Europe 2003 - Part 6: Rome, Italy - The eternal city

Hope everyone is keeping cool, because I’m finding it hard. I’m in Rome, Italy and it’s back 2 the big city and it’s twathead people! It’s two nights here at the hostel then I’m gone, it’s too hot and I don’t like the atmosphere. Rome is magical, but the occupants are not.

I write on day 2 from near the MAGNIFICENT Piazza del San Pietro, close to the walled borders of Vatican City, which is almost like a different country sitting inside Rome.

Yesterday, Monica cooked Mexican scrambled eggs, then we cleared out of our apartment. I said my goodbyes to Luke, Monica and Adrienne and reverted back to being Indiana Jones again. Now, imagine standing several hours on a boiling hot tube - that’s what the railroad earth from La Spezia to Roma Termini was like. Like any big city, there is a huge diversity of people in Rome. I went through a confused palaver of Metro and bus to get to the HI Ostello Foro Italico, which is near the football stadium Stadio Olimpico (home turf to Lazio and AS Roma). There was a match on that night and I wandered around for a few hours after dinner, taking in the awesome atmosphere. There were so many motorbikes everywhere it was surreal. My dorm is basically a prison cell for 6 which remains hot no matter what, but I can’t complain since this is the big city. A lot of people in this splendid city look stressed all the time and their looks were eternally crooked. I feel sorry for people stuck in big cities, they are really small-minded and sad. Last night was a tired one, I talked until the small hours to a girl from San Francisco and played cards and really enjoyed our excellent conversations. Today, I’m trying to let rip on this magnificent concentration of history, legends and monuments which is Roma. It was home to the entire Roman Empire and Christian Church. The Vatican City has its’ own currency, stamps (much more efficient postal service than Italy!) and government. It all looks fabulous, and I plan to hit the Colosseum and other Piazzas in the afternoon. I know that I need a week to digest Rome, but it’s too hot here and I don’t care. I’m soaking like a roast duck (yummy!) and will post again before or after leaving Rome.

Tomorrow it’s some train to Switzerland I feel, I’ve had enough of cities. I want the country. And I need a pizzeria now. So goodbye just for now my dears.