brilliant ideas, or feel like sharing a favorite recipe, restaurant, or anything else.
You can also email me 💌 marlayoung@mac.com.
If you are a ✨ new subscriber, check out the archives here, including travel guides.
If you missed the last newsletter, you can read it here.
You can find me on Instagram | Pinterest.
TO DO LIST
WATCH 🎬
Silo (Apple TV+): Silo is based on the Wool series of novels by author Hugh Howey. It's set in a dystopian future where the eponymous structure houses the last 10,000 people on Earth a mile deep into the ground, protecting them from the toxic and deadly world outside.
Convicting a Murderer (YouTube): The documentary everyone is talking about examines the Netflix documentary series Making a Murderer, which argued for the innocence of Steven Avery, a man convicted of sexual assault and later freed only to be charged with and convicted of the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach.
One Piece (Netflix): A live-action adaptation of the legendary manga book series. The show follows the story of Monkey D. Luffy, the leader of the Straw Hat Pirates, as he seeks the legendary treasure known as One Piece to become the next King of the Pirates.
Kelce (Amazon Prime): NFL All-Pro center Jason Kelce started documenting what he thought was his final year in the NFL. The film captures Jason starting a podcast with his brother Travis, Jason's wife Kylie being pregnant with their third child, and, ultimately, the brothers playing against each other at the Super Bowl. All while Jason grapples with the decision of his retirement.
READ 📚
Elon by Walter Isaacson: An intimate story of our era's most fascinating and controversial innovator. A rule-breaking visionary who helped to lead the world into the age of electric vehicles, private space explorations, and artificial intelligence.
Glossy by Marisa Meltzer: Calling all beauty product lovers, check out Glossy. The book explores the rise of the beauty brand Glossier founder, Emily Weiss.
The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont: Read this if you're an Agatha Christie fan. The book chronicles the most sensational and scandalous events surrounding the disappearance of Agatha Christie, the famed mystery author.
LISTEN 🎧
New Heights (Podcast): Jason Kelce from the 🦅 Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce from the Kansas City Chiefs team up to provide weekly insights about their games and share unique perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. Plus, entertaining stories, off-field interests, and engaging conversations with special guests.
Cube Show (Podcast): A weekly college football 🏈 podcast hosted by ESPN and SEC Network analyst Cole Cubelic.
Linger Awhile by Samara Joy (Spotify): Samara Joy grew up singing gospel 🎶 music in her church choir, and her father performed with Andre Crouch. In college, she started singing Jazz.
DO 💪
Senior Shape Fitness (YouTube): Try this free 10-minute Low-Impact HIIT Workout for beginners and seniors that you can follow at home at your own pace.
💻 TECH TIP
How to Quickly Type Emoji on Mac with a Keyboard Shortcut: If you’re using a Mac, press the Control + Command + Spacebar key combination to open the list of available emojis.
SURF 🌐
Clinic Price Check: Use Clinic Price Check to save money by comparing prices of medical services at local health providers.
Rocumentaries: Curated links to the very best documentaries on streaming services.
HOT LIST / The latest places to add to your radar.
New Orleans
Junk Drawer Coffee: Quirky coffee shop located just off Magazine Street.
Austin
Take Care Coffee: A boutique coffee shop experience located in a men's store on the east side of Austin, TX. It’s my current favorite coffee shop in Austin.
Terrible Love Coffe: A coffee shop in a remodeled horse trailer serving smooth as-butter lattes.
Miami
V Gelato: The best vegan gelato in Miami.
St. Michael’s, Maryland
The Wildset Hotel: A boutique hotel on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Via Lactea: The BEST vegan gelato. My favorite is the coffee chip made with coconut milk. You can also purchase pints at Cafe Regina in Ocean Park.
Marla’s Favorite Coffee Shops ☕️ updated with Austin & San Juan listings.
Marla’s Favorite Gluten-Free Restaurants🍴 updated with Rome & Florida listings.
How to be a morning person.
Niacinamide has so many benefits when it comes to improving the look of your skin.
How to make friends at any age.
