Journal 2 a Rome / 2nd Journal in Rome

Saturday, September 10th 2005

Left the neederlanders and took the 12:45 boat to Brindisi. I was so tired, I sleeped on the dock and got in Italy at 7am (time of Italy – one hour earlier then Greece). Italy! I’m in Italy, now this is great! There are 5 americans taking the train to Rome cool, I won’t be alone. From the port, there’s a mini bus that takes you to the center of town and then it’s a 5-10 mins walk to the train station, saving money great! The train leaves in an hour so I’ll leave my luggage with the guys and get something to eat. 2 of the 5 guys went and got calzone gor 3 Euros as I paid 2 Euros, I’m good! Never follow Italians that insists you go to their restaurant.

The train is goin to Taranto then Napoli before it gets to Rome. Italian is so easy! I’ve understood the conductor on the train. The scenery from Tranto to Naples is magnigicent. It’s a bit like the train from Warsaw to Krakow but nicer. Instead of cabbage fields, it’s vinards. It’s so pretty! It’s a pitty I’m alwais falling asleep.We often go thru mountains, cool!

I’m exited to be here and can’t wait to get to Rome. Ya baby! Hello Rome! I hadn’t plan to be here so I didn’t know where to stay. The guys had an idea but the place was full. As we were trying to figure out what to do, an Indian came to us and offered a place to stay for 25 Euros each. We still tried to call other places without success 3 of the guys had some friends here who took them in. The indian offered for 20 Euros/each. The 2 other guys and I took it. It’s a nice little room (better than what I had at PP) with a single and a double bed, there’s a comune bathroom/shower and kitchen. After settleling, we looked for another place to stay for tomorrow night and went looking for food as we walked towards the Coloseum.

This city is beautiful but spoilled by cars and busses. It is dark outside and we found a nice little restaurant which seemed typically Italian. Italian is so easy! Wow! Just look at that! The Coloseum is magnificent with all the lights showing it’s beauty. I can’t believe it! I’m in Rome! Rome! This is exciting!

Sunday, September 11th 2005

Dan, David (Brothers) and I after changing place to stay, took the metro to the vatican. On our way there, we stoped at the market to get food. Italian pastries was my choice for breakfast. Delicious! The vatican museum is closed today. Figures as it is sunday but St-Peters is open. We waled around that square which is seen on TV every time the Pope is mentioned, then we went inside the church where Pope John Paul II is exposed, tho I might say that I wouldn’t be suprised if it were wax. Thoses who know me, knows I’m not religeous at all so this didn’t mean much to me. As I walked thru the church, all I could think of is how much it must’ve cost to build this thing. Beautiful! There are so many tourists here, I wonder if there’s any locals left.

We decided to go to the catacombs as Dan really wanted to see that. Metro and bus, quite some travelling. After a long walk, we finally got there. There are 60 catacombs in Rome and we are visiting one. It is cold and dark down here. This is a maze of walls with huge holes the size of a humain being, adult and child, some of them are empty as thieves tought they would find valuables, some of them are closed as the remains have been undisturbed. Perfect place to tell gost stories or play weja. Follow the guide as we don’t want to get lost.

Time to go back to the center. Lets go see La boca de la veridad, if you haven’t seen Roman Holliday shame on you. Walking seems to be our favorite mean of transportation. Lets go Gelato! Mmmmmm No other way to describe it. This sucks, we could only see La boca de la veridad thru a gate. Well, took a picture at lease. There’s a lot of “old shit” here in Rome, don’t always know what it is. There are loads more here than Athens. We walked randomly and found a place to eat. It was delicious and affordable (Pastarito, vie 4 Noviembre) it looks fancy but it’s not expensive.

Back to the hostel. Crap! My room’s on the 3rd floor and there’s no elevator. Very nice! This guy from TO just carried my luggage for me. Gotta got to London gast as I can’t afford staying here to long. Time for internet searching. The guy who helped me is here. I found a flight to London for 88 Euros on Thursday with easyjet. It’s cheaper with Ryanair but they don’t take luggage that weight more than 15 kilos adn mine is about 28. It’s 7 Euros/Kilo over. Now, I’m meeting Denisa in Paris but she won’t be there before the 23rd-24th of September and I don’t want to stay at my friends place for 2 weeks. Maybe I could go to Amsterdam for a week or so first. Gotta reach Jan-Kees first. I’ll book my flight tomorrow.

