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Cheers England!
View of the English coastline on the Channel on our flight to Rome. I woke up in London and now I am about to go to sleep in Rome.
Last night, around 9pm, Richard and I were walking back from withdrawing some pounds from a nearby ATM when we bumped into the girl from Hong Kong and her hostel roommate. Her name was Tracy and I honestly forget the guy's name, he was from Laguna Beach. They asked if we wanted to go to a bar with them, of course we went with, and walked over to a neighboring bar called the Fox. They had beer, which was good, but ran out of food, which was bad. We left and walked over to a different bar called Famous 3 Kings. They had a sign out front that said "Food All Night", so we knew we were in good shape. Sat at a hi-top table, cricket was on the big screen and brainstormed explanations for the rules of the game. Today, and probably for the rest of my life, I don't know. There was a 2 for 1 fish and chips deal so Richard and I ordered fish and chips, Tracy did as well, and Laguna Beach guy order the 2 for 1
See You Soon Swiss Alps
Flying over the Swiss Alps, where we will be in a week or so. spaghetti, both for himself. I ordered myself and Richard a beer, his first one in his life at a bar, the brand was called Strongbow and it tasted like apple juice. We all sat around talking, enjoying our meals, I thought the fish and chips were good compared to all my previous London culinary experiences. It was funny how the four of us connected so well. I think it was because as strangers in a strange land, we share a bond, maybe not as strong as brothers in arms, but similar. It was us verse them, and if we stuck together we'd make it out this dining experience all right. After we were done, we walked back to the hostel and went our separate ways. Tracy went to bed, Laguna Beach went to his room, and Richard and I went down to see if the clothes I had left in the dryer for about 3 hours were still there. Fortunately, my raggy, tall man clothes aren't appealing to anyone, so they were waiting for me.
Richard and I were still pretty wired, and with our room containing 2 sleeping roommates, a new guy from Mississippi and a girl from
La Spezia And The Cinque Terre Coastline
View of La Spezia and I think Riomaggiore from the plane. We will be there soon, too. Toronto, we decided to take a walk around the area. We walked down the streets and came upon a Tesco, a European grocery store chain, and ventured inside to check out what an English supermarket looks like. Same. Except Cadbury is more of a player in the candy bar industry here than in the States. Left. Walked some more, just residential multi-unit housing, cars whizzing past us, the occassional Iranian or Persian grocery, and made it back to the hostel. Got ready for bed, lied down, and fell asleep.
We got up around 9am, check out was at 10am, wanted to leave by 10:30am so we had enough time to take the train from West Kensington to Victoria Station and catch the Gatwick Express to the airport, London Gatwick obviously, and make our 2pm flight. We gave ourselves a nice time cushion incase we got lost. But we didn't. It all went smoothly and we were on the train to Gatwick, cutting through South London and the suburbs and farmlands the run all the way to the English Channel. Took about 45 minutes to get there. Waited in line, checked our bags, converted our leftover pounds and some US
View From Our Room
A photo of Termini Station in the background, as well as the neighbors' underwear and the lady that was constantly looking out her window. dollars into Euros and had about 3 hours to kill. They don't tell you which gate your flight is at till 30 minutes before it leaves, so we ate sandwhiches in the food court, walked around the shops there, its like a mall almost. At 1:30 we saw on the big display where to go. Walked to the gate, they loaded us and other passengers on the flight onto a bus and were driven out on the tarmac where our plane was parked, so we loaded onto the plane 1960s style up the stairway.
Easy 2 hour flight, lots to see from the plane, over the Channel, over France, over the Alps, and along the Italian coast. The plots of farmland in France were shaped like a mosaic, all jagged, as compared to the perfect patchwork of the US midwest. To my brother Josh: I actually used the Ipod on the flight and loved it. Landed at the airport which is way out west from Rome, so when we got our bags, went through customs, we had to take a 20 minute train from the airport to Termini Station in Rome, which is like the Grand Central of Rome,
A Prettier View From Our Room
Looking down at our "hood" from the room. lucky for us, our apartment and the hostel that operates it, is nearby. Talked to a professor from Virginia Tech who has traveled all over Europe, Italy more often, and he gave us some great tips for the city and the rest of Italy. Passing through the empty grassfields and hills of outter Rome, it reminded me of Spain, I felt like I just arrived in Europe. The colors were all different, can't really explain. London felt too much like what I've seen in Manhattan and in the US, but Rome is the definition of urban Europe. When we walked out of Termini Station, it was all madness and sticky humidity. Narrow one way streets, hundreds of tiny cars at a stand still in traffic, hordes of people scurrying around, slaloming through the cars. Rows of compact shops lined the stone streets. We walked to the hostel, dodging crazy scooters and cars, and checked in, kind of, we paid and the gorgeous girl, they are everywhere, at the desk gave us a key to the apartment we are staying at which is located in a neighborhood on the opposite side of the station. She gave us a map, but it was easy to find, a two minute walk to the station from it.
