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Wow...I say, there's a Kodak moment Listen to me whistle a different tune
What have I learned the past few days? Well, besides the sordid history of the Coliseum and the fantastical mythology that follows the ancient city of Rome, I’ve learned that Rome is more than just the smell of a burnt pizza pie. I’ll be the first to admit my introduction to the city was rocky. Elusive ATM’s frustrated me, and freaky gypsy’s scared me, but after a few days of wandering the streets, taking tours, and seeing the sights, I can officially say that I am in love with Rome.
It doesn’t have the same sleekness as Zurich, or the breathtaking scenery of Lucerne or Bern. It doesn’t boast the cleanest, most efficient transportation systems, or the most respectful peoples of Europe. It doesn’t have the most dependable toilets, nor does it have prettiest river. And for all of the things it doesn’t have, Rome makes no apologies whatsoever. Rome is unlike any other city in the world (that I can tell so far), and is therefore incapable of being judged by the same standards. You don’t come to Italy to find an American suburb, so what you do find
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The cutest cat ever. Apparently Rome is overrun with Cats. This one was chilling at the Coliseum. you have to learn to love.
Like any good, long lasting love affair, I had to get to know Rome before I could really cherish it properly. The tiny, winding back roads that I found so incredibly annoying and dirty at first are now quaint and honest. Real people and real lives produce real effects, and in Rome it is more easily visible. Don’t get me wrong, I still love Switzerland and would probably prefer to vacation there, but there is something about Rome that is so unabashedly honest and I can’t help but find it intriguing, especially as a writer.
A typical day in Rome-
Wake up late because it took so long to fall asleep due to the intense heat and lack of the most spectacular invention, air conditioning. Skip breakfast so that all money can be spent on lunch and dinner, and pile into the metro which is so crowded that one gets to know the person standing next to them quite intimately. Imagine the smell of a New York City or Boston subway. Now imagine the smell of that subway if there was practically no air conditioning anywhere in the city, and no
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Me on the Spanish Steps skyscrapers to give shade. Welcome to the Roman Metro. It is here that one becomes unable to distinguish which person near them smells worse, because all of the foul smells blend together to form one, ironically, not so foul smell. I suppose the nose simply shuts down as a defense mechanism. Then, go somewhere famous, which isn’t hard because something important happened at practically every corner. Watch all the tourists walking by, saying, “How pretty,” not knowing that the particular object they are talking about was used to pick Julius Caesar’s nose (just kidding about that one, though it is kind of similar). Wander about for a bit, maybe stop and look at the stand of a trinket seller where you take particular notice of the fact that everything either has a naked man or woman on it…or a picture of the pope. Only Romans could be that ironic. Sit down for a while and people watch. Notice that people are just plain weird. Men in suits wearing cheap back packs or fanny packs and riding Vespas, and women wearing tall high heels…in the middle of ancient Rome, where any and all paved walkways are uneven and slippery at all
times. For dinner, go to a restaurant, any restaurant and have a traditional Italian dinner. Or if feeling particularly ironic, go to Roadhouse Grill, yes, they have that here. Finally, come back to the hostel where all of your room mates will be waiting. Swap war stories (“I almost go kidnapped by a gypsy!” “Oh yeah, I discovered the secret to the Pantheon”). Convince oneself to take a shower, because it would be really gross to go to sleep all sweaty from the days adventures, but realizing the moment the freezing cold water stops pounding out of the shower head that going to bed whilst sweating profusely is inevitable. A life without AC is, well, it’s just not ideal.
Despite the way that may sound it is such an adventure that the next day is just as exciting as the first, even without AC .
So, it’s working on 3:00 am here, and I really need to go up to my room now, but I wanted to send a quick list of different stuff.
