Napoli & Capri

Watch out in Napoli! Was the warnings I got from friends in Roma. Napoli or Naples is rumored to be a dangerous place because of its "Mafia" presence and thieves but there is surely more gypsies, thieves and homeless in Roma.  Though, there is a lot more of the "typical stereotypical" italians with the babada di booti. Sat down on a tram heading to the hostel and two old italians get in a heated conversations with vaffanculo hand gestures.  Walking along the streets italians stare and ciao bella me. Just imagine Napoli with groups of 3-5 men in corners of streets arguing or admiring the foreigners that walk by.  Where are all the women in the Napoli?

At first arriving from the train station, Napoli doesn't look much with its dirty grey streets and construction sites. But if you pass by all this, there are colorful old buildings and pedestrian street along the shore and a 40 minute ferry ride to beautiful Capri. More on that later. There are funicolari (funicular carts) to get you the steep hills of Napoli where you can get a breathtaking view of Napoli by the Castle and Monk Museum.

If you have the time and the dinero, take a day trip to beautiful Capri. The trip 20 euros one way will take to you on a rollercoaster ride of the sea. I mean this boat that fits around 250 people seated, really takes off flying in the air as it hits the waves and the guests' stomach drops and you arrive to the port of Capri in approximately 40 minutes because of the 50knots fire power this boat has.  I observed my escape plan if the captain was to ever say abandon ship, then again we are in Italy and I am sure he would be the first to jump off without any warning of "abandon ship."  Too far?

Silenzio! No foto!

Vatican. A country on its own and enough money to have its own guards, post office and much more. Take a visit to the Vatican Museums and you'll be 16Euros poorer than you were before, unless you just happen to be visiting the last Sunday of the month when its free and triple the amount of people.  Also NOT recommended is the tour guides outside by the Vatican who try to convince the poor uninformed tourists to go with their group because there's this miraculous long 2 hour wait to get in the museum. Right, took me 2 minutes to buy my ticket and walk in while the groups awaited outside for the guides to hustle more tourists to get more bang for their buck and then you have to wait inside while they manage to get you the tickets AND THEN walk like a herd of cows through the museum while some guy blabs about God knows what about art you just don't give a crap or remember until you get to the Sistine Chapel, all the while you fill up your camera with endless photos of art you won't remember but hey you got 200 + photos of the Vatican museum. 

 After I paid 16 euros because the mean lady at the booth would not give me a student discount because apparently the Church is lacking money from all the gold and riches in the church that they can't spare any cost, I walk through the several museums. We know what we come for, the Sistine Chapel yet they  force visitors, who at this point have seen way too many Renaissance paintings and enough naked men sculptures around Italy, who just want to see the dang Sistine Chapel already have to take a 1.5 hour tour of the seemingly endless portraits and egoist sculptures.  Sure you're allowed to take photos through the museum of famous artists and sculptures, flash and everything but WAIT right before you enter the Chapel, the Vatican Police aka photo Nazis scream at you NO FOTO and SILENZIO. Yeah sure, NOW I can't take million of photos in the one dang place I want to. I mean what's the logic in that. I walk through the whole museum pay 16 euros, most expensive museum and then you tell me the one place I want to take photos I can't, even if I don't have a flash. I was in the art world, the work will not be damaged by some digital camera or iPhone. Yet still just try to even lift your camera and you get NO FOTOOOOO! Also they state this is a "scared place" so dress appropriately and be quiet. But yet they don't check what we're wearing through the whole museum until the chapel. And there's nothing sacred of charging 16 euros a head and filling a chapel with 100 plus people, who come from all different races and religions speaking in their own language and possibling getting into a fight as a Muslim couple did near me. Trying to silence over 100 people in a small chapel who are admiring the work of Michelangelo and his mockery to the church of gay men kissing in the corner. Take a look on the right side of the fresco Judgment day. Its one big fat orgy of gay men. Scared. Right!

P.S. I snuck all these photos, because if I'm going to pay 16 euros I need to take some dang photos so when my butt gets too old and I can't remember this day, I at least have some visual memories. Take you photos at the end after enjoying the work, because if then you get kicked out at least you got some kiss ass "illegal" photos. 

