6 min read
Well, we did it! Last year, on our 29th anniversary, Ladd and I made a promise to each other that for our 30th anniversary, we would take a trip together that we had always wanted to take. We actually had to shake on it, because for three decades, through four children and ranching and football and filming and cookbook tours and weddings—and now grandbabies—we have always managed to find excuses not to go. Our travel together has primarily consisted of trips to Vail, Colorado with occasional trips to cities for book signings or other appearances.
Earlier this year we started getting serious and making plans, but I still had some healthy skepticism that we’d go through with it. And it’s not just Ladd I was worried about! Sure, he has a very hard time leaving the ranch for any sort of extended period of time, and as busy as the spring and summer were this year, I had a hard time envisioning that he would be able to extricate himself. But I’m just as bad: Between work and life, I am a creature of home and often prefer the path of least resistance when it comes to making travel plans.
I don’t say this often, but I’m proud of us because earlier this week we packed the bags and boarded the plane! (I went down a couple of days early to see Alex and “my” babies.)
I had taken the fancy pod-style Business Class a handful of times: Once from L.A. to NYC and a couple of times from Dallas to Philadelphia. But this was Ladd Drummond’s first-ever time in a pod. Considering the flight was ten hours and considering he had declined my suggestions that he wear sweats on the plane, it wound up being a very wise choice.
Ree Drummond
Ladd’s first time in Business Class. He needed to stretch out in those jeans.
We both kind of slept but also kind of didn’t sleep on the overnight flight, so by the time we landed, we were a little bleary-eyed but also a little bit in disbelief that we’d made it! We were in Italy! Our hotel room wasn’t quite ready yet, so we had lunch on the rooftop of the hotel.
Ree Drummond
On the rooftop of our hotel in Rome…waiting for our room to be ready
This is the first thing I ate in Italy, and after three days it’s still the best thing I’ve ever eaten in my life. Pasta with porcini mushrooms…I’m going to ask the chef in the restaurant if he can tell me everything, because I can’t live without this pasta in my life forever.
Ree Drummond
Pasta with porcini mushrooms, which are in season in Italy right now. The best thing I’ve ever eaten in my life.
I wrote this day on my calendar, because for the first time in the thirty years we’ve been married, Ladd Drummond ordered a dish that did not contain any form of meat. This is pasta pomodoro, and it made me question everything I thought I knew about tomatoes. I will write more about this later, but…the tomatoes in Italy? I can’t comprehend how and why they are so delicious.
Ree Drummond
Ladd ordered pasta pomodoro, which the restaurant is known for. Where’s the beef?!?
Ladd wanted to send the cowboys and our kids some videos of Rome—first, because he wanted them to see the view. Second, because they’re as shocked as we are that he actually made the trip!
Ree Drummond
Ladd taking videos for the kids and cowboys
Once we got in our room (I’ll post pics soon—so pretty!), we had approximately 18 minutes to freshen up and change because I’d scheduled a walking tour around Rome and we had to get going!
Ree Drummond
Ladd and Mossimo, our guide for a three-hour walking tour around Rome
The tour was great—it covered a lot of ground, and I was glad I came to my senses and didn’t try to wear cute sandals or boots because even with my comfortable sneakers, my feet and legs were screaming by the end! (Little did I know how much more sore I would get…)
Ree Drummond
Ree-Ree and Pa-Pa at the Pantheon
We ended the three-hour tour (Gilligan’s Island reference!) with a little boat ride down the Tiber River. We were running on fumes at this point, but Ladd drank Prosecco…another first! Haha. (There’s St. Peter’s Basilica in the background.)
Ree Drummond
A little boat ride down the Tiber River…my feet got a rest!
Can we talk about the breakfast I had the next morning? I loved it, it’s just so different from anything I ever have. Grandma’s Toast (toast with tomatoes), prosciutto, quinoa with sweet peppers, real buffalo mozzarella. And the best iced latte I’ve ever had. (This spread was a bridge too far for Ladd, who ordered bacon and eggs. 😂)
Ree Drummond
My breakfast on the first morning in Rome
After we ate, it was time to set off for Ancient Rome. Ladd snapped this pic of me on the Spanish Steps, which I’ve now walked down about eight times and walked up three times. Walking up is hell on earth and I would not recommend it.
