ITALY!!

We are days away from Italy, and the timing is perfect because we are also in a totally different place with social media than we were a year ago. We talk about how easy it is for Bookstagram and Booktok to turn reading into a performance, what it feels like to post just to keep up, and why posting less can bring the fun back. If you have ever felt guilty for not finishing books fast enough or not having content ready, this one is for you. 

Then we get practical and messy about the trip itself. We share our plan for creating travel content without letting filming take over the vacation: get the clips, grab the photos, and do the editing later on the train or back at the hotel. We also get into what we actually want to see in Rome, how we are thinking about the Vatican City day and dress code, and why doing the tourist stuff early can save your sanity when the crowds hit. 

You will also hear the real-life prep that makes or breaks a 10-day Italy itinerary in August: heat management, hydration, comfortable shoes for cobblestones, and the food motivation that keeps you moving. We talk gelato, pasta, a possible pizza-making class in Naples, and our strategy for surviving jet lag without ruining the first few days. 

Follow along for the Italy content, and do not forget the giveaway: guess his age for a shot at a gift card. If you like the vibe, subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a vacation, and leave us a review.

Cover Art by: moi

Intro/Outro Music: positive vibes by nanaacom on Capcut

Contact Email: spillthesmutpodcast@gmail.com

Podcast IG: @spillthesmutpodcast TT: @spillthesmutpodcast

Jordan IG: @sipsoffiction TT: @sipsoffiction

Transcript

Copy Transcript Copied

Welcome Back And Italy Countdown

Jordan 0:21

We are back again with another episode on Spill the Smut. And today is so exciting because I'm bringing back my first guest ever. My roomie. Hello.

My Roomie 0:34

Hi. I'm here.

Jordan 0:36

Hi. I feel like so many things are different this year. Wait, can we first start that when this episode airs is when we're in Italy?

My Roomie 0:45

Yep. We are uh heading out Wednesday, which is what, the 29th? Yeah, 29th.

Jordan 0:51

We're filming the we're filming. We're recording this a couple days before we leave, and about a week or so before this episode actually airs. I pulled him in for another interview. So well, I guess really not an interview, more like an unfiltered chat. Yeah, you can ask me questions though. True, and then it can like turn into an interview. Uh fire away. Fire away. Actually, that's definitely not the song, but that's okay. But I am so excited to have you back. And I know like our well, so like in the year that the first episode released to the like this year, I feel like so much has changed. We weren't married when we recorded the first one. Okay. And then I guess I had a birthday. I guess I guess really just the big thing is we got married.

My Roomie 1:42

Yeah.

Jordan 1:43

Yeah.

My Roomie 1:46

Okay.

Jordan 1:49

So, but I feel like that's a big thing. But I feel like the first episode we talked about a lot. It was more book focused. And I guess the thing here is it's not really book focused because I feel like I've kind of stepped away from books. And I still talk about books on my Bookstagram. I'm still getting books. I'm still reading, but I feel like I have a better relationship with social media and reading than than I did before.

My Roomie 2:18

What do you mean?

Jordan 2:20

I feel like

Escaping Bookstagram Performance Pressure

Jordan 2:20

sometimes I was stressed that like if I wasn't reading enough and I wasn't finishing books, then I didn't have posts to like post and like things to talk about on Bookstagram or like book talk or anything. And I feel like I struggled with that sort of added element of needing to finish things to post.

My Roomie 2:43

Gotcha. So you felt the pressure of no having to perform and and and get things done.

Jordan 2:51

Yeah.

My Roomie 2:52

And so now are you having more fun with it now?

Jordan 2:54

I think so.

My Roomie 2:55

Yeah.

Jordan 2:55

Because I'm now I'm only posting three times a week. So it's like Monday, Wednesday, Friday, which gives me like the weekend to like not have to worry about it. And then like every other day that I don't have to worry about it. Sometimes I do have to like think ahead of like what I want to post.

My Roomie 3:10

Yeah.

Jordan 3:10

But at least it's only three posts versus like five or seven. Right.

My Roomie 3:14

Well, I've always said that if you're treating social media as your career, you know, it's different. It's like any other career. You know, this pressure to perform, to monetize, um, you know, for you, your family, to create a living. But if you're doing it more as a hobby with the possible future potential of making it, you know, turning it into something that you know you can monetize and and benefit from that way, you know, it but if it's at this point just a hobby, have fun with it. You know, it if it's becoming too much and there's too much pressure and you're not having fun with it, then and you're not making money from it, what's the point? You know, and if and if you feel like you just are obligated to continue it for your listeners, your followers, etc. Um you know, I I think you owe it more to yourself to make sure you're okay mentally and and feel good about it because that's uh that's the most important.