Winter to Spring, the Happiness You Bring

Have you ever felt a high? I mean of course a natural high on life I am referring to. I did again today. And of course some readers are thinking I might be high writing this but I can assure you I am not. Its one of the greatest feelings oneself can have but not many experience it. I was in a complete natural high on life today floating or perhaps wondering around a park in Roma, happy as can be. I was alone. My happiness had nothing to do with the money I have, my material things or my relationships but that I was happy with myself. Happy of the blessing I have been given by God. Happy of my life.

After couple of hours wondering around the park on my natural high, I laid down on the grass and finished a book I was reading. For the first time in a long time, I was reading something other than a law book and I couldn't put it down. I laid down, rolled my shirt up to get some rays on my back and finished my book. I viewed the world around me and thought that so many people will never get to experience living in a foreign country where they know no one or the language and make friends, learn to get by and experience just a simple day in the park. I was pleased with myself that fear has never stopped me from experiencing life. Its the fear that drives me to move out of state or voice my opinion against a boss or move around the ocean.

 I observed dogs chasing each other and children playing ball and adults drinking and chatting. No one had a care in the world and neither did I. Witnessing a grandmother helping children fly a kite, I began to reminisce the times I have flown a kite as a small child and thought how much fun I had flying that kite. Sometimes you forget the simple things in life and finding pleasure in the simplicity. I was having the time of my life with myself wondering the park, smiling at children and enjoying my own company alone with my thoughts.  Maybe its my dominant personality or liking it my way, but some of my best simple memories are when I was alone, traveling alone, spending an entire day alone in my house dancing with my dog and singing off tune to songs that once played too many times on the radio. Maybe because I found a way to just be happy with myself. I learned to be truly independent that my happiness has nothing to do with the man in my life or not in my life or my friends or family. I do forget this lesson I learned from time to time but when I am truly being one with myself and my natural high kicks in. I feel I can do anything in the world, change the world.   So I thank myself today for giving myself the opportunity to enjoy a simple day in a not so simple city Roma and thank God for the sun that has finally shown its face in Italy, the trees that sang a soft tune as the leaves moved and the free entertainment and italian lessons provided by the children of Roma. 

~ Visited Villa Doria Pamphili

Buona Pasqua with The Biggest Celebrity on Earth

Italy celebrates Easter in a big way. They spend 300 euros on a feast for Sunday lunch and take 2-3 days just to recoup from celebrating Jesus'  resurrection. Also, in Italy and many European countries, Easter Monday or Pasquetta is national holiday where most schools and shops are closed. Lucky for me my teachers really used this holiday, as most Italians do, and took the whole week off.

My sister came and visited me during the most important religious holiday Easter and I decided to get free tickets to the Easter mass with the new Pope Francis in St. Peter's square. I obtained my tickets through a Catholic College that has a satellite campus here in Italy. I am grateful for the young 'sister' who gave me the inside tip of what to expect on this day.

Tips for large mass held in the Square: First the joker looking costume guys Swiss guards hand out pamphlets for the Easter service. There are english translations inside and they have one reading in italian, one in spanish and one in english and throw in some german and french in there. There are four entrances to get inside. The two side entrances have metal detectors and x-ray scanner which make the lines go slower but they are closer to the front. The 2 entrances towards the center but in the back have no detectors or scanners but longer lines as most amateurs come through that entrance.  The best entrances is the left side entrance as most don't take the time to go to this entrance but it was well worth it. The lines are not organized, not controlled you are squeezed into from have a 10 person wide lane into one. Believe me be comfortable with the people around you.  Luckily we had a man nearby who wasn't afraid to tell people to get back in the line when they tried to skip, not even NUNS. Yup even made the nuns get back. No shame but hey we all waited in line since 7/7:30am. Yes to get to a 10:15 mass one must be in line at 7am to get a close view of the Pope.

As you enter St. Peter's, people sprint to the front. I mean people literally run to the front to hurry up and wait for 2 hours. Its an incredible scene to watch such faithful followers hall butt to get a glimpse of the Pope. So as I entered the Square I too ran threw the maze to get a good standing "seat" for mass.  Best "seats" aka standing room is by the railings, luckily my long legs landed me a great "seat" on the center railing towards the front.  So we wait, we packed sandwiches, ate, talked to fellow americans, germans and latinos until Mass started.  And, if you're along the railing you actually get to receive Holy Communion by the Priests, which we blessfully did. I have tried to live in Roma on a higher level of spirituality and hope in faith and attending the Mass here can help anymore in their doubts in Christ.