Places visited and things done:
-Coliseum, check
-Arch of Constantine, check
-Pantheon, check
-Roman Forums, seen outside of them a lot but
haven’t walked through them yet, so sorta check
-Spanish Steps, check
-Pizza, Spaghetti, Lasagna, check
-Gelato, double check
-Mouth of Truth, check but didn’t put my hand in because apparently it was once the keystone in the Roman sewage plant if you catch my drift. There is not enough hand sanitizer in the world…
-Circo Massimo, check (place where Romulus and Remus were supposed to have battled over Rome, and also the site of all the infamous Chariot races….now dog park and popular make out point for teens)
-Mussolini’s balcony, check
-Sistine Chapel, check
-Pope John Paul II’s tomb, check, but really creeped out so I went by fast like lightning.
-St. Peter’s Basilica, check
-Saw a Gypsy, check
-The place Julius Caesar was killed, check, it’s now a Pizzaria, go figure
-Jewish Ghetto, check, ironically it’s one of the nicest places in Rome
-Trevi fountain, check, I threw in several coins and had a drink from the fountain nearby.
-And others I can’t quite recall at this late hour
Kiersten- Ack, I miss you a lot. Wish you were here. You’d find all the nakedness of Europe as funny and unkind as I do. Plus, you’d find
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Our super hot tour guide, who was extremely charming and also very intelligent. the Italian men as good looking as I do, lol. We need to set up some sort of internet date, but I’ll have to see how the internet is in Florence, because I leave Rome in like 30 something hours. sad.
Karen- Yeah, I’m super glad the bumps in the Road have passed. I’ve learned that my travel days are just going to have to be rest days, because I get so tired that every little thing makes me upset. I used to be so calm when I traveled, but apparently speaking the language of the place I was traveling was super helpful.
Kayla- Sorry I’ve been so out of the loop. How are you? Glad schools done? Get a web cam yet? I can’t really use mine yet, but as soon as I get settled inScotland, you can bet we will be having Internet dates, lol. I miss you! Keep me up to date with all the breeze goings on.
Director Michelle- So, I bought you a gift, but it’s the only one your going to get because it was kinda expensive, lol. I bought you Rosary beads from right outside the Vatican, and I
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This was on this little hill where we went to take pictures of the Coliseum. Yes, I kow I'm an awful speller. took it with me into the Sistine Chapel and prayed with it for you and Ria, then I put some holy water on it from St. Peter’s Basilica. I’ll be sending it soon. Hope you like it.
Mrs. Trish and Mr. Bill- Did the same for you two as DM, even though I know you aren’t Catholic. I’m not Catholic either, but it didn’t stop me, lol.
Jasmina- So far, so good in Italy. Haven’t met a pizza, or lasagna I didn’t like.
Mrs. Lesley- Italian men have been quite flirtatious, but never physically disrespectful. I’ve had an arm put around me and my hand kissed, but mostly I just get “Ciao Bella!” as I walk past. One guy offered to let me ride for free on his sight seeing bus (full of people, I might add), but I politely declined. Oh, I did have this one sweet thing happen. My friend I met up with from home and her friends (and me!) all went out for dinner and we had the cutest old Italian waiter. He was so sweet, and so adorable, AND he was a really great waiter. When we got ready to leave
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Trevei Fountain I gave him a few extra Euro’s for a tip and he was so happy! He pinched my cheek like old people do to little babies! It was a highlight, lol.
Mrs. Diane S.- Thanks for all the prayers; I’m more than sure they have already come in handy. I’ve felt quite safe here in Rome, but Bern was a different story. It was really beautiful, and I’m very glad that I went, but I won’t ever go back there alone. I’d prefer to go to Zurich and do little day trips, lol. Tell Sarah and Tye I said Hi!
Lizzy- Guess what! I’ve written ten more sentences to your story! Lol. Hope your having fun. Oh and I found your gift…you’re going to love it. You will be the only one to truly appreciate it. We need to set up a time to get online together, or figure a way to talk.
Ria- How are you? I haven’t talked to you in quite a while, but your facebook pictures look absolutely beautiful.
Jimbo- I miss you more than anything, and it is only slowly dawning on me what exactly I’ve gotten myself into.
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The spanish steps :’( Love you!
Ciao for now!
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Trish
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I love you Heller/Heaven (ha!). You are so sweet, thoughtful AND FUNNY! Reading your entries are the hightlight of my days.