Jordan 4:15

Thank you. Thank you, Pooh. Yeah, no, because I and I think too, it's like I feel like I still kind of focus on books, but I know I had a couple chats with some other people, and one being Lauren, and how she had she totally revamped her like Instagram page

Testing A Shift Toward Lifestyle

Jordan 4:36

and book talk page, and she made it more lifestyle. And I feel like I'm slowly kind of somewhat doing that.

My Roomie 4:43

How do you feel about that?

Jordan 4:45

I know I like it. I think I'm getting stressed because I still don't know what I want to post, and I kind of default to like books, yeah. And so I don't want to necessarily default to books, I want to default into lifestyle. So that's kind of been tough, and I feel that I've seen other people do it. So it's like I know it's possible. It's just I think I've also struggled with I don't really know what to post. So I think when you've been doing like since I've been doing Books to Gram for so long, it's so easy to just default to books and be like, okay, this is what I want to post, this is how I'm gonna do it, this is blah blah blah blah blah. But I feel like then switching my brain to lifestyle has been a bit of a struggle because like I don't know what my other like thing is. Yeah, and like I know lifestyle can literally be anything, but when you you have the opportunity to post anything, it's I think it's so much that I I Right.

My Roomie 5:35

You're not it's not like you're specific to traveling or you know, um food reviews or whatever it may be. Um cleaning your house.

Jordan 5:44

Or like I like clothes, but I don't think I'm like passionate about clothes.

My Roomie 5:50

Yeah, I think if you just continue to do what you're doing organically, something will resonate. And whether it be I I've seen lifestyle pages where it's just literally their everyday life. It's not anything special, but it's somewhat entertaining because you get a glimpse of how other people live their lives rather than just you know pages specific to again traveling or you know whatnot. But yeah, I think just continue to keep an open mind and do what you're doing. And if that's a little bit of lifestyle, but still incorporating the book aspect into it. I don't think you'll ever totally leave the book. I mean, you love reading, you love everything that goes into it. So, you know, as far as the you know, that world, so I think it'll always be a piece of uh of your you know message and and your content. Um, but yeah, I think you'll figure it out. I mean, listen, Italy is gonna allow for some really awesome content. So maybe that'll kick maybe they'll kick off.

Jordan 6:55

I already have some ideas, yeah. And so I'm like, I already know what I'm like, what I want to do, and I'm so excited to put those into action. Awesome. Because I think that will really help in the

Making Italy Content Without Stress

Jordan 7:08

lead up of doing lifestyle, yeah. And I'm very excited for that. And I have no problem posting things after the fact because that's the one thing is like I don't want to be stressed about posting or creating content in Italy. Like I want Italy to be the focus still, and because I will leave your butt behind.

My Roomie 7:27

If I'm walking and I'm trying to see, you know, whatever Coliseum where the gladiators fought, and you're trying to film where a pretty uh a pretty area that's like not even near where I want to be, and you're holding me up, I'm gone.

Jordan 7:43

We got we have 10 days we have things to do, people to see, and I'm I'm I'm kind of kidding. But like, but I'm but I also I'm not, and I know too, like I just don't want to be stuck in and like we have opportunities of like when we're back at the hotel at night or on the train, because like we'll be on like a couple trains going to the next place that I can do like editing and getting ready. So I have this like idea of maybe even though we leave Wednesday, yeah. I'm I I'm making content and getting ready to post it the next week, but still using my old content to post the week we're actually in Italy, but it you wouldn't know. So I kind of want to move with that mentality, so I'm like a little bit behind, but then that way I'm not stressed to feel like I have to post right and like create content right away.

My Roomie 8:36

Yeah, no, I I see listen, I'm not a social media content creating expert by any means, but I think, and correct me if I'm wrong, as long as you just get the shots and the video and the content, and then it comes down to just the editing later. You can make seemingly, I as far as I've noticed, seemingly like basic videos. You edit it correctly with you know, transitions to other clips and videos and music and whatever. However, you know, the editors do that. You can really create something that looks cool and special and can capture an audience. So, you know, just get I guess what I'm saying is just get get the videos, exactly, get the photos. You know, we don't have to spend a crazy amount of time trying to get the perfect shots. No, you know, if they come, they come. If we have the time, we have the time, but just get content.

Jordan 9:27

Exactly, and then can use it after the fact. So that's what I want to do, and I know I want to do like um, I have a couple ideas that I've already told you that I want to do well, like transition videos and stuff. So it's like I know those things will work perfectly. Actually, kind of where it's like jumping over the phone, and then when you see shit like that when you see those edit edits, posts, videos, or whatever, then you'll know what I'm talking about. But I know that there's like certain things I want to do, and I'm hoping that really does kickstart like a lifestyle, which I know is kind of completely different, and then it also is just kind of like, oh, well, this is a bookish podcast, and we're talking about lifestyle. But you know, things can change, so much can happen in a year, and we pivot.

