Jack takes Bitty to Rome during Winter Break after Christmas. They only go for about a week, right before school starts its spring semester, but Bitty has always wanted to go to Italy and Jack has more than enough money to take them on a holiday.
The first thing Bitty notices is that there are no pies.
I mean, yeah, there are pies. But there’s no pies. He can see them pre-packaged in the markets, he sees versions of fruit filled pastries in the bakeries but…they aren’t pies.
Fortunately, Jack manages to distract with the distinct lack of southern food and Bitty has something else to worry about completely.
Jack gets his carbs in. So many carbs. More carbs than when he’s eating Bitty’s pies because there is pizza and pasta everywhere.
One of the first things they do in Rome is visit the Vatican Museum. Neither of them are Catholic, but it’s still interesting and they learn a lot about the history and architecture of the building. They learn about the artwork and the gifts given to the Popes throughout history and why things are the way they are.
Bitty takes a lot of selfies with the statues while Jack keeps a photo diary of their trip. Most of the pictures are candids of Bitty in each place they visit, but a few are for Shitty and Lardo who requested certain images of artwork and monuments.
They find the differences between American and Italian McDonalds. For one, there’s a Nutella Burger for dessert in Rome, as well as garlic and herb curly fries. Bitty is appalled at the Nutella Burger.
“A burger made of Nutella Jack! Nutella!”
“Bitty, you’re eating a Nutella crepe right now.”
Bitty loves the fact that cappuccinos are delicious and cheap in Rome.
Jack is personally a fan of the makkachinos.
GELATO IS EVERYWHERE. Bitty does not care that it is freezing, he will eat the damned gelato. Jack is used to the cold and indulges his boyfriend, supplying him with the sugarly treat.
There is a five story Zara Jack, Bitty is going in and he’s never coming out.
There are hats with giant pompoms for five euros Jack.
They make wishes at the Trevi Fountain, coins tossed behind their backs with their eyes closed.
Jack wishes these moments with Bitty would never end.
Bitty wishes he could live the Lizzie McGuire movie.
They may have different priorities for Rome.
The Pantheon is HUGE okay, Bitty gets dizzy staring up at the huge circular opening in the middle. Jack follows him around to make sure no one bumps into him since Bitty isn’t paying attention.
Churches are really pretty and Bitty wants to take them home with him and what do you mean you don’t have enough money to bring them back Jack, what kind of boyfriend are you
I don’t care that they’re historical sights, Jack, I want this to be my house
Jack just presents framed pictures of their trips to Bitty instead.
Bitty likes that a lot better and decorates their apartment with their selfies
The trip is only a week, but they have fun. They ate, they walked, they gained ten pounds.