It was an unforgettable experience to celebrate Easter in the Catholic Center. If you don't know, the Pope is the biggest celebrity on the planet. I am convinced. From plus 50,000 people all to stand in the heat or rain or cold outside, some who cannot even enter the Square but crowd the streets just to get a glimpse of the Pope, to where millions go and see the Pope while he visits their country in their hometown, no celebrity is ever valued as much as the Pope. At the end of the mass, the Pope got into his "Popemobile" and drove around the crowds. Just writing that brings a smile to my face because I forever have the images in my head of the crowds cheering Papa, Papa, Papa!!! The Pope stopped and kissed a baby and at another point picked up a small child who was mentally handicapped, who had my sister and several other in tears.  Jesus has risen from the dead and a small part of my faith has grown a little stronger be a presence of something higher than I can imagine. Buona Pasqua.

Tivoli: Because I Want to Live Like a Roman god

Spent a day last week exploring the city of Tivoli, a region outside center of Rome that takes a 30 minute train ride to a hilltop town. We had a group going with us and decided to meet at a certain hour by the train station. I was already 20 minutes late, had no italian phone and no means to reach anyone. I arrived at the train and saw none of my friends. I was worried they had already left. I walked up and down the entire train to see if they were seated. No luck. I have no wifi and no idea but I was hopeful. Train is blowing and no sign of familiar faces but wait... I hear frantic footsteps and heavy breathing and look down the tunnel and see the group running yelling wait!

Thankfully we all met and headed to Tivoli to explore the Villas of D'Este and Adriana. It quite a beauitful peaceful town. We followed the crowd off the train as we did not know where the villas were located or even which direction to walk to the city center. With my direction skills we got to Villa D'Este in no time. This Villa is known for its beautiful fountains. It was commissioned for a summer palace of... who cares some old Roman rich man/king. 

There is a long row of fountains that is called Le Cento Fontane, the hundred fountains, as you can see here as me, Captain obvious points out is a street of a 100 fountains. At the top of the hill is a large water organ fountain, where the water creates music through the pressure of fountains. Quite impressive I must say. 

After a few hours at Villa D'Este, we decided to grab a bite to eat. We looked at several restaurants menus, got hassled by restaurant owners to eat at "the best place" in Tivoli or Italy for that matter, because you know how easy it is to screw up pasta or pizza and finally decided on a place. But first we had to experience a real aggressive Italian who would take no for answer to eat at his overpriced restaurant. He would not stop blabbering in italian to me about eating at his place that I finally said Basta! (stop it) and walked away. He then proceeding to follow us only after telling be vaffancculo (fuck off) and gave us the evil eyes. My French friends decided to tease him and I had an imagine he would get mafiaoso on us at the dinner table outside, true Soprano style. 

There was no time to visit the other Villa (Adriana) as the sun was setting so we agreed to a hike up the mountains near the Train station. The group split up a bit up the mountain as I decided to follow the gringo, Frenchies and Belgium up the off beaten path. Bad idea, as we had no hiking shoes, the hill was steep and there was rocks to climb. I climbed almost to the top but as I looked down I couldn't see how I would descend except for tumble and roll. I scooted down with a friend to a familiar path and ran into our Chilean amigos. They continued on the marked path all the way up to the top of the mountain. Damn me for following the gringo on the dangerous path and not the Incas who were smart to follow the red and white paint marked on rocks. 

Apparently horses trail up the mountain as I never saw so much horse shit everywhere that likely all of us stepped on because it was nearly impossible not to but we all made it to the top of the mountain where a steel cross was implanted. The sights were unforgettable, we saw a beautiful sunset, took in the fresh air or horse shit and headed back to good ol' Roma. 