My Roomie 10:22

Yeah, pivot, pivot, pivot.

Jordan 10:27

I I'm okay with.

My Roomie 10:29

Yeah, no, that's what that's life. It took me a minute to get here, but I'm here. Evolve, adapt something else. I forget what it is. But hey, listen, I'm gonna pivot. I'm looking so forward to Italy. Um and we're gonna be like those prototypical tourists. Oh, we really I listen, I was on Amazon just looking at certain things to buy, and we're going in August. It's like everyone's saying, Oh, it's gonna be so hot,

Heat Prep And Tourist Survival Mode

My Roomie 10:58

it's gonna be up to 110 degrees, blah blah blah blah, Celsius. I don't know what it was. I think it was 60 something, I forget. Um, but anyway, so I bought this like around the neck and hangs fan. Like the most touristy thing you can probably purchase. I mean, if you want to be targeted, so like pickpocketed and all that stuff, you wear one of these things, yeah. Whatever, it's gonna be super hot. Jordan has been making fun of me for it, but I secretly bought two because I know exactly what's gonna happen when I'm out there. We're gonna be walking, she hasn't been doing well in the heat lately, and I'm gonna be feeling all cool, and she's gonna look at me, not sweating, perspiring at all, and she's gonna be like, Can I use yours? No, no, no, no, no, it's not happening. So I bought a second one, and she's against it right now, but I will force her to post a picture on her social media of her wearing it and loving it. And per usual, I'll be right.

Jordan 12:02

Well, honestly, watch it actually be that like we have a couple of nice, like cool days, like cool days in is as in it's probably like 80.

My Roomie 12:11

I mean, fingers crossed, the 10-day forecast look ahead for Rome is uh not too bad. I think it's like mid-90s, which I know it sounds hot, but I mean it can get brutal out there, so especially in August. So if it can um stay around in the 90s with very might I add very low humidity, um, which again is forecast, I think we'll be okay. But we are gonna be moving a lot, doing a lot of walking, 20,000 steps a day. I mean, we're gonna kill it.

Jordan 12:40

We're gonna be we're gonna be moving a lot, though. You gotta stay hydrated.

My Roomie 12:43

I don't think is it a lot of like cobblestone like streets there. So it's not the easiest walking, depending on where you are. Um, but yeah.

Jordan 12:53

But we're gonna do well, we're gonna do awesome, and it's gonna be very well.

My Roomie 12:56

Got your liquid IVs on standby, staying very hydrated.

Jordan 13:01

We'll start the day off right, and we can go all day long. All day long, and so I'm I'm but I'm very excited. We have so many things to do and see in our 10 days that we're gonna make sure we hit everything we want to see.

My Roomie 13:15

Yeah, I'm just I'm letting you handle that. Just tell me where I gotta be, time I gotta be there, and that's it. I just I'm gonna I just want to go see everything. It doesn't even matter. I've never been, never been to Europe. I just I just wanted I just want to just go and experience it. So I'm not I don't want to be pressured by you know having to do this, well, yeah. Forced to do all these things and whatever, just I'm following your lead. Just I just want to see things.

Jordan 13:45

That's fair. Yeah, there's certain things that I like want to go see again.

My Roomie 13:48

Well, I want to go see like you know, the Coliseum, the Vatican City, the Forum.

Jordan 13:53

Which we I definitely because like I've never seen the Vatican City, so I want to go, but and I have my special outfit, so we need to pick a day we want to do it, and I have to wear that outfit.

My Roomie 14:01

I was told by somebody, I'm not, I can't remember who. And if you they said a lot the whole day for Vatican City. Yeah. And there's like I I could be way off here. I I might have had a drink or two in me when I'm whoever I can't even remember who was telling me this, but I think there's a Vatican City museum. Oh or I think it's a museum. Um, you can literally spend all day in there alone. Uh I think I think actually they said if you're really serious about Vatican City and the Vatican, allow one whole day just for that.

Jordan 14:36

Okay.

My Roomie 14:37

So we should look into that.

Jordan 14:38

Well, yeah, so I was I was thinking of leaving a whole day for that.

My Roomie 14:42

Well, they're just saying the museum portion, not even so, but I mean, listen, we're on a limited time crunch. Maybe we don't even hit the museum this time around, or maybe we go quickly, you know, walk around to the Vatican and then spend a half a day in the museum. I I don't know what to expect. I didn't even know there was a Vatican City Museum. Again, I had a couple drinks of me. Maybe there isn't a Vatican City Museum. Maybe I'm making this up in my head, but um, we should definitely look into that.