How Stanley Tucci travels.
Uber tips to improve your next trip.
Can Going Barefoot Improve Your Sleep? Find out the relationship between grounding (the practice of having direct contact with the earth by lying on the ground or walking barefoot) and sleep.
Airbnb Really Is Different Now. It’s not just the chore lists, the cleaning fees, or the interchangeable Ikea decor: Airbnb is a marketplace for professionalized short-term rental firms now and not a “gig” platform anymore.
This Za’atar Salmon & Tahini from Ottolenghi is an easy weeknight meal.
Can going grounding (the practice of having direct contact with the earth by lying on the ground or walking barefoot) improve your sleep?
Molly Baz’s Broken Noodle Bolognese. Check out her show, Hit the Kitch.
How to get the best foreign transaction rate.
How high to hang a TV.
How to advocate for yourself at the doctor’s office.
Beware of these common scams.
This buckwheat banana bread is delicious. You can substitute gluten-free flour for the AP flour.
The latest installment of beauty products I use.
1. TANGLE TEASER DETANGLER: I use this brush in the shower. You can use it to detangle, and it can be used to help evenly distribute shampoos, conditioners, and treatments through your strands.
2. AQUIS LISSE LUXE HAIR TOWEL: It absorbs more water from your hair post-shower, reducing drying time.
3. SILKE HAIR TIES: These ties are so pretty and protect my hair from damage.
4. OUI RAZOR: I use this razor to avoid ingrown hairs and irritation. It’s weighted and comes with thin, interchangeable blades for the closest, smoothest shave.
5. NO CREASE HAIR CLIPS: I use Revolve hair treatment for hair growth. After blow-drying the front section of my hair, I use these clips to smooth out the short hairs. I leave the pins in my hair until I finish blow-drying the rest of my hair. I use this serum after I style my hair. I also take Nutrofol.
6. SAIAN ACNE SPOT REMOVER: This acne spot treatment treats breakouts overnight. It kills germs and bacteria, disinfects, and dries blemishes to treat even the most severe cystic acne without leaving red spots and discoloration. No added color, fragrance, glycerin, fillers or preservatives.
7. OSMOSIS EYE MAKEUP REMOVER: I use several products from Osmosis. The Melt Away Gelee is my favorite eye makeup remover. It does not irritate my eyes and removes mascara easily. I leave it on for a few minutes, then remove it with a cotton pad.
8. MUJI TRAVEL CONTAINERS: I use these travel containers for my beauty products and toiletry items.
9. ETURE COTTON PUFFS: Each one is like a little pillow, and the fluff never comes out of the sides or ends up on your lashes.
10. HEROINE MAKE MASCARA: I really love this mascara. It never clumps. You can’t really compare its effects to eyelash extensions or fake eyelashes. However, it’s one of the best drugstore mascaras you can buy. I use Osmosis Eye Makeup Remover to take it off at the end of the day.
11. DYSON AIRWRAP: I have tried to protect my hair from heat damage by investing in the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer and Dyson Airwrap. The Dyson Airwrap is easy to use. It’s clipless and sucks your hair onto the wand, and as you move the wand closer to your scalp, it automatically curls hair around the wand. No twirling, clipping, or wrapping. I also recommend the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer. Both products keep my hair smooth and healthy looking.
12. PRETTY PERFECT INSTANT BRONZE: Tracy Anderson uses this self-tanner. It’s quick-drying, easy to use, all-natural, and gives you the perfect bronze and glow. It also does not smell bad. I use a sponge to smooth out the product after application.
*No sponsored links, just products I love!
Rome City Guide 🇮🇹
My meticulously curated travel guide for Rome includes local hotspots, under-the-radar restaurants, can’t-miss attractions, and hip places to stay.
I created an insider’s Google Map that reflects all my recommendations so you can easily access them throughout your travels. You can save the map with your Google account. This isn’t your typical list of see-and-be-seen spots.
Click here for a complete list of all my recommendations.
Note: The images are from my trip in 2010, but all of the information is updated.
