The joy of Rome for what it is today

---

After a long train ride from Geneva to Rome, our whole travel study group disembarked at the main train station in Rome and walked to our Hostel. Suitcases and all, the 20+ members of our group snaked for about an hour though various roads, getting lost a few times and wearing ourselves out after a busy day. Considering the situation, we did arrive at our hostel in a decent amount of time. We grabbed dinner at a unique restaurant close to the Spanish Steps, complete with pay-per minute internet at the table. After that, we were tired and decided to kill the last of the Swiss beer from Geneva. Our little rooms at the Salvation Army guest house were not super large, barely enough for bags and two people. Breakfast was a joke, but good news was coming! Apparently, the location of our lodgings was deemed unfit for a university group like ours, and we would be taking taxis to the new place that had been found the night of our arrival. So, we moved from the middle of nowhere to a five minute walk from the Colosseum. While I had been hoping for a partial refund from the program due to cheaper than expected lodging, the new hotel was a much more pleasant place to stay. Albeit, it was 10x more expensive. The hotel also had a fantastic all you can eat breakfast buffet. I must accept responsibility for teaching the other students in the program on how to abuse it. Very early on, I modeled the practice of turning the breakfast buffet into a 3 meal deal. 1. Bring an empty backpack 2. Park it under the table 3. Open zipper 4. Slide enough food in to last the rest of the day. By the second week of our stay, the practice had a loyal following. Unfortunately, I was unable to drive home the importance of step #5. Being discreet about it (for example: don’t do it when hotel staff are looking at you, and choosing a table that is tucked away). The hotel manager had a few harsh words for our instructors, and we were told to keep breakfast to breakfast. By this time I had perfected my method, and didn’t have any more problems.

As far as other great Italian culinary adventures, the White Hen Restaurant was a great find. Christina, Duncan (roommate) and I got lost trying to find a good place for dinner (we needed a break from our buffet loot). We gave up, and asked a gentleman walking past us for directions. Would you believe it, a Restaurant critic from New Jersey! He was heading to one of his favorite places, and invited us to join him. Contrary to all logic, this great place was only three blocks off of the main station. Great meal and good times had by all.

After finishing up at the Vatican one day, since our whole group + two American seminarians were tired and hungry, we just found a small family run place and decided to give it a go. Best time ever! No Menu - just a welcome and promise that they would bring the food out as soon as possible. Wine came first, and it was all you can drink! Set the tone for the whole night. Live entertainment, best food of the whole trip, really affordable, and by the end of the meal (and the bottom of many wine glasses) one of the seminarians even sang us a song about celibacy and its impact on his sex life. His fellow priesthood bound friend was so mortified that he would actually sing a song about it that he covered his head in a napkin.

The greatest surprise of the whole trip was running into my semester mates Beth and Adrianne at Trevi fountain. Having split up in Lithuania 2 and a half weeks before, it was a total shock to bump into them in Rome. I had forgotten that they were traveling in Europe after the semester. We all canceled our plans for the rest of the day, and had a great time hanging out for about 8 hours. I went with them to pick up another semester mate (Dan) from the main station, and the four of us went out and had dinner laughing about the craziness of seeing each other so soon. It was great to see them, but for the first time in Italy, the establishment charged us for bread and ‘cover.’ We were not sure what to make of the club jargon, but they explained that ‘cover’ stood for tablecloth. We thought “so, do we get to keep it?” No, just a stupid expense that was itemized onto the bill and not mentioned in the menu. I guess were supposed to be thankful that they did not charge us for electricity and dishwashing expenses. Lesson learned. When eating in Rome, eat at recommended places and consult your guide book. The best meals I had never came with ‘cover’ or charges for bread.

---

Photos

Dinner at the White Hen
Great dinner with the New Jersey Italian American Restaurant Critic

Finishing the beer from Geneva
Phil, Gerald and I on the balcany of the Salvation Army Hostel

Mini sized normal bus