Jordan 15:03

Yeah, no, we definitely should. And but I was thinking of like, because like I would like to go into the Vatican, but I know like for females, and I believe it's for males too. Like we have to cover our shoulders. And I think we have to cover our knees, but as long as you have something that hits like even the top of your knees, like then you're fine. So I have a dress that's like short sleeves and long that I plan on wearing, and that's gonna be like my Vatican City day. And we'll just have, I mean, you it's not like you wear tank tops, like you'll have stuff. But I feel like I even though it's gonna be hot, I think it's like not gonna be that bad because I still see people, granted, I guess that's now, and maybe it's like not as bad now, people wearing like pants and like not necessarily shorts and dresses, but also that could just be like the style of the Italians not wanting to wear that sort of stuff.

My Roomie 15:58

Yeah. So yeah, but again, like this is a very tourist what we're doing is touristy stuff, so it's not I don't know if locals no, I feel like all the locals are actually gonna be on vacation because I feel like they leave in like August and go to the beaches and like the shore. We're saying the second week of August, so I think there will be locals. I still think the businesses will be open and whatnot. I'm just saying, like, how many locals are like, hey, let's go to the Coliseum?

Jordan 16:26

Yeah.

My Roomie 16:26

I I mean I I'm sure they have, but I don't think it's gonna it's gonna be like 80-90% tourists.

Jordan 16:32

So oh a hundred percent.

My Roomie 16:33

Yeah, and so you know, that's all I'm saying.

Jordan 16:36

Yeah. No, that's and no, that's a that's true. And so it's it's we'll be among her people, the tourists. Those are our people for the next 10 days when we're there. Yeah. But I feel like that's okay. Like we gotta be those tourists. Hope hopefully we're not waiting in super long lines to get into the Coliseum or to see these things. But as long as I want to get there early some of the days, so we can go see the Pantheon and the Trevy Fountain, like before it gets like packed, and then Yeah. Yeah, walk around, eat our body weight in gelato.

My Roomie 17:11

Yeah. I'm actually gonna eat my body weight in pasta because I really don't eat American pasta because all the crappy wheat. But um yeah, uh, I can't wait to just load up on carbs and come back 10 pounds heavier and uh have to work it off.

Jordan 17:26

But no, I'm really looking forward to you know honestly, you probably won't because it's gonna be healthier and we're gonna be doing so much walking that you're probably burning out.

My Roomie 17:33

Yeah, but here's my problem. Like when I am doing something like any type of cardiovascular activity, and I'm you know doing a lot of it, I just want to eat that much more. Like I'm just so used to I'm not a heavy person by any means. I'm a little I'm a thicker of a guy, but I eat a lot, or I can. I have the ability to eat a lot, so I don't know. Maybe I have a better metabolism, I don't know. Um, but I just if I'm active, I'm eating a lot. So I just be like it's the same thing. It does, it just balances like I'm eating more if I'm burning more calories. So, you know, we'll see. I'm I'm not I'm not holding back. I'm not I'm not going to purposely try to like overeat, but I mean it's Italy.

Jordan 18:18

I'm gonna wanna have, you know all the stuff, all the stuff.

My Roomie 18:21

Like I like I'm not saying no to anything. Like I'm gonna try to spread it out a little bit, but I don't want to feel like total crap on the trip, but at the same time, you know, I just I can't wait. That's you know, that's half of my excitement is trying the food.

Jordan 18:35

So I know. I still want to make I still want to book like a pizza making class for us because I think that'd be so cool in Naples, and that's what I'm hoping we can do like one of the days, not like a full day, that would just be like a couple hours long, but that's like my goal. I still have yet to find one, so I haven't booked anything, but like

Food Plans And Must See Stops

Jordan 18:54

hopefully can find something.

My Roomie 18:57

Jordan does not cook at home. Yeah, we she wants to go to Italy on vacation and cook. It's mind-blowing to me, but I'm down. I'm in. I'd love to see it.

Jordan 19:10

My one time I cook. Yeah, one time you cook, but like I feel like it's just the experience in its own.

My Roomie 19:16

Yeah, no, I listen, I'm open to it. I I love I've I've never made a pizza, so I'd love to earn how.

Jordan 19:23

I've never well, actually, I think I made a pizza with Lauren.

My Roomie 19:26

Okay, the one you buy in a box, you stick in the microwave, does not count.

Jordan 19:29

No, we made our own like cauliflower pizza, and she dropped it on the floor, and she was like, no. And it was so funny. We still ate it. Yeah. Yeah, probably having there. But oh goodness.