What to Do
If you only have one day, start with coffee at Faro. Don’t miss the Trevi Fountain, Sistine Chapel, Spanish Steps, and the Colosseum at night. Enjoy a gelato at II Gelato di Dan Crispino, and don’t miss Forno Conti for a pastry or pizza. Trust me, you’ll thank me later. Enjoy dinner in the Trastevere neighborhood.
Terrazza delle Quadrighe (observation deck)
Piazza Venezia (Rooftop terrace, take an elevator to the top for an incredible view)
Breakfast at the Vatican tour: If you do it alone, buy the earliest ticket possible and arrive at 8:15 a.m. Some Tour groups can go in at 8:30 a.m., but you can be some of the first to enter after they are through. Once you are in, skip everything and power walk straight to the Sistine Chapel; don’t pause to look at anything else. This will get you into the Sistine Chapel at 9:30 a.m. when barely a handful of people are around.
Sistine Chapel: The Sistine Chapel is a fantastic experience when you can be there almost alone, without hordes of people around you. Spend as much time as you’d like there enjoying this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Then, when ready, retrace your steps to the start of the museums and walk back through everything at leisure. When you return to the chapel, you will understand why it’s best to see it empty vs. packed.
A doorway to St. Peter's is in the back right of the Sistine Chapel. There’s a sign saying group exit only, but if you don’t use this, you have to exit museums, go all the way around the Vatican, and wait another hour to get into the basilica.
So wait around this doorway until you see a group exiting, merge yourself into the midst of the group, and go with them. You’ll save hours.
Best view at Vatican City: Climbing the dome of St. Peter's Basilica was one of the highlights of my trip to Rome. You can purchase your tickets to the dome at the ticket kiosk located to the right of St. Peter’s Basilica. There are two options for climbing the Dome: you can climb 551 steps from the base to the top, take an elevator to the first floor, and then proceed to climb the 320 steps left.
Colosseum at Night Tour: The lights, glow, and illumination of the Colosseum are the best sight to see in Rome at night.
Tours
Where to Eat
Ristorante La Tavernaccia Da Bruno
Barghigiana Pastificio Artigianale
Flavio al Velavevodetto ai Quiriti
Where to Eat Pizza
Bonci Pizzarium (Netflix Chef’s Table)
For restaurants on your must-visit list, it is essential to make reservations in advance.
Avoid restaurants near tourist sites. Usually, these are very overpriced and will be more touristy and less authentic. Try going a few streets away from these sites down side roads for a more authentic experience.
Where to Eat Gelato
Where to Eat Snacks
* Forno Conti: The bakery is a 13-minute walk from the Colosseum. Try their delicious and organically made sourdough bread, pizzas, or pastries.
Biscottificio Artigiano Innocenti
Where to Eat Gluten-Free
Starbene Senza Glutine: bakery
Celiachiamo Lab: grocery store
Gluten-Free Gelato (stick to the gluten-free gelato shops due to cross-contamination with the waffle cones)
AIC app: A database of accredited gluten-free restaurants in Italy.
Italian Gluten Free Translation Card: Show this card to restaurants, hotel staff, chefs, or anyone preparing your food to help ensure your food requirements are taken seriously.
Beer is not actually gluten-free. It is made with barley.
Where to Drink Coffee
*Faro
Where to Drink Something Stronger
Enteco L’antidoto (wine)
II Goccetto (wine)
Freni e Frizioni Draft Prati (Hotel de Russie)
Most of the rooftop bars are overrated.
Where to Shop Food Markets / Groceries
Lidl (pick up water and supplies for your Air BNB or hotel room)
NatureSi (organic grocery)
De Angelis 1927 (butcher shop)
Casa Dei Latticini (cheese)
Via del Corso (main shopping strip in Rome)
Flying Tiger: A Danish chain in Rome sells phone cords and good cheap umbrellas, fun kids’ toys, candles, and stationery. Good store if you forget something.
Mad (children’s boutique)
Where to Stay
Plum Guide: Review the best Airbnb properties with floorplans.
How to Get Around
Airport
Welcome Pickups and Suntransfers: Airport pickup services.
