Even though I did not sleep much on the plane, I needed to get out and walk a bit. So I did what every other American in Rome that day did, I headed to the Trevi Fountain…

It may not look like it since I am tall and my arms are long, but there were a TON of people there. A TON.

…as there were at the Spanish steps.

Luckily, that night, we went to a place that you only go if you are invited and it was behind this rather seedy-looking door.

On the right is Michela (@MichelaHomeRestaurant), the incredible host/chef for the evening. On the left, is James MacPhail, winemaker/owner of Tongue Dancer Wines, who organized the evening.

We started here…

There were many toast, including from the OG, Chris O’Gorman.

And then these became…

…this, followed by…

…this.

And there was wine…

…lots and lots of wine.

The whole crew.

Then, on the walk back to my hotel and shortly after taking this photo, I was mugged. Don’t worry, I was completely fine and only lost 20€. There is a bit of a longer story in there for another time.

After renting a car at the airport (which was a complete fiasco–anyone know the origin of that term?), we all drove to Umbria and our remote villa for the week.

The villa’s approximate location.

The villa had stunning views and a famous neighbor (Ryan Seacrest, whom we never saw).

On Sunday, I got out for a ride around nearby Lago Trasimeno…

…which was nice, but would pale to other lakes I would soon visit.

I did stop for a couple of photos, this in Passignano sul Trasimeno…

…and this of the Rocca del Leone in Castiglione del Lago.

We were just getting started, with many more incredible sunsets to come.