My Roomie 19:51

Yeah, oh goodness, but no. Three days, can't wait, long flight. I'm gonna be totally off when we get there because we're gonna be backwards, but oh no, we're gonna be like four.

Jordan 20:02

We're gonna be in the future.

My Roomie 20:03

It's gonna be like ass backwards for us because we're gonna be landing when we should be sleeping, and you know. It'll be uh an adjustment. I think that's probably the biggest adjustment I've ever had time-wise. What was um London? Six? Is it five? Five. I think it might have been five. This is six.

Jordan 20:18

No, yeah, yeah. This is six.

My Roomie 20:20

This is six, yeah.

Jordan 20:21

But as long as we just don't go to sleep.

My Roomie 20:25

You can't go to sleep. So so what's the plan? We get there, we land, it's gonna be like a.m.

Jordan 20:30

Yeah.

My Roomie 20:30

And we're just gonna tough it out through the whole day like zombies.

Jordan 20:32

Yep.

My Roomie 20:33

We can be walking around day one of Rome like the walking dead.

Jordan 20:37

Yep.

My Roomie 20:37

Okay, fair enough.

Jordan 20:38

We drop off our ho uh bags, we change, and then we go out and so are is it gonna be like a shorter day?

My Roomie 20:47

We're gonna try to get in by like nine o'clock and go to bed.

Jordan 20:49

Oh, yeah.

My Roomie 20:50

Sleeping by like nine.

Jordan 20:51

Yeah, like honestly, I'm even down to be sleeping by like seven.

My Roomie 20:55

As long as the sun's kind of the sun won't be down. You think they'll have the blackout shades? I cannot sleep if there's any light coming in.

Jordan 21:01

Well, we'll definitely check out. Hopefully, there's something, but I want to like sleep as much as possible, like we did when we were in London, because we took the red eye and then we slept like 10 hours. Yeah. And then we were so ready for the next day. That's what I want to do for Italy, because I think that's like the best way. Because you just need to adopt the like time change right away. And if we take a nap like that first day, we're fucked for the rest of the trip. So I don't want to be fucked.

My Roomie 21:30

No.

Jordan 21:31

Well, okay, sir.

My Roomie 21:34

Yeah. Well, you know, we'll see. We'll see how it goes. Um I think I'm gonna be totally I don't do well with no sleep. You know, I know, but I've been on this, I've been on this, you know, this on one day on, one day off schedule where I've been suffering from like, I don't know if it's an insomnia, but it's really not. But I just stay up and I can't really fall asleep, and then I grab my phone, which is the worst thing to do, and I find myself just reading articles, scrolling through Instagram, whatever, and I end up falling asleep or not falling asleep, and then I'm totally done that next day, and then then I'm tired. Then I fall asleep and I get the best sleep. I'm coming off the best sleep last night. Nine hours solid. And uh didn't toss and turn too much. So I feel really uh really great right now. But if uh day one in Rome, I may not be doing so well, but we will tough through it.

Jordan 22:30

I think I think that's just what we have to do. We have to tough through it, and we can get you some cappuccinos, me some cappuccinos, and we just eat our body weight and gelato, and we just walk around and then we we see some of the things. We can see some of the things that we aren't like we don't have to see like perfectly. Like I want because like I want to go to the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon because I did not see the Pantheon the last time I was there. So I want to see that, and I want to do that early, but we could like walk by if that's like by our hotel. Like maybe we just switch at it Yeah, way from a distance with all the people there.

My Roomie 23:11

Yeah, no, we'll uh we'll definitely do a lot of walking.

Jordan 23:15

Oh yeah.

My Roomie 23:15

Even the first day, I just you know, just let's just get right into it. Ten days, you know, it's not a ton of time to uh see what we want to see, but we'll we'll get it in and we just gotta make the best use of it.

Jordan 23:28

So that's true.

My Roomie 23:30

Yeah.

Jordan 23:31

And we will. And we're gonna make it's gonna be amazing. We're gonna get all these pictures and so so alright, let's pivot.

My Roomie 23:40

Kind of. What are you doing to prepare for the trip? Oh. Like just whether it be like, what are you bringing? How are you packing? Like, I haven't really asked you, so like what are we doing to prepare for the trip? Uh like what do I have to expect? Are we like we're getting to the airport like super early, I know.

Jordan 24:00

Yeah.

Packing Habits And Airport Timing

My Roomie 24:01

And we're just going to like hang.

Jordan 24:03

Kind of.

