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. 

From the Darkness Comes the Light

As I am sitting in class currently thinking about my troubles God slaps me in my face as a gentleman walks in my classroom, the same student that I saw yesterday in my class whom I thought was being rude sleeping in class in the front row, walks in with a blind cane.

All my worries washed away as I thought of this man's daily struggle and I am inspired by his strength to attend school. He sat in the front and struggled to enter his password for his computer. He struggled for 10 minutes, 5 minutes longer than I would take throwing my computer across the room. He records the lesson and navigates on the Internet. I could only imagine his patience, his long dark walks in the city and his morning and nights are no different. He can never drive, his relationships are limited to people who are truly accepting. There are no sunrises and sunsets, but HE IS the sunshine in the many lives he doesn't even know he touches as he is to me.

Sometimes you think that life is too difficult, your problems you think you can't handle. Your mind and heart is full of worries then God slaps you across the face and says appreciate each day, the friends and family you have, even if the numbers are small. Appreciate your eyes and the legs you have that you have an EASY life. And if life seems difficult close you eyes and lay down for 15 minutes and think how much life could be worse. Now get up take the breath you are given and keep it movin' because life is to beautiful too keep worrying.

I look forward to seeing the sunshine in my class, especially on these dark rainy days.

Class, Culture, Clubbing

Went with a couple of my class peers to a play Gabriele d'Annunzio, about a famous poet and solider of Italy. We were invited by a older student in our class, whom was invited by one of his work colleagues. He was from Florida, out of all places and I am inspired by this older man who still has the courage to learn a new language, teach in another country and experience new things.  We went to the Teatro Nazionale. We sat second row and paid only 10 euros with our discount.   It was a great play from what I could understand. I had a bit of a summary through the theater playbill.  It is much easier to read Italian then to understand considering that in any language. The main character portrayed D'Annunzio very well as he was bald and had the signature mustache of the late poet . The passion and hand gestures gave us students some insight of what they might be discussing when words blurred together.  But it was easy to figure out the main plot, as this was an Italian play, women and love! Of course the main character dealt with sex, mistresses and love, or this wouldn't be a play about an Italian man. The lighting and back ground really caught my attention. 

There was a 19th century DJ creating all the sounds and music with a backdrop of an oversized picture frame outlining him, a chandelier overhead and books to prop his keyboard and turning tables. He played multi instruments that I could not even recognize. I  pictured this DJ at a nightclub in Miami somewhere as it really grabbed one's attention.

After the play we headed next door for some delicious pizza. But let me shine some light on some of the night scene in Roma that I experience after the classy part of the night I had. Of course I haven't seen all the nightlife but from what I have experienced past three weekends, me likey! First off, one does not go out to the club here at 11:00pm or 12:00pm or 1:00am for that matter. 2:00/3:00am is more like it. The "guest list" is on average opened until 2:45am. I mean, crap I'm in bed by that time often in Florida nowadays. At first you think to yourself, this is late I don't like it, but you quickly adjust to the Roma lifestyle and PARTY ON! You preparty until 1:00/1:30am and head out. By the time you hit the club no need to buy drinks you're half way to your morning hangover. But I do believe this is why all clubs often charge both male and FEMALE (how dare they) a cover charge because many people do not buy many drinks inside. The cover ranges from 5-15€ but drinks are a little overpriced being from 5-10€ a drink. Saturday night for the first time I took the night bus or I should call it BB (boozin bus). I felt I was on the Later Gator (free bus service in Gainesville, FL) back in college. Everyone was drunk, tired and sweaty but everyone had one hell of a night.  I arrive home on average 5:30am and sleep until 12:30/1pm. Do I feel guilty sleeping in so late because I would normally be on the beach that time? No because I know I'm going to do it all over again tonight.  Festa tempo!

Happy Hour

 Yesterday I went to my first Apertivo. Its equivalent-like event is happy hour in the States. But here one pays around 10-20€ for a small buffet of italian food and any drink on the restaurant's menu. Great deal since a cost for a drink is around 7-9 Euros and they make the drinks strong unlike the water-downed drinks for happy hour Americans are use to. I ordered an Italian Long Island Ice Tea. I know what you're thinking LIIT, yuck I drank those at 18, but it was delicious! Would I have more than 1 maybe 2 holy hangover no!   Most Italians use Apertivo as a social hour for some bites then have dinner later but the food is enough to fill ones even big belly.  Typical food found are pizzas, eggplant with a sort of topping, meatballs, spinach balls, pasta of course, baked zucchini, cheese potatoes and all sorts of "get in my belly" goodies.  To find an apertivo near you, just walk the streets of Roma and look for apertivo signs or just google it!

