Arriving in Italy

July 16, 2010

Arrived in Roma yesterday! I had booked a room at the same time of my flight and had really no idea where the heck I was staying…to my sheer delight I ended up in this

little town; Ostia Antica right outside of Roma. This little town showed me the Italy I am after. When I arrived in Italy, I was caffeine, food and sleep deprived, but I took the advice of Rick Steve’s and kept moving. I meandered my way down to the town center of Ostia Antica and I started snooping…..this led me to a little café where I ordered a latte and then another, the quintessential Italian woman attendant behind the counter respectively obliged my needs! It was only after my second latte that I was able to relax and take in my surroundings. I then got up and began uncovering this little town. I walked along cobblestone streets only big enough to walk on, clean laundry hanging above me drying on the lines between buildings, neighborhood felines walking and cozying up to whoever will spare the time, a cheeky young boy that helped me pick out my frutta (and what a great job he did), a panera shop where I got the cutest little mini pizzas you have ever seen- think silver dollar pancakes but pizza!..and oh so many other nuances worthy of mention but will spare to list. The most wonderful surprise beckoned me to the town center..where when I walked in the ancient bell start tolling- there was no one there but me-the perfect scene for a movie! I then turned to see I was standing right next to a castle…I then stepped inside to find that niente costa (didn’t cost anything!). Once inside I looked up..and heard the pigeons fluttering and cooing…this was when I realized I really was in Italy.

A few fun tid bits:

Transportation: Public transit is no big deal. It’s the same as in any big city in the U.S. just in Italian. People are willing to help if they can. I commuted my entire first day by public transit without having a clue before I got there as to what bus to take...I made it without any issues…not to mention must cheaper. In Rome to ride the Metro and buses it is 4 Euros for all day.

The Men: I love the way Italian men have no problem communicating the way they appreciate the way a woman looks. This could be either by giving one intentional look, maybe a second, or third, or even a stare, or maybe honking their horn, or maybe a whistle, or maybe a shout…whatever it is they are not afraid to be forward! Va benne!