My Roomie 24:03

So I know you're like a nervous flyer as far as like timing and missing the flight. Me, I'd rather like I'm a gambling man, so I'd rather risk it, like walk through security and right onto the plane, and then like them like sir, and I sit down and it takes off. I mean, that's how that's how I travel. But I know you, you like want to get there, you want to go sit in the lounge for like an hour, you want to like get your coffees, you want to, you know, take a little nap, you know, maybe you know, read a book and then you know, board the plane. I'm not that's not how I fly, but literally, no pun intended, I guess. Um, but in this instance, I'm down for that because this is more of an experience for me. It's not like we're just shooting over to California down to Florida or whatever. We're like taking a week and a half, which we haven't done before, we haven't been away from our little fur babies for that long. Um they're right here actually listening to this recording. Um but I'm down to get there early.

Jordan 24:55

Good.

My Roomie 24:55

And it's the um international, we're flying out of Logan, which is Boston. It's the international um uh terminal. Yeah, and I've never been. I've only dropped you off when you went to Amsterdam. Um, so I'm excited to check that out. We actually have some friends that are flying out to Iceland the same day, a couple hours later, same terminal. So we're curious if we're gonna cross them. Um, but other than that, what else can I prepare for?

Jordan 25:23

Oh, well, so like I know for myself, I bought like a whole new wardrobe, which probably was not the best thing to do, but you're excited. I'm so excited.

My Roomie 25:33

I'm too. I'm too. I bought I I did some things. I bought some new shoes, and I'm uh I'm a I'm a bald man, so I shaved my head. So I bought like I invested in some really good like shaving, new shaving equipment.

Jordan 25:46

There's a lot of pieces to that new shaving.

My Roomie 25:47

Well, I have like four different razors, I have a beard, you know, you can't be shaved head and no beard. That's true. It doesn't, you know, you it doesn't work. You belong on one of those those shows that they catch a predator. But um, yeah, so um, so I've spent some money too, and it's like, you know, things I'll I'll use beyond the trip, but um yeah, I feel like there's just so much to go into this planning, I feel like I I feel like I should probably write down the things we want to do in each city because I think we're gonna the thing the thing is is like I know you like to fly off the seat of your pants sometimes, so I wasn't really putting down things that I wanted us to see because I honestly wanted us to have more of like a chill vacation where but it was also like traveling and seeing things, but it wasn't so like we have to hit this, this, this, this, and this.

Jordan 26:42

Right. So it's like, but I mean, like, Rome's pretty easy. Like, I know uh we want to see the Coliseum, the Forum, I want to see the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain. So it's like I just had those four things like that.

My Roomie 26:53

Well, it's not like I'm going into this totally unprepared. So, what I what I've been doing is I've been reading up on things. I've been, you know, how the algorithms work and the algos work in Instagram. So now naturally I'm getting though, these are things you should do. So I'm like screenshotting things, saving things. I'm not really looking too much into them. But what what I what I like to do is like when we get there, we obviously know the things we definitely want to hit. But when we go back to the room at night, we can say, okay, I can look through these save things, and I can say, oh, we we should try to hit this tomorrow. So I have the material. I just don't want to like lay out a roadmap because that stresses me out. Where where sometimes you want to be more organized. I'm kind of the opposite. I think that's why we work well together, you know, opposites attract type thing, yin-yang. But um, I don't want there to be like this forced pressure. Like we have to hit this tree by this time. We have to be here. Like, let's just go. And whatever we we're it's gonna be packed, filled with things we're doing. It's just we don't necessarily know exactly what those are. We know like the core stuff, obviously. Coliseum. We've set it all. But yeah, so that's so I'm still prepared. I'm just not like it's not like it's not documented, you know, chronologically, like where we're gonna be, what time and what we're doing.

Jordan 28:04

Yeah, no, and there's certain things. I feel like Rome is the one that I've looked at the most, and I don't know if that's because that's like what we're hitting first, even though technically we're in Florence, the longest.

My Roomie 28:13

Well, Rome's the the easiest because that's the most touristy. So it's like I think that's that's true. You know, like we're going to Florence. I mean, there's cool i every the three cities we're doing, I think it's a different vibe for each. So, but like Rome is like where all the most touristy things are, you know.

Jordan 28:30

Yeah. But you don't well, I I mean I feel like there's touristy things in Florence too, no.

My Roomie 28:35

Nail them.

Jordan 28:35

Well, we're gonna go see the domo.

My Roomie 28:38

Yeah, no, you you know what I mean, though.

Jordan 28:40

Like I want to go to that bookstore.

My Roomie 28:41

Yes, yes, but no, it's like Rome.

Jordan 28:43

Like, like it's like that is the international airport. It is in Rome. Yeah, but you have like No, like as in people you have to fly.

My Roomie 28:50

Axel Crow fought in that arena, okay? All right, yes. A new pope was put in like not too long ago.

