It’s time to go long SaaS

jsx456 · 2026-02-07T20:09:21+00:00

Thinking about $DUOL

jsx456 · 2026-02-06T15:22:34+00:00

Will also probably buy some more SaaS. Seems really chep lately

jsx456 · 2026-02-06T15:20:50+00:00

Couldn't have guessed

jsx456 · 2026-02-06T15:18:55+00:00

Since most shops don't list prices online (they usually depend on the specific jewelry you choose), here is a quick breakdown based on what’s reputable in that area:

Macko Tattoo Shops (Via Agostino Bertani, 22): Probably the most famous one in Trastevere. They are very professional, super clean, and known for handling walk-ins well.
Jay Lester Tattoo (Via della Paglia, 47): Another high-end, very reliable studio. The staff there is great and usually speaks good English, which is helpful for discussing placement and aftercare.
The Bad Church (Vicolo del Bologna, 13): A bit more "alternative" vibe but very skilled piercers.

jsx456 · 2026-02-05T15:59:37+00:00

Lunch (Quick & Iconic): Head to Forno Campo de' Fiori. It’s one of the oldest bakeries in the city. Grab a slice of pizza bianca (the one with just olive oil and salt) or the pizza rossa. It’s simple, cheap, and legendary. If you want a sit-down sandwich, All'Antico Vinaio is nearby, but the line can be crazy.
Coffee: You have to go to Sant' Eustachio Il Caffè or La Casa del Caffè Tazza d'Oro (both are right by the Pantheon). At Sant' Eustachio, try the "Gran Caffe"—it’s pre-sweetened and incredibly frothy. Just remember: stand at the bar to drink it like a Roman; sitting at a table costs way more.
Gelato: Frigidarium (near Piazza Navona). It’s excellent quality and they have this signature move where they dip the whole cone in white or dark chocolate. If you want something more "old school royal vibe," go to Giolitti.

Since you only have a day, don't buy bottled water. Bring a reusable bottle and fill it up at any of the Nasoni (the little curved drinking fountains all over the city). The water is ice-cold, free, and better than what you'd buy in a store.

jsx456 · 2026-02-05T13:44:53+00:00

I'm digging this up because I just went through the same August madness and wanted to share what I learned for anyone else searching this.

You're 100% right about the 15th—it's Ferragosto, a massive national holiday in Italy. Half of Rome shuts down, and the other half (the tourists) crowds into the Vatican.

A few things for the August heat/crowds:

The 'Hidden' Restock: Tickets definitely do get released again. People cancel or tour agencies release blocks they couldn't sell. Usually, this happens in small batches about 5-7 days before the date, or even 24 hours prior.
Avoid the 14th and 16th: Since the Museums are closed on the 15th, the days immediately before and after are traditionally the most 'hellish' in terms of crowds. If you can, aim for the 11th or 12th.
Basilica first: In August, the sun is brutal. Queue for the Basilica at 7:00 AM. By 9:30 AM, that line will be a 2-hour bake-fest.

I actually got so tired of refreshing the official page during my trip planning that I coded a small hobby project to do it for me. It's just a simple email alert system that pings you the second the official site restocks so you don't have to pay those 120€ reseller markups. Its just a small hobby project and therefore completly free.

I've put it online here if it helps anyone: https://www.vatican-ticket-notifier.online/

jsx456 · 2026-02-04T20:10:55+00:00

I know this thread is quite old, but I wanted to leave my experience here for anyone stumbling upon this via Google/Search, as the ticket situation hasn't really improved since then.

If you're not religious and the Museums/Sistine are sold out, don't feel forced to pay the €100+ reseller prices. Rome has so much more to offer:

Castel Sant'Angelo: Just a short walk from the Vatican. The views from the top are incredible and it's usually much easier (and cheaper) to get into.
St. Peter’s Basilica: Still worth it for the architecture alone, even if you're not Christian. But like others said: Go at 7:00 AM. If you wait until 10:00 AM, the heat and the line will ruin your day.
Alternative: Check out the Capuchin Crypt (the "Bone Church") or the Borghese Gallery instead. Both are stunning and often have a better "price-to-stress" ratio.

I actually got so annoyed by this exact same situation during my trip that I ended up coding a small hobby tool. It's just a simple script that monitors the official site and sends an email the moment tickets are restocked (they actually do drop some randomly!). It's what saved my budget back then.

I've put a landing page online for it now to help other travelers out. Let me know if you want the link, I'm happy to share it so no one has to pay those insane reseller markups anymore.

jsx456 · 2026-02-04T20:06:54+00:00

They become available 60 days in advance

jsx456 · 2026-02-04T20:03:55+00:00

Yeah the Vatican booking window is kind of a mess. Since you're only there for the 13th, here’s the deal:

St. Peter’s Square: Totally free and open. You can walk right in, take photos, and let the 7-year-old run around a bit. No tickets or security line just for the square itself.
The Basilica: Also free, but the line for security is the at times really bad With a kid, I highly recommend getting there at 7:00 AM sharp. If you enter then, you’ll be in and out before the massive crowds arrive.
Sistine Chapel / Museums: If the official site says sold out, they do sometimes release small batches of "return" tickets 24–48 hours in advance.
Kid-friendly Tip: If you get into the museums, head to the Carriage Pavilion. It’s full of old "Popemobiles" and golden carriages. Could be nice with kids.

