Rome, Italy

Rome, Italy

(in Italian)
Restaurateur:  Hey, fuck you with the noise, I'm working here!!
Construction Worker:  Hey, fuck you, I'M WORKING HERE!!
Restaurateur:  ah!
Construction Worker:  ah!
Restaurateur:  AHH!
Construction Worker:  AHH!
Me:  Excuse me, can one of you tell me where the Pantheon is?

Well, here it is, the capstone of the Italian segment of this journey.  Upon entering, I meandered through the shit hole that is Roma Termini Station.  It appears under construction, but knowing the bureaucratic nightmare that is Italian government and civil services, I wouldn't be surprised if this has been the station's consistent condition.

But as a sat on the train entering the Eternal City, I realized there were two Romes I was looking for.

1) The historical Rome, with the empirical ruins, the Bernini fountains, and religious significance


and

2) The modern Rome, that lives around the historical, with a vibrant cafe culture, zooming vespas, and voice filled back alleys


After one night and day, the sensory explosion is almost too much to handle.  For starters, the tourist processions are back and the street peddlers are top notch talent.  The street merchants and gypsies are top tier here in Rome and they are most certainly battle hardened.  Their tactics are sublime, and they're like the "Beautiful Minds" of the begging class.

A couple gals hang around the metro ticket machines offering to press buttons for you, and one guy spouted off American city names so as to garner my attention.  I almost stopped him just to ask how he knows Detroit--really, Detroit?  My favorite are the South Asians, who gracefully deal like used car salesman while keeping one eye on the policeman 300 yards away.

I can't stop being amazed by the tourists.  I would say the greatest shock thus far is how little American tourists know about the places they visit.  Overhearing one guy convince his girlfriend Julius Caesar was the first Pope was a real delight.  And that will lead me to another segment I would like to add called WEIRD TOURIST PICS, where I will highlight some of the more strange pictures I've seen tourists take.

WEIRD TOURIST PICS:  Rome, Italy

1) Guy takes picture of his Coliseum entrance ticket
2) Lonely looking gent takes pic of a Coliseum poster on the wall of a bank
3) Girl takes picture of a collection of dumpsters and says "Wow, it smells bad over here"
4) Guy takes pictures of his ice cream cone......from different angles.


But besides that, it somehow feels more quaint here, as I eavesdrop on conversations in alley cafes, examine the ancient cobblestones, and effortlessly lose myself.  More to come, as I am not leaving here till Thursday.

TIP OF THE DAY:  Buying your combined Palatine Hill--Forum--Coliseum ticket at the less busy Palatine Hill allows you to bypass the one-hour line at the Coliseum.

LISTENING:  Darkened Roman alleys feels like Dave Brubeck

READING:  I, Claudius, Robert Graves