Jordan 28:59

That's true. So we gotta go to the Vatican City.

My Roomie 29:01

You have museums, it's Rome.

Jordan 29:03

It is.

My Roomie 29:04

I mean, it's Rome. Yes, you know, that's where we're gonna get most of the you know.

Jordan 29:09

So maybe we should have spent longer in Rome.

My Roomie 29:12

No, I I I want to see it all. I want the different feels. Okay, yeah. So, and plus we're we can always go back to Rome. Like we're gonna end, we're flying out of Rome. So it's like and we're it's like it's kind of like the central point. I know we we have our you know, hotels booked, whatever, but we're fine. What are we, three, four days in Rome? Three days?

Jordan 29:29

I think so. I think it's three days.

My Roomie 29:30

Yeah.

Jordan 29:31

Oh no, three nights, so it may be four days.

My Roomie 29:33

So yeah, that's fine. We'll make the best of it.

Jordan 29:35

We will.

My Roomie 29:36

Yeah. From what everyone's telling me, you could spend months down there. It's but you know, it's not realistic for us right now. So ten days, we're gonna jam-pack it and we're gonna have a great time. I'm not even like there's not even a question in my mind that we're not gonna enjoy ourselves and we're we're not gonna come back and say that was an amazing trip. So, you know. So it's gonna be our your birthday.

Jordan 29:58

Yes.

My Roomie 29:59

It's gonna be our anniversary. Our anniversary, and it's technically gonna be our honeymoon because we never took us a honeybee. We said, you know, there was a lot going on, so so it's yeah, we're hitting it all.

Jordan 30:09

Yeah, and I'm glad we're going over my birthday because that's just what's gonna be more exciting for me.

My Roomie 30:17

Exciting for me too.

Jordan 30:19

No, that that's fair.

My Roomie 30:20

Birthday, birthday, birthday sex. Oh, yeah. Does that have to get edited out?

Jordan 30:30

Well, uh-huh.

My Roomie 30:31

No, I mean it's exciting for me too. Happy birthday.

Jordan 30:35

You mean um no, but I think like I am very excited to like hit all the things, and I know too, like, there's the certain things that I do want to hit, like the bookstore in Florence that I actually don't even know the name of it. But oh, this is what I was gonna go back to, especially that first day when we land in Rome. We're gonna be so tired. I really we it screams tourists, but I've heard so many people talk about it. I want to do one of those bus tours. So especially when we're getting super tired and we need like a chill moment, we can get on this bus and it's a double decker bus. We can sit up top and then they're like talking to us.

Bus Tours Safety Jokes And Priorities

Jordan 31:15

So they tell us the different things, but they take us around to see things, and then we can go back and be like, okay, we want to go do that. We want to go do that. But I've heard a lot of people talk about how they'll use this as a form of like what to see, like they'll do it the first day to be like, okay, this these are the things we want to see. Oh, we did see this, but I don't need to go back and see it again, but at least we can say we saw it. And then they use it after the fact as a form of like a taxi. Like you, it will take you around, it runs all hours. So you want you have your hotel in one spot and then you have dinner in another spot. You hop on the bus to take you to a closer destination for your dinner. So I'm like, I definitely think I want to do that the first day in like honestly, Rome and Florence.

My Roomie 32:02

I mean, we could probably do it one when we land, yeah.

Jordan 32:06

Like we'll walk and we'll we'll hit that up because then it's like I sit down day one.

My Roomie 32:10

I'm done. Have you not been listening to this interview? Like, I'm gonna be toast.

Jordan 32:14

Toast, you put me at a double decker, then not I'm gonna have to like shake you awake.

My Roomie 32:20

I'll be snoring. I mean, they're gonna be like filthy Americans or however they say it in Europe. Um, but yeah. Okay, whatever. Like I said, I'm I'm I'm listening to you, whatever you want to do.

Jordan 32:31

Well, we don't have to do that.

My Roomie 32:32

Don't don't don't get us taken.

Jordan 32:34

Oh my god, imagine boo.

My Roomie 32:38

I have a special set of skin. No, but seriously, do not get us taken.

Jordan 32:43

Well, I think if anything, at least there's a man with me, so I'll be sleeping.

My Roomie 32:48

I've not been following this. Don't get yourself taken. Wake up and be like, Jordan. And then you know where my mind goes, you know. Yeah. So we'll try to come back with not only all of our goods and personal belongings, but ourselves as well. All right. Can't wait.

Jordan 33:09

It's gonna be a great time. Oh my goodness. Well, I guess on that note, I feel like this is a really good episode. We basically just talked about Italy. But if you're listening to this the day this comes out, again, we're in Italy.