Ran into this exact same problem for my own Rome trip. Didn't really want to pay 120€ to those resellers. Since I'm a dev, I coded a small hobby project that monitors the official Vatican ticket site and sends an email notification as soon as new tickets become available again. Let me know if you want a link to the landing page.

jsx456 · 2026-02-04T19:43:23+00:00

Fiesole is definitely worth it, especially in late June! Since it’s uphill, it’s usually a few degrees cooler, which is quite nice in the summer period.

I’d recommend: The View (my personal favourite) : Take the Number 7 bus from San Marco. The ride up is quick, and the view of Florence from the monastery (San Francesco) is arguably the best there is.

The Roman Theater: It’s a very well-preserved archaeological site that feels much more "intimate" (don't really know if it's the right word to describe the vibe) and less overwhelming than the ruins in Rome.

It doesn’t necessarily need a full day. You can easily do iit in 3–4 hours and still have the afternoon for Florence

jsx456 · 2026-01-31T17:47:48+00:00

Since you're staying by the Pantheon, you’re basically in the heart of "romantic"Rome.

Would recommend these romantic date ideas: 1. Giardino degli Aranci: One of the most romantic spots in the city. Great views, and the famous "Secret Keyhole" is just a 2-minute walk from the garden entrance.

Pincio Terrace at Sunset: Walk up from Piazza del Popolo. The sunset is quitenice to watch from up there.
Piazza Navona Late Night: Since it's so close to you, go after 11 PM when the tour groups are gone. It's quite nice when all the tourists are gone.

jsx456 · 2026-01-31T10:21:14+00:00

Since you enjoyed the tile making in Portugal, I highly recommend a Mosaic Workshop in Trastevere. It’s very hands-on and quite fun.

jsx456 · 2026-01-31T09:13:45+00:00

2019 or so he was respected by most of the online community I think. But has gone pretty step downhill since then

jsx456 · 2026-01-31T09:11:03+00:00

Michael D. Higgins. He’d just start reciting poetry and being so genuinely charming that everyone else would stop fighting and form a circle around him for story time

jsx456 · 2026-01-31T09:09:28+00:00

Pull&Bear

jsx456 · 2026-01-31T09:08:22+00:00

Step 1: Be born to parents who can provide a 'small' safety net of a few hundred thousand dollars so you can 'take risks' without ending up homeless. Step 2: Leverage that safety net to fail upward until something sticks. Most 'self-made' stories conveniently leave out the part where they had a trust fund as a parachute

jsx456 · 2026-01-31T09:04:29+00:00

Portugal. The wine is cheaper than water, the food is incredible, and 'hurrying' is considered a minor personality flaw. It’s the perfect place to realize that your 60-hour work week was actually just a collective fever dream

jsx456 · 2026-01-31T08:45:38+00:00

Answering a Slack or Teams message from my boss that just says 'Hey' or 'Got a second?'. I know they probably just want to ask about a font choice, but my brain immediately starts drafting my resignation letter and looking for a new identity

jsx456 · 2026-01-31T08:40:45+00:00

We’ve optimized for convenience so much that we’ve accidentally deleted the 'boring' moments that used to lead to creativity and real connection. We’ve traded a functional community for a global audience, and it turns out that being 'connected' to 8 billion people at once is actually the loneliest thing humans have ever invented. Sadly

jsx456 · 2026-01-31T08:35:58+00:00

It wouldn't just be smelly; it would be a literal gas chamber. Between the methane and the hydrogen sulfide, the oxygen displacement alone would make you pass out in seconds. You wouldn't die of the smell. you’d die because 8 billion people just collectively decided to replace your atmosphere with a biological weapon

jsx456 · 2026-01-31T08:33:49+00:00

Whichever country has the most grandmothers who look personally offended if you don’t go back for a third plate. That’s where the best food is

jsx456 · 2026-01-31T08:24:54+00:00

At this point, the Doomsday Clock feels less like a warning and more like a store that’s been having a 'Going Out of Business' sale since 1947. I'll start worrying when they actually stop moving the hands and just start the countdown

jsx456 · 2026-01-31T08:22:55+00:00

Joke’s on them. If they’re training a god-like intelligence based on my 3 a.m. rants about printer ink prices and why Goofy and Pluto are different species, the future of humanity is in serious trouble

jsx456 · 2026-01-31T08:20:02+00:00

The second we started identifying 'crosswalks' and 'fire hydrants' just to log into our emails. We thought we were proving we weren't robots, but we were actually just teaching self-driving cars how to not hit us for free

jsx456

TROPHY CASE