Ree Drummond
Ree on the Spanish Steps in Rome
Then we headed to The Colosseum! Pics don’t capture how massive and powerful it is. My gosh!
Ree Drummond
Ree and Ladd at The Colosseum
This is a very sad and simple-minded thing to say, but our family has seen The Gladiator about a hundred times, and it was impossible for me not to play out those scenes in my head as I surveyed the stadium. But seriously…so incredible to be standing in a structure that’s been there for over 1,900 years.
Ree Drummond
Ree at The Colosseum, looking for Russell Crowe
After more Ancient Rome (Forum, Palatine Hill), we went to dinner with some Kansans we had bumped into earlier in the day! Small world.
And after dinner, we made ourselves walk to get gelato. I asked the guy how many different flavors I could fit in a large cone and he said four…so I had four. If he had said twelve, I would have gotten twelve.
Ree Drummond
Best Gelato! I had four different flavors
Ladd Drummond, on the other hand, got one flavor: Chocolate. He has to stay true to himself.
Ree Drummond
My four flavors; Ladd’s single flavor
The walking is so great. It allows me to justify the pasta and gelato I am consuming, and I hope my calculations of walking vs. calories are accurate, otherwise I’m going to be in a pickle in a week or two.
Anyway, yesterday was The Vatican. It was…awe-inspiring.
Okay, before I launch into what I loved about our Vatican visit, I need to get superficial for a second and point out this new knit shirt Ladd is wearing. I found it for him when we were walking around the day before, because I have always envisioned him in this exact style of shirt and have never really had the reason or occasion to get the right one. I love it and I think he looks mighty handsome in it. If you love it too, please check this box. (There’s no box, but be sure to tell Ladd you like it when you see him.)
Ree Drummond
Again, St. Peter’s in the background! (And a new shirt for Ladd!)
So now…back to the Vatican. We couldn’t take photos in the Sistine Chapel, but it is as breathtaking as you would imagine. I was surprised by how austere a building it is on the outside—I always pictured it being a building with carvings and ornate elements. But oh…once you’re inside. I wanted to sit and take it in, and I got teary-eyed as I studied the different sections and depictions. Michelangelo…my gosh.
Then we headed to St. Peter’s Basilica…
Ree Drummond
Ree and Ladd at St. Peter’s Basilica
I’m still trying to process the absolute majesty and wonder. And scale and detail and glory. I knew about it, I’ve seen photos of it, yada yada yada. But being there in person—I just…I am still taking it in.
Ree Drummond
St. Peter’s Basilica…just awe-inspiring.
Ladd is a mild-mannered cowboy-type who isn’t easily bowled over, and even he was struck with the scale and wonder of it all.
Ree Drummond
Ladd at St. Peter’s
The Pieta finally got me, though. The tears welled up and while I was able to hold myself together, it was shaky there for a minute. Hyacinth told me the same thing happened to her when she visited The Vatican over twenty years ago. It’s just a powerful work. As a mother and grandmother, it’s difficult not to be moved.
Ree Drummond
The Pieta finally broke me
No rest for the weary, so after we veged in our hotel for a couple of hours, we changed and headed out to a steakhouse! Ladd was about to wither for lack of red meat, and while I am content eating mushroom pasta at every meal, I decided to throw him a bone. Our hotel is at the top of the Spanish Steps, so here we are again…at the bottom! Which is why I’m smiling.
Ree Drummond
Ree and Ladd at the bottom of the Spanish Steps…on their way to a steakhouse!
Let’s talk about Ladd’s cowboy hat. I was surprised that he brought it! But he feels most like himself when he wears it, so I think he would have felt a little naked on our vacation without it.
And speaking of throwing him a bone…here he is a little while later with his rib-eye, which was called a costata steak on the menu. I had to google what the cut was.
Ree Drummond
Ladd with his big rib-eye
I had porcini mushroom pasta (haha!) and a beautiful Caprese salad.
We also got gelato—I only got two flavors and a smaller cone this time, I’m making healthy choices!—but this has gone on long enough and I won’t subject you to more photos! Thanks for letting me share the first three (is that all???) days of our anniversary trip with you.
We are heading to our next Italian destination tomorrow, and I’ll check in once we get going and once I have another order of porcini mushroom pasta.
Dining and Cooking