My Roomie 33:22

Yeah, you can like feel like you'll be walking with us.

Jordan 33:25

Exactly.

My Roomie 33:27

Well, you know what I mean. Um, no, yeah, we'll be there.

Jordan 33:32

Yeah, and I will be taking all the pictures and posting them on Instagram, at least my stories. So you can follow along with us in Italy while we bop around and do all the things. I really need to look up that bookstore so I know we're prepared.

My Roomie 33:47

And whenever you're looking at Jordan's pictures, just know that I'm the one behind the camera taking them. Even though I get a picture of you sweeping. Zero photo cred.

Jordan 33:57

I know. That's not a thing anymore, Boo. You just you just stated your age. Old man.

My Roomie 34:06

And when you're listening, please can you think can I comment?

Jordan 34:13

Yeah, they can comment.

My Roomie 34:14

Guess how old I am.

Jordan 34:15

Ooh, I like that.

My Roomie 34:17

Throw a little throw a little number in there and let's see who gets closest. Whoever gets closest, there'll be a prize at the end.

Jordan 34:24

Yeah, maybe I'll buy you a book off your wish list.

My Roomie 34:26

I will provide a $30 gift certificate to a to Amazon? Sure, you

Guess My Age Giveaway Details

My Roomie 34:33

tell me.

Jordan 34:34

I feel like that would probably be the easiest.

My Roomie 34:36

Or if you or how about this? I'll even make it more interesting. If you guess it right at my age, I I'll even I'll make it even more interesting. If you guess it right and you guess my birth month, I'll double it to 60. And you can tell me where you kind of live area. If there is a local you know, owned bookstore, I'll call in a gift certificate there so you don't have to go a big old corporate route. So age for 30, age and month for 60, and if you'd like, share your town, state local bookstore. Local bookstore, and I'll I'll get you know gift card, either 30 or 60 if you're right on the month. That's a one in 12 shop, by the way, on the month. And uh yeah, if not, if you just guess the year, $30, don't want to provide the area, Amazon.

Jordan 35:29

I like it.

My Roomie 35:29

Yeah, we'll turn it out from there, okay.

Jordan 35:32

And you can just uh comment on the post that this episode goes live on.

My Roomie 35:37

Perfect.

Jordan 35:37

There we go.

My Roomie 35:38

And feel free to share my special woman's um uh podcast with whomever you can, and they can join into unguessing my age. And I'll tell you, I'll give you a range zero to a hundred. I'm somewhere in there. Okay. So choose wisely.

Jordan 35:56

Zero to a hundred. Oh my goodness. Pretty good range, I guess.

My Roomie 36:00

Do they know how do they know how old you are?

Jordan 36:03

I like don't really talk about it. And like now when I I feel like now I'm old. So I don't even I'll just be like, if it's my birthday, like last year I didn't even post about my birthday, but that's because the podcast was coming out, so that took precedent. And then now if it's like my birthday, I don't like say the age. I'm just like, that word than me.

My Roomie 36:23

Only only a number anyway.

Jordan 36:24

So ain't that the truth?

My Roomie 36:25

But just guess mine.

Jordan 36:28

He I'll give you a hint, he's older than me.

My Roomie 36:30

Well, they don't know your age, and honestly, I look younger. I mean, no, oh no, you look great. You look she's way prettier than I am. And look yes, yes, yes, not right now, and she looks a lot younger. That was a joke, but there is an age gap. But I mean, but they don't know your age, so it's hard, it does even matter matter.

Jordan 36:49

So and if it if they're anything like me, once they find out an age, I just stick with it forever.

My Roomie 36:55

A lot of people, and this is the longest closing podcast ever, but uh most people think you're a lot younger than you are.

Jordan 37:01

Wait, really?

My Roomie 37:02

We get card. It's so weird. I'll get carded because you know the bartenders feel like bad, I guess, because they have to card Jordan, and Jordan looks like she could be 21, so or or less, obviously. Um, but yeah, and you're not 21. We met when we met, you were around that age.

Jordan 37:23

Uh I was 23.

My Roomie 37:24

Yeah, okay. So yeah, and you used to get carded all the time then.

Jordan 37:27

Yeah, yeah.

My Roomie 37:28

Oh, that was horrible. Uh, anyways. All right.

Jordan 37:34

And on that note, yeah, we will end this episode and go back to Italy. Well, even though we're not in Italy. Oh, never mind. You know, just have a great Wednesday.

My Roomie 37:45

Yeah, happy Wednesday, and we will see you back in the States.

Jordan 37:50

Yeah.

My Roomie 37:54

What what what what's the uh we're done? Are we done? What's the word for like natalie for bye? Chow. Chow Chow.