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Published: August 15th 2006
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Bonjourno!
We think we are in Rome right now, but because of the tens of mosquito bites, or rather boils, that have overtaken our bodies, we think that we may actually be in the Amazon.
We arrived in Rome last night and checked into our 80£ a night hotel, which is right next to the main train station. Because we waited until the day of to book a place in Rome we ended up having no choice but to stay in a hotel rather than a hostel, but in exchange we vowed not to eat out in Rome. We are living in luxury right now as far as accomodation goes. There is even a small window in the bathroom that is just big enough for Lindsey's stinky shoes to sleep. She bought these Sketchers before we came to Europe and she has vowed to throw them out as soon as she gets home, because they are the stinkiest shoes in the world. Trust me. In restaurants, she thinks she is being sneaky when she takes her shoes off underneath the table, but in seconds I know what she's up to.
Anyways, last night we visited the Trevi Fountain
and the Spanish Steps. We were assaulted about 50 times, no word of a lie, by people trying to sell us roses, bootleg beer, jewelry and a surprisingly large collection of glow-in-the-dark crap. On top of this, both places were crazy busy. Lindsey was sitting on the steps in front of the Trevi Fountain, and one lady used Lindsey's head as a stepping stone. Lindsey slapped her. Also at the Spanish Steps, one guy shoved a rose in Lindsey's face and she "accidentally" threw the rose on the ground. The guy looked at her with utter shock. I know this sounds mean, but you reach a point and just snap. They actually assault you, grab your arm etc. It's a shame that the police don't do a better job at enforcing the tourist stalkers. Rome would be a million more times enjoyable if they just protected tourists a bit more. I would rather my memories of Rome be more like scenes from Roman Holiday, rather than markets in Tijuana, Mexico.
While we were sitting on the Spanish Steps, we started up a conversation with a nice couple from Long Island. We actually haven't done much socializing at all, but
those we have spoken to have been older couples from the states. It's kind of funny. It's like we are a married couple, because instead of going to bars and meeting young people, we strike up conversations with married couples.
Today we woke up early and went to the Colluseum and St. Peters Basilica. We splurged and took a guided tour of the Colluseum, which for only an extra £3.50 allowed us to skip the line and head straight in. It was interesting to find out that much of the destruction on the building is not due to time, but because people destroyed it. For example, some of the marble in St. Peter's Basilica was chipped off of the Colluseum. Also, during a war, I don't remember which one because my brain is incapable of withholding information I don't care to know, people stole the iron bars that held parts intact to make them into weapons.
The Colluseum was really amazing actually. When I get home I'm going to rewatch Gladiator, and not just because Joaquin Phoenix is in it...
After the Colluseum, we walked around the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. It is crazy how old
everything is. We couldn't get over it.
St. Peters was of course beautiful... and massive. I forgot about the dress code so this lady seeing my situation offered me her scarf to drape around my shoulders that she had to purchase to get in herself. I almost said "God bless you" and hugged her.
It is a holiday today so the Vatican museums were closed, so we didn't get to go inside the Sistine Chapel, but we actually didn't care that much. We really wish we cared more about the history here, but to be totally honest, we both think it's kind of pompous all of the arches and statues commemorating people who thought they were really important... I know we may get flack for saying this, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder right? I was more stunned by the numerous hotel lobbies we have walked by.
Rome is really great, but we've both been feeling a little disenchanted here. Although it's a beautiful city, it's full of pick-pocketers, beggars, gypsies, and street vendors that literally push things in your face, which we mentioned before. Oh and we can't forget the tourist stalkers! Last night some guy was following us home through this tunnel, and we started running because he was chasing us and singing really loudly in another language, which language we do not know. Then today while we were walking some guy pulled up beside us in a car and said "we saw you running in the tunnel last night." It was so creepy, and we just walked off really fast. We have become masters at ignoring people. Last night we were eating McDonalds, it is all we can afford in Rome, on some important monument or something and these two tourist stalkers came up to us. We actually ate our food in silence without making eye contact with them until they finally walked away. It was pretty funny.
Rome is a big city but you see the same crazy people everywhere. Today while taking the metro, we saw a little gypsy girl who had a synthesizer keyboard strapped over her body pretending to play along to a sample track. She was holding out a cup for money. She looked so numb and so sad. It made us angry. Her parents should be locked up and the key should be tossed in the ocean.
There is so much corruption in the world. This trip has been really eye-opening. We have already had enough of Rome so we are heading to Florence, or rather the countryside next to Florence tomorrow. We are sick of these big noisy cities. I have a dream.... to lie in a field in Tuscany full of poppies reading a good book. That's why we are staying in a place which is about 30 minutes away by bus from Florence and just about as far from Siena.
Tuscany here we come!
P.S. We didn't talk about our last few days on the Amalfi Coast, but perhaps we will jump back and talk about it in our next blog entry. Basically the highlights were visiting Pompeii, and seeing the centuries old bodies that have been preserved by the ash from the volcano that destroyed the city in 79 A.D.
The other highlight was the young Italian waiter in the restaurant we dined at in the much more modern part of Pompeii. I wanted to marry him. We will have to do our impression of him in person. Whenever he spoke to us, his response in English was delayed. He was refreshingly shy and polite (he walked around with one hand gently placed behind his back) and he didn't look more feminine than us, which is a rare find in Italy. The guys here actually primp in the mirror. It's really funny, actually it's pretty gross... their eyebrows are more manicured than ours...
One more thing, a few days ago at the train station an older couple from Australia told us that we looked too glamorous to be backpackers and they thought we were staying in a fancy hotel. We had a good laugh, because we have never felt so unattractive in our lives, our boils and all. It's all a facade.
Well Ciao for now!
Love, Diana and Lindsey
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Sarah
non-member comment
Hey Girls! I'm so sad to hear you're not absolutely falling in love with Rome, it's one of my favorite cities in the world! I guess it takes some getting used to the gypsies but they do leave you alone after a while. I've been there twice and still love it more each day. Oh well, different experiences. Pompeii is really creepy and cool.. what did you think of the overabundance of phallic symbols on every writable surface?! Hope you have many more good stories before this adventure is over!