Abraham (the TO guy that helped me with my luggage) and I went looking for a Jazz club written in my guide. We never found it but we strolled around for a couple of hours. Rome is beautiful at night. Once in awhile, we’ll cross a sidewalk cafe still open (2-3am). We heard some music comming out of the old shit (ruins) so we walked towards it. There was a man narating in Italian, I was replying to him tho I didn’t understand what he was saying “No, You don’t say? Really! I don’t believe you!” I said as Abraham was amused by my weirdness, he joined in the fun. They were three narators taking turns. We clapped and cheered at the end from far away as we were from the scene. We got ourselves to the fountain of Trevy. Oh so breath taking! It was about 3am and there was 3 couples kissing. We sat down and chatted while observing the water glicering down. It was peacefull, until some city workers came to clean it up. Some indian selling red roses came to us trying to sell them. He was so insistant at some point, he was finally leaving and he game me a rose but then (of course!) he started to ask money to Abraham, I gave the rose back to the guy and told him to leave once and for all. Time to go back, my leggs and feet are killing from all the walking. We watched a bit of Roman Holliday, now it’s 6:30am and I’m goin to sleep. Good night!

Monday, September 12th 2005

Got up at 9am to pay for the next 2 nights. David and Dan are leaving today. We took the included “breakfest” (capucino, apple juice and a croissant) and I went straght back to bed. I’m taking it slow today. Shit! I booked my plane ticket to London for 20 Euros more. Shouldn’t have waited. As I walked around, I came across the fountain where Gregory Peck tries to get the camera from a little girl. At this moment, I’m sitting next to it writing my journal. It is the center of a round about and the men in the passing cars, busses, mopeds, ect. are looking at me whisteling and trying to get my attention, typical Italians. An old man just tried to talk to me as I kept on saying: “Nie rosumiem” (I don’t understand in Polish) this is a sure way to get rid of them as some of them speaks english and/or french. What’s happening? This policeman on a motrobike just stopped trafic. OK! A group of black and police cars just past by. Looked like a movie scene. Weird! I’m finally doing things my own way, my own pace and it feels GOOD! I’m at a corner street somewhere in the city and this might be the prettiest coner I’ve ever seen. This corner has 4 beautiful fountains one on each corner. Wow! Go Italy!

Found the “old town” of Rome. Walking down the narrow streets, I heard water falling as I follow the sound, I got myself to the Trevi fountain. This time, it is filled with people taking pictures on the corne, a violinist is playing while restaurants, tratorias, gelaterias and gift shops are open.

It is 8pm now and I’m starving! Time to look for affordable food. Passing in front of a cheese store, it takes all I have to not step inside. All of a sudden, I feel somekinda sad that I have to restrain my budget so much and the tought of my eating alone is sadening me. I look at all these delicious menus but I go on ‘cause I can’t really afford it. It’s uncommon to feel sad in a beautiful city like this. Sometimes, I think of Jan-Kees and how he treated me like a woman. Here, I have to ignore or push away all man that talks to me. I think I’ll just go back to the hostel and eat poutine. Sucks! Yes and no. Luv poutine but I can eat Italian food now as I can make poutine somewhere else. Kept on walking those pedestrian streets and came across some old shit with a saxophone player and a bassis paying some decent Jazz. This is a nice piazza. I wish Gab was here so we could dance. I miss dancing so much! Finally, found somewhere that seems somekinda affordable. As I asked for a seat. They looked at me weird as I said I was alone. Alone yes! My legs and feet are killing me. As I’m waiting for food, some kids playing the accordeon and singing are trying to make a living. It’s nice walking in Rome but my legs and feet are killing, time to go back.

Tuesday, September 13th 2005

Booked my ticket from London to Amsterdam. It’s a beautiful day today as I’m standing in front of the Coloseum. I feel like I have to pinch myself to believe I’m really here. Around the Coloseum there are men dressed as gladiator making money from tourists taking pictures with them. It is 10 Euros to go to the Coloseum (Parthenon included). This lady announced a tour guide, it is 18 Euros including the Coloseum, Parthenon and Roman forum. I took the tour as I don’t see the point of seeing these things without the info that goes with it. The Coloseum is a beautiful work of art missing all that made it magnigicent. Talk about old shit! Tho there’s a big street nect to it, being inside feels like another world. I do suggest coming with a tour guide, whether it’s a book, tape or person ‘cause it doesn’t mean much otherwise. I’m sitting on the second floor of the building and the view’s great. People are silent here for some reason. Out of the Flavium Amphiteatre (the original name of the Coloseum) buying post cards.

