Rome is still amazing and unbelievable. I feel like I see one great thing and then turn around and see something 10 times better. Yesterday I set out with the intention of wandering "a bit" and ending up at the colosseum. Well...I headed over to Piazza Navona and then went looking for food. With the heat it's hard for me to fit much food into my stomach (aside from mass quantities of gelato) so I ended up getting some pizza and a glass of wine for €5 and moved right along.
I figured I could swing by the Jewish synagogue and museum and head right down to ancient Rome. Well...right in the middle of my walk I stumbled upon a sacred area on Largo Argentina or, as Susan suggested, smurf village, not so well hidden after all. I couldn't stop looking at it all, just sitting there in the middle of an intersection. Then I discovered there were controlled/vaccinated/sterilized/fed stray cats living down there and had to look around some more. I finally pulled myself away and ended up at the river. It was beautiful so I decided I would just look around quickly. Well, then I discovered Trastavere. I think it's my favorite neighborhood in Rome. Little winding streets and everything is beautiful everywhere. I officially love window boxes and any sort of greenery on porches and roofs. I was stuck around there for a while.
Eventually I did make it to the synagogue but right across the street was a huge area with more ruins that I had to walk through. Then the Jewish museum, then the tour of 2 synagogues and suddenly it was 5p.m and I desperately needed a nap.
After my nap I showered (I don't know why I shower here, there really is no point) and found a small place for gnocci and fresh seafood and a glass of white wine. Then, of course, I got some more gelato and called it a night.
Some weird hotel guests have moved in and seem to occupy the bathroom at all hours and they kind of smell and splash water everywhere. It's the 1st time, even at the hostels I've stayed at, that I've been annoyed with the people I'm sharing space with. I hope their stay is short...I've got 2 more nights.
This a.m. I FINALLY did my laundry. Victory!!! I was out the door by 8 a.m and back by 10. Didn't even interrupt my day. While my laundry was running I went to a small cafe around the corner and met Orasio. As I walked up to order my espresso he asked if I wanted an "English breakfast" and then asked me to sit with him. I ended up with a croissant and 2 espressos and it turns out, Orasio is a 49 year old Sicilian whose family immigrated to Australia. Orasio was a lawyer there until 9 or 10 years ago when he sold his firm and moved to Rome to own a cafe/restaurant and paint. He was very nice and easy to talk to and asked me for dinner tonight. Although I'm wary of the situation (even though I made my non-intentions clear) I'm sure I'll end up having an amazing meal and wine and it will be interesting at the very least.
After I folded my laundry I headed straight to ancient rome...no detours! (A nice ancient Roman soldier asked me out along the way but I declined. I don't date men in skirts/togas). The colosseum and forum and palatine were breathtaking but in a nerdy type of way. All this stuff I had seen and heard about was right there and huge and real. I don't really have the words to explain and I don't think even pictures do the entirety of the situation justice.
I had some pizza, bought a cute linen dress and a hat and then got some gelato. I'm about ready to go enjoy the AC for a bit (and my Italian siesta) before I shower and go meet Orasio.
Tomorrow, the Vatican where they require waaaaay too much clothing for the current temperature.
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