ITALY continued....ROMA (May 2006)

It has been a while since I went to Italy. But it is hard to find time to constantly blog. I had a great time overall.

Rome was where my spring allergies hit me full force. I was an unhappy camper in regards to it. I wish I had brought some allergy medication with me. I neglected to bring some with me (hoping I was not allergic to the particular pollen in Italy). OOPS on my part. In fact by the third day, I was so miserable I had to sleep. Well, for those of you who know me, I keep an ambitious schedule when I travel. I had to relax and recoop on day three in Rome. It was much needed but weird to do for myself.

Day ONE in ROME (saturday May 20)--we decide to head out and just wander the city. First things first, we had to get money from the lovelyATM. We did have an ATM password incident that would later affect our usage of hard "euro". Thanks to my sister's awesome boyfriend Chris, she had some euros to start us off on our trip. Plus with the situation of the credit card machine not working at the place we were calling home in ROME did not help. To my sister's chagrin, she disliked the low daily allowance she was allowed to withdraw. Then we went to the supermarket CONAD in the station. (This would be our place to visit every day there after). I discovered a grain salad I enjoy, we would get our fave Mueller's yogurt, some of their prepared pastas and of course water.

We head to a tourist office to purchase some museum and transport pass at 18 euro a person for three days.

We take the bus around (pick pocket attempt number one to my brother) outside ROMA TERMINI. My sister said it was two young gals and she heard the rattling of my brother's keys in his front pocket. Their hands were very swift and this was when we were waiting for the bus to start (we were parked waiting for the bus driver).

Our first destination is a rare museum that shows punishment and torture over the years (mainly Italian descriptions with some English) right in the Police Station. It took us a bit of time to find and it closed at 1pm (we find it at 12pm). I liked the various descriptions of the Italian crimes. One cool thing was the luggage that a man stowed away in ---a spy who got prosecuted in Israel.

Then we check out a few Piazzas, Pantheon, Napoleon's Museum as well. Since we have the pass we add in the city of Rome museum. We are disappointed as the second floor is closed (the area with the cool city map). So it leaves the museum with less stuff to look at for us.

We head to the Trevi Fountain (as popular lore has it if you stand in front of with your back behind the fountain then toss a coin over your shoulder) this gesture will ensure a repeat visit to Rome. I hope so as I did not get to see the Borghese Gallery! Then I am on the hunt to maintain my a gelato once a day promise.

I had done some prior research and knew that San Crispino was a gelato location to check out. It was a 10 minute walk away from the Trevi Fountain (tour maps were not very helpful). The fruit gelato I got was delicious! The stuff was home made and I loved the chunks and bits of fruit I encountered while devouring my portion. AHHHH but the wait was a bit frustrating but well worth it! You have to pull a number while in line (akin to the deli lines at supermarkets here in the USA).

My sis decides she needs another shirt. We tried to be minimalists in terms of what we brought as a whole to the trip. She got a cute blue Italy short sleeved shirt.

Then we headed to the Spanish Steps and I wanted to walk on Via Condotti (practically adjacent to the steps. Think of Rodeo Drive, Miracle Mile, 5th Avenue, and Newbury Street and that is what you have----or akin to that with more EXPENSIVE stores on Via Condotti. I usually do not enter the LV, Hermes, Prada, Gucci, Emporio Armani, D & G stores in this world. But after a discussion with a trusted and good pal, she gave a good point. While in Italy, make an investment to get something for yourself. It will pay back itself to get a good quality item.

I got a nice wallet at Gucci. I did not like the styles at LV and Prada. Plus the best service I received was at Gucci. I even could choose EURO or DOLLARS (saved on the 3% conversion fee) and I plan to get my VAT back. I figured the wallet is an investment. The only stuff I own more expensive than this accessory is NOTHING! I have paid more money than this wallet numerous time but they were for TRAVEL ie plane tickets. My big expenditures are traveling and eating. (ie trips to Asia, Europe and Morimoto, L'Espalier-nice restaurant in Boston).