The guy was talking to me and I felt I might’ve been a bit rude to him for no reason. I feel I’m only happy ‘cause I’m in Rome and have to be. Being in Europe is exciting but not as much now as it is my second time. I guess, I feel somekinda contradiction within myself. I find myself not as excited as I was when I first walked the streets of Amsterdam or when I gazed at the Partenon on my B-Day last year.

I’m glad and happy to be here but I feel there’s something missing in my life (else than swing). I’m also heritated that I have to keep myself from buying things I want or need. This time, our tour guide is younger and better looking. You really need a guide to go aroung this old shit or else, it means notting. I’m tired and I can’t wait to get to Amsterdam as I’ll be able to rest more without the feeling of bein rushed thru the city and also, I won’t be alone. Walked to pastorito but it was closed. Got myself to the mall in the train terminal, got a tasty paninne and got a couple of things from the super market. The cheese I bought tastes like the cheese in Zacopane, cool! I’m at the hostel eating as some guy’s playing guitar and acompanying himself with his voice. My face is greacy and full of zits like never before, how horrible!

Wednesday, September 14th 2005

Last day in Rome! Bought my bus ticket to Ciampino Airport (8Euros). What a coincidence! As I was walking the streets of Rome, I came across a guy who stayed at the Pink Palace. I guess it’s not that much of a coincidence but it was cool! Happy B-Day Isabelle and Cynthia! I might be across the ocean but I still remember! I’m sitting in front of the Trevi fountain, so beautiful. There are loads of Indians trying to sell their crap, the trick is to not look at them and say “Leave me alone!” I got so heritated teh other night when I was here with Abraham and this guy insisted on selling us roses. God they’re anoying! This girl is like taking a picture with her boyfriend, she is so pretty with her dress and hat. She’s really beautiful. I took a picture for them. So beautiful and fragile like a rose, much different from me.

Walking, strolling, gazing in Rome is awsome! I found a piece of art I remember seeing in one of my art classes. Picture time! Someone help me, NOW! I can, using all of my power, keep myself out of a Lint store even a cheese store but ya’ll know I can’t keep myself away from a Disney store. I almost dru a tear as I came out empty handed. Gotta luv Disney! Be careful of little take away pizza places, they weigh the pizza and it usually end us costing more than getting one at a regular restaurant. It seems to me that Italians don’t smoke as much as Greeks. I haven’t been bothered by one since I’m in Rome.

I love my life! I’m walking down these narrow streets one step at a time slowly and randomly, it feels so good, no destination, no appointments, no obligations just living. Hello! Walking in the streets of Rome without gelati in hand or mouth sounds wrong. There is notting like strolling the streets with a double flavored ice-cream cone. Chocolate, cookie, straberry, rasberry, banana, orange, mint, coffee, capucino, cream, mango, chocolate chip, name it, they probably have it. Just finished my banana-mango. Oh so good! Normally, you take 2 flavors, you can take one only but there’s so many kinds to try. I’ve been enjoying one cone a day, at lease, one cone a day since I got here. Go Italian ice-cream! Every time a different flavor.

I’m a bit exhausted from all the walking. Took some time to relax in the hostel and now I’m back outside where the world comes to life. Called Isabelle as it’s her B-Day. It’s more expensive to call from on of those long distance phone both “shops” 0.10 Euros/min. as a phone card gives ~ 170mins for 5Euros. Big difference. At this moment, I’m at Pastorito (the restaurant I came with the brothers the other day) alone at my table waiting for the 4 cheese pizza I ordered. My last meal in Italy. That’s sad! I’ll make the most out of it. I couldn’t eat one bite of my pizza without having the guy from the other table staring at me. ENJOYING! I made a bad choise of pizza, I took the 4 cheese and one of them is blue cheese, thank god for the color as it allowed me to take it off. Beautiful night, last night! Good night Rome!