NOM NOM NOM

Sciopero! Sciopero!

Sciopero! Sciopero! A word one gets to know quickly when one lives in Roma. Strike! Strike! Is all to familiar here. I've been in Italy for just a little over 2 weeks and have already experienced by first Strike. So, today as I attempted to take the metro to my italian classes, the entrance was closed. I already had an idea as many have warned me about this strikes but I thought the strikes were only for busses.  I live near Termini, the main metro and train station. Think of it as Grand Central or Port Authority in NYC shutting down for a few hours. No big deal! Right? I mean there were numerous tourists standing around confused and without luck trying to find someone who speaks english. They had suitcases and worried faces that they wouldn't make their flight or train. I helped a young man stating that it's a strike and common in Italy. I wish I could have helped in some way more but I was running late for my own class and had to figure out what my next step would be. 

Luckily the small amount of Italian I know I somehow managed to read the Advisor and speak with a Italian of what was the matter. A strike was occurring and it was to end at 2:00pm. I was running late for class and decided to walk to the next station that was roughly 10 minutes away. My thoughts came over me. No warning, no international signs to help the tourists, what was this strike about. Did it accomplish anything? A matter of fact it did. It made tourists confused, workers late, gave the metro employees a day off and gave me a wonderful brisk walk to another station. I laughed my way to the next station Cavour, thinking how there ever was a Roman empire when there are strikes as often as pizzerias. Although if this happened in US, especially NYC, all hell would break loose and I'd be the one to open the flood gates, but we're in Italy. See everything with the glass half full is my mode. I mean I wasn't worried I was late because everyone is going to be late. So if I was a worker I'm getting paid and get a break to arrive late because some Union decides they want Tuesday afternoon off, so be it. My professor stated to me that the strikes often happen on Friday. Even better! Strolling to work in 1-2 hours late is my kind of Friday. I wonder how effective these strikes are. I think we should implement them more in the US. Gather your co-workers pick a date that works best for everyone to have off, strike and enjoy your day off. I like you Romans, who know how to live.

Enough dreaming. Roma has two metro lines A and B. They are usually efficient and easy way to get around the city. Today, the metro was pleasantly empty for once. There were seats empty as you can see. Normally, when you take the metro in Roma, its packed more than the latinos pack their luggages with saran wrap when they travel to South America.   Hooray for strikes!

Side Note: Passes, Gypsies, Crazies.

Keep your metro pass at all times with you. Because the "metro police" will do random checks at the entrances and exits to see if you have paid. I have already been checked to see if I was a paying costumer.  And THIS is what they are worried about but to hell with getting you on time to where you need to be. There are monthly passes that you can purchase. But wait, another obstacle. They are not for 30 days from where you purchased it, because that would be too easy. Its for each month of the year. So buy early and save later!  You can only purchase them at small stores (where magazines or tobacco are sold). They do not sell at the normal machines, why you ask? Because they quickly run out of them. There are only a limited amount and you must buy them preferable at the end of the month or right in the beginning and hope you be so lucky to obtain one.

Gypsies, well they're everywhere. Not just in Roma but around the world but it's something to be addressed. Don't look at them and don't look at their children. Keep your bags close and don't ever let your guard down. I dodge a gypsy at least once a day crossing streets to not get spit on if I don't give them MY own hard working money.

Crazies. I think America shipped some crazies over to Europe to let them deal with the ever growing population. Past week, I have walked by several American homeless crazies. Am I being insensitive? How do I know they're American? Easy if you dare to even lock eyes with one, it will send off their aliens in their head and they shall condemn you to hell, tell you to fuck off followed by every curse word in the english language, ask you what are you doing in your life etc. etc.  Are they crazy? Absolutely! They talk to themselves into the window reflections screaming, spilling whatever drink they may have on the sidewalk or perhaps if you're lucky on you or your shoes.  So as you can see, its an obstacle course to often walk the streets in Roma, but like I said, look at it as a half full glass, entertainment and make sure you know what you're doing with your life because some stranger just might shift the alien in your head as he condemns you to hell. God speed through the streets of Roma!