I had read in a recent article on dressing for success especially for woman having nice shoes, make up on, hair, manicures, handbag, wallet, watch and hair style as well as clothes aid in the image you want to be perceived to be successful. (I think men have it SOOO much easier!).

We head back to our place. My sis and I want to drop off our bro who is very tired (5pm). We want to see the Coloseum. So we head out at 5:30pm that it closes at 7:15pm. Well little did we know the cut off for entry is a good hour before it closes!!! So we were locked out and relegated to just taking exterior shots. We did see a cat wandering about.

My sister loves cats! Turns out she informs me that many cats in Rome reside in many of the ancient ruin sites all over the city. In fact, at one time to raise money to care for these cats, a photo calendar was created! Throughout our time in Rome, I make sure to notice the cats I see.

It gets dark by 8:30ish so email time for us. Back to Roma Termini and we check email. I have to confirm with my buddy Wayne about meeting up in London. I also discover I really cannot go to Borghese Gallery (prior RSVPS are mandatory). Drat it!

We get back at 11pm and eat some sandwiches for dinner. Places close too early. At least we have sandwiches! We foot our outstanding tab.

DAY 2---I try to incorporate my bro's interest of the EUR (area that Mussolini) wanted to have as a jewel to promote Rome to the world. It ended up not being used for that purposes. There is a nice park there (we decided to eat our lunch by the water and caught a dragon boat team paddling!!!!) It being a Sunday, we see many families together picnicing. Then we get lost but using three different map sources find the Roman Civilization Museum----had many plastic/plaster replicas ie model of Ancient Rome and the Forum for Pompeii. (It did take us a bit of time to find this museum and to reach there before the closing time of 1:30PM based on our travel books). We got there at 12. Turns out the museum opened to a bit later, so we were relieved not having rush through.

We get back to Rome by 3pm. I want to check out the Capitoline Museum, Forum and Coloseum (which we do visit). First and only attempt to my sister of pick pocketing is done by an older gentleman on the subway trying to open her pant's pocket on her right thigh. She felt a barely felt pat and tug on her zipper. She later told us she flashed the culprit a "knowing glare".

It gets late and we are tired we grab dinner at a restaurant sitting outside. We have pasta of course but I still can't get over how expensive it is to have to drink water over alcohol. Thus far i have not had too much wine as my siblings are not fans of wine. Plus our experience with the apertif Campari was not great either in Siena.

Day 3 --final full day in Roma! I wake up and feel like crap. This was supposed to be the day to see the Vatican. I desperately needed rest and sleep. The combination of feeling a cold coming on and a bad case of allergies along with an aggressive travel schedule has finally caught up with me. I wake up at 8am only to decide to sleep in. We depart our digs at 11am. We get some food and take the subway to the Vatican. The lines are snaking many blocks away from the official entrance. With the hot sun pounding down on us, we just go to St Peter's Basilica. It is dark but with many beautiful art. One good thing, it is free to visit! Then we head over to the Vatican post office. I was told that it is more efficient than the usual Italian Post. Unfortunately I do not have my postcards to send out with me.

We take it easy the rest of the day, we even take a break and do email. I am able to write to my friend "Leewa" (who we plan to meet up with in London). My brother wants to relax and catch a flick. We get tickets to see the 6:30pm showing of "The Da Vinci Code". My sister does not want to watch it. To be truthful, we bought the wrong movie tickets, we originally wanted MI3 but did not check our tickets carefully. We grab dinner nearby. We do have good pasta. The host is very cordial and he mentions his wife is from Taiwan. We swap a few words in Mandarin.

I have not read the book, but the movie was ok. Overall, the movie was not a winner with me but enjoyable enough not to run to tell my friends they MUST see this flick.

The theater we went to was WARNER BROTHERS VILLAGE not far from Roma Termini. For a Monday night, we thought we were at a club coming out of our film. Tons of people were dressed up mingling with danceable beats pumping out of the stereo system as my brother and I made our way out of the movie theater.

We are headed to Southern Italy next-----Naples (Napoli), Capri, and Positano (in the Amalfi Coast).