God Bless America

Being in Roma has its benefits because of its central location. I have plans to travel to countries most dream of going, but I also plan on traveling within my current homeland. I tried to book tickets online for trains to several popular destinations. The website trenitalia is pretty simple as there is a link to translate into English. But you have to be on top of your game to score a good price. It's worse then booking planes. If you know when and where your going, book 3 months in advance because if you don't you'll be spending 50 euros instead of 9. So I tried my attempts online. This country isn't really built online as the US or other countries are. My attempts failed has a error message in Italian appeared "can't process your request." WTF! I booked hotels/hostels on American sites, use the credit card all through Italy but booking a train ticket, in my best Italian accent, "forget getta about it."

So I went to the train stations as I hear you can book through the vending ticket booths. 5 minutes there, I was bombarded by foreigners, beggars, gypsies and sketches. I kept my bag tight close to me, my attitude on my face and viewed screens that warned "watch for pick pocketers." I got so annoyed I left to come back with only my card and keys, as I was with several electronics and a wallet. Third try back... You need a pin for your credit card. WTF! Who knows that? I walk back get my debit, withdraw cash and head back for a fourth attempt to get my tickets.

Success! But only with two trips. Third time was not a charm as it stated "system not responsive. " I tried several machines, and didn't understand. I cursed under my breath. I attempted to go to the information booth. WTF! You have to get a number and approximately wait 40-50 minutes as there is a few dozen others who can't book their tickets, or who knows what problems they are also having. My thoughts, God Bless America that my home is there because this shit is cray! Nothing is simple here or explained in the right manner. I tried other machines because my time is valuable, time is money, as most Americans think. Finally success but only through the help of a gypsy. My problem wasn't that the system was unresponsive. It was because I was not to choose the seats on specific trains. What a simple solution of not giving the option of choosing a seat could save a dozen of people to not wait for the information booth for such a SIMPLE problem. A simple message of do not choose your seats instead of system not responsive would suffice. But like I said WTF. The gypsy requested money but I like to change the world one person at time. One should want to help someone without asking for anything return. Four attempts and five tickets later, my trips are booked. But all in all, Italy should hire the gypsies to explain the machines so the average costumer gets in and out of the terminal, the gypsies are paid and I don't think that America is the greatest country on earth to live, because I was raised I want something and I want is done yesterday, efficiently and economically.

Ostia Antica: A Civilized Past

Thirty minute metro/train ride away from Piramide, Roma takes you back to the 7th century BC in a large town of Ostia Antica. This archeological site is a playground/maze. It was a beautiful day to visit Ostia, a Saturday ago and I invited some friends along. You meet so many people from different cultures here and really get a practice at other languages.  At the end of the day after visiting Ostia, I was speaking something in between Spanitaliaenglish and didn't know what language I was speaking in the end. I met several friends from Chile, Belgium, France some Americans and we all try to practice our Italian.
You can only imagine a night out with us.

Ostia was truly a unique place to see. It starts off as a long road that grows bigger to what once was a Port city. It stated that over 1000 people once lived in this city and I could definitely see it. Surely you're thinking only 1000 but this is B.efore C.hrist time we're talking.  There were large squares still intact and several commercial areas. It definitely had a feel for a Walking Dead Episode as the area is so large that you don't pass by many visitors. 

There is a large amphitheater where I'm sure once fat ladies sang Opera. I tried to imagine what life would be back in those times. No internet, no tv, no telephone, no books, no connection from the outside world.  The people of Ostia would have laughed at the idea of some web universe where we all are connected by a touch of a button. Hell they thought the world was still flat back then. 

Currently, I don't have a working cell phone so I too was disconnected with the outside world and quite enjoyed it. I have been delaying getting an Italian number because I enjoy leaving my apartment and hopefully meeting at the proper place and time with friends.  Having drinks and dinner without the use of facebook or the web. Bit of excitement the unknown, if your friends left you because you arrived to late or you don't know where the restaurant is because no two streets are alike, so you find yourself wondering the streets of Roma, asking for directions to other people who also don't know the street you are mentioning and they're ITALIAN!

I knew this would be a town I'd like to live in because there was a bar in this hip trendy town of Ostia in the 7th Century. There are shelves in place and there even looks to be like a cooler bucket. This place gives you peace from the daily hustle and bustle of Roma. Hours spent mazing through the ruins really beat me up but well worth a sunny Saturday afternoon walking through a town built before Christ.