Leonardo Express: The fast and efficient train service from Fiumicino airport to Roma Termini train station, the central station in Rome. The train station is directly opposite arrivals. Trains leave around every 15 minutes between 6:40 am and 11:40 pm. It takes about 30 minutes to get into central Rome. Tickets cost €14 per person. You can buy them at the airport or online with Omio.
Airport bus: An airport bus goes into Roma Termini and takes about an hour. The bus cost is €7. Click here for more information and bus schedules.
LuggageHero and Radical Storage: Luggage storage options in the city.
Taxis and private transfers in Rome: There is no flagging down cabs from the street in Rome. You must find a taxi stand. Opening an app and summoning a car to your location is much easier.
UberX: It is expensive compared to Free Now and itTaxi.
Free Now: Download the app; it works like Uber.
itTaxi: Download the app; it works like Uber.
Private Transfers: A reliable private transfer company.
Rome Public Transportation
Rome to Rio: Plan all your transportation.
Bus and Tram tickets for Rome can be purchased and downloaded ahead of time on this website.
How to use Bus and Trams in Rome.
Busses are crowded. The metro was cheap and easy to use. Just buy your trip ticket when you get to the station. Keep some cash on hand. The machines were unreliable when it came to credit cards. Small bills are best.
Rome Bus Apps:
Omio: My favorite service and app for buying train tickets in Italy.
myCicero: Buy bus tickets online. Make sure that you activate them when you board. Some bus lines have a Tap&Go machine. For the Metro, you can use ApplePay on your phone with Tap&Go.
Helpful Apps:
Wise Card offers a no-fee, low-commission travel card.
Rome2Rio helps you find the most affordable way from point A to B.
Flush Finder helps you quickly find nearby restrooms.
World Clock is known for accurately showing current local times for cities worldwide. I use this app on my trips.
XE Currency shows live exchange rates and allows users to calculate prices.
Words Lens will translate printed words using the built-in video camera on your device.
Complimentary concierges from your Credit Cards: American Express | Visa | MasterCard
ShowAround: Find a local to show you around at your destination.
EatWith: Eat with a local.
Flytography: Do a photography session at your destination.
TimeOut: Local guides to what's happening:
Verizon | AT&T | T-Mobile: Switching to an eSIM.
Google Maps | Google Translate: Offline mode to save data.
Skype allows you to make free voice and video calls to other people who also use Skype.
Wi-Fi Finder is the best app for finding free or paid public Wi-Fi hotspots online or offline.
Onavo helps you control the amount of data you consume on your device by shrinking it. It is primarily used to save data when you surf the Web, read emails, and use a map.
Viber lets you send complimentary messages and make free calls to other Viber users on any device and network in any country!
WhatsApp Messenger is a mobile messaging app that allows you to exchange messages without paying for SMS.
Romewise tells you everything you need to know about bathrooms in Rome.
Emergencies
There is a 24-hour public clinic in Trastevere with services for tourists.
Med in Action and First Med Rome will do house calls or video visits.
Aventino Medical Group is a group medical service that serves Rome’s international community.
General Emergency: 113
Ambulance: 118
Police (Carabinieri): 112
Fire (Vigili del fuoco): 115
There is always a pharmacy open. A guide to what over-the-counter medicines are called in Italy. Sometimes, the pharmacist will give you prescription medication.
Tips for avoiding pickpockets.
Avoid the street sellers; don't even speak to them to tell them to go away when they come up to you; stay silent and keep walking.
Take hand sanitizer and a package of tissues into every public restroom.
Local Creators to Follow on Instagram
Katie Perla / Elizabeth Minchilli / Mama Loves Italy / Sophie Minchilli / Romewise
What to Watch
Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy
Day Trips
Napoli / Capri / Pompeii / Amalfi Coast / Positano
Maps
I created an insider’s Google Map that reflects all my recommendations so you can easily access them throughout your travels. You can save the map with your Google account. This isn’t your typical list of see-and-be-seen spots.
Click here for a complete list of all my recommendations.