Shopping in Roma

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I woke up pretty late so I didn’t really leave my apartment until 3. Jordan, Al and I decided we wanted to take advantage of the last day of sales and headed out to Via del Corso. We walked from our apartment and therefore found some buildings near us that we didn’t know of previously. One of them I believe was the Spanish Embassy, but I am not sure. The other building had a beautiful fountain in front of it. We made our way through the streets of Rome and eventually made it to Via del Corso. We were hungry so wanted to grab a bite to eat before the shopping extravaganza and unanimously agreed on Burger King. On the way to it, we had to pass through Piazza del Popolo. As we were walking through, I could see out of the corner of my eye a gypsy with roses in his hand begin to follow us. Next thing I know his and with a flower is in my face, and he says, “Do you want?” “No.” “Take it. It’s a gift for you.” “No.” As I still am walking away, he shoves it in my face even more, at which Al and I both yelled “Basta,” which means that’s enough. Finally he went away. I can’t stand all the gypsies in Rome.

After eating, we started shopping down Via del Corso. The street was very packed, since sales in Rome only happen twice a year. I managed to find some cute things on sale and as we walked around some more, we passed the Spanish steps. The scene was so beautiful with the moon right behind it, so we wanted to take a picture. As Al and I are posing for Jordan to take the shot, a gypsy with flour filled balloons that can be molded into shapes stood right in between us. He started talking, trying to get us to buy one. We must have said “No” five times, and by this point another gypsy with roses started making his way over towards us. Just wanting to take a picture, I got really fed up and shouted, BASTA! The guy in front of us walked away, and the gypsy with the flowers said, “oh, basta?” and also walked away. Finally we took the picture. If my smile isn’t very big in it, you know why.

Then we tried to figure out a way back to our apartments on a bus since we didn’t want to walk 45 minutes. As we were trying to figure out which bus to take, we got bacio flavored gelato, which is my favorite flavor yet. Al thinks he remembers the bus number, so we hopped on the 116, which was a lot smaller bus than any of the others. I took a seat while Al and Jordan stood. As I was going to sit, I stepped on the shoe of an Italian man, who appeared to be in his early 40s. I said, “Scusi” as I sat down. He spoke in Italian but I could imagine that he said something to the extent that it was ok, since he was smiling. He was singing as we drove through Rome, which was a little querky. As people left, two seats became open next to him and he asked me in Italian if my friends wanted to sit next to him. Al and Jordan said no thanks, to which he replied, “No charge—its free.” He got off at the next stop, and as he was walking out, he looks to Al and says, “You should marry that girl. She is beautiful.”
Oh Italians.

I included pictures from the hill that we live on that over looks the center of Rome. It was a little overcast so they aren't too clear but it is beautiful!

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Comments

[Laura Sahyoun]

Basta Gypsy
Oh the Italians, I agree with them, you are beautiful! I enjoy reading your blog and seeing the photos. It's so nice to see you both together again at the Spanish Steps.

[Nina]

<33
“You should marry that girl. She is beautiful.” I love Italians.