We all want to leave a mark on this world. Some through writings and photos and blogs. Others through artwork and architecture. Still others will happily etch their names and the dates of their visits into bricks and concrete and tree trunks. In Rome, we saw the many examples of notes left behind by former generations. You can’t turn around without running into another magnificent building or church or statue that commemorates something extraordinarily historic that happened in that spot.

Rome is a rather psychotic little town, and none too easy to navigate efficiently. So, though we were there for almost a full week, we weren’t able to see or do everything we would have liked. In fact, we were told by a local that if you can get to one thing on your list per day, you’re doing pretty well! After we dialed down our expectations a smidge, we did make it to two of our top must-sees: the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum.

At both, we took a grand step forward into eventual membership of mass vacationing tour groups, and rented the audio guides, thus forever cementing our spots at the cool kids table. Don’t be jealous.