Its in a legitimate apartment complex, where people live, but on the fifth floor there is a door with the word Clover on it, and that is our apartment for the next 3 nights. We couldn't figure out the lift elevator so we hiked up five flights of stairs. The apartment is really nice, for the price. It has a living room with a computer that has free internet (unheard of in hostels). There is a decent sized bathroom and a kitchen and sitting area to eat at or just hang out. Our room is good sized too, it has two twin beds and a view of the streets below, and we don't have to share the room with anyone. There are 2 other bedrooms in the apartment, so we share the bathroom and common areas. We met one pair of roommates. Shayne and Jodie from Australia. I asked Shayne about their travels as he was icing his ankle in the kitchen. Sore from walking around with such a heavy pack. Gave us some tips about the city. Very nice.
Richard and I walked towards the station and ate at a pizza place. The workers spoke English as did everyone eating there because they were all Americans or British, fresh out of Termini. The pizza was all right, not authenitc enough, but it was a quick bite type of place, catering to travelers, not locals. After dinner, we stopped at the station to buy a 3 day pass on the Metro. Unlimited travel on Rome Metro trains or buses for 11 euros. Thankful to be away from the British pound. Went back to the apartment, relaxed for a bit, then walked back to the station to catch a train to the Colloseum. It was dark out by now and were a little worried about trekking out at night in an unknown city, but we threw caution in that sweaty breeze and went for it. Well worth it. Only about a 5 minute train ride to the Colloseum stop. Got off the subway train, walked up some stairs towards the exit, and when we emerged from the underground Metro station, the lighted up Colloseum was right in front of our eyes. Literally, across the street. It was incredible. Its massive and when you step back and think of what how long ago it was built, by whom, the materials, its purpose, and everything else, its mind boggling. We walked alongside the Colloseum, were weirded out by the gay bars across the street, and just strolled around the it for awhile. We stopped for dessert, both had cannolis, and coffee with Bailey's at this cafe across the street from the opposite side of the Colloseum from where the station was, and away from the gay bars. We talked to our waitress, she spoke good English, cute, and I discovered that the first "local" we meet is from Albania and is going to college in Rome. Her name was Ismeraldo (maybe Ismeralda, who knows). I would be eating my delicious cannoli or amazing ice cream that came with it and look to the right and there is the Colloseum. Crazy. Finished. Took the train back to Termini and came back to the apartment. Richard and everyone else is asleep. It is midnight here, so about 3pm in Arizona. My parents are at work and my friend Aaron is probably just waking up. Strange.
I love this city. I thought London was cool, but after coming here, I just don't think it was that great anymore. Here you feel like you are actually in a foreign land. I like that people here speak a different language and I can't understand what most of the signs say. I like the history and the culture and the cuisine thats all around. London was playing it safe, Rome is Richard and me leaping out of our comfort zones. I can't wait for tomorrow. I can't wait to tell my parents, my family, my friends, my co-workers, my future children, and my future grandchildren about my life spent here.
Have fun,
Matt
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AaronQ
non-member comment
Don't eat
Just don't eat anything described as the quinto cuarto(fifth quarter), it is all the random bits of meat that we don't usually eat in America, like sweetmeats, intestines, etc. as Rome was the butcher capital of Italy. Glad you are enjoying yourself, bro. School ended today, finally a senior, one more year. If you see any random historical stuff just think of me, since hopefully I am going to try to study abroad in Italy in college(considering I want to major in History with a focus on Rome) Have fun! Arrivederci!