Rome day one

 I’m continuing my Milanese breakfast habits here. Cappuccino and whatever sweet thing in the case looks good. Today that was a small fried thing resembling a donut. After breakfast came bad news, my Thanksgiving plans fell through. Oh well, just means more planning later. For now, the Colosseum.

I understand that’s it’s the name but it just seems so silly

This is another one that just didn’t resonate for me. A big decaying pile of stones. Impressive and surrounded by a gaggle of tourists. The bit of good news is that people kept asking me to take photos of them with their cameras. I guess this means I still look decently clean cut. I got tired of the rock pile pretty quick and decided to hit another site. 

The metro ride to The Vatican was annoying. Lots of Americans who just got off an airplane and are taking public transit for the first time in their lives. They’re exhausted and all they can think about are the stories they’re heard about thieves in Rome. It was kind of funny to watch.

Popped into a church for a minute because it had no line and decided to go to The Vatican. Why? Why not? Spoiler alert, I was not able to get in. Today is a year where if you walk under a specific arch you get your sins absolved for life. Hmmmm. Regardless, every Catholic under the sun was there.

Don’t ask which one. I couldn’t say.

At this point I tired of watching the locals extract their pound of flesh from the tourists and grabbed lunch from a Carrefour. Beer in a piazza by a river always helps to make things seem a little better. Confused Americans, groups of young girls trying to have the time they’ve heard about in movies, families holding it together for a Thanksgiving away. In a sense I almost feel like I have Paris syndrome but I came here with no expectations. Weird. Time for a nap and more self-reflection.

View with lunch

Two days ago I met a man named Carlos at the expat bar. He’s from a lot of places, mostly Austin and New York and spends a few months at a time living in Rome. He mentioned he uses the bar as a living room and invited me to spend some time there with him tonight. I showed up with my book and relaxed. It stings a bit celebrating Thanksgiving alone, I guess it helps not being surrounded by it so much. I buried myself in my book to drift away. The book is called The Man Who Broke The Bank at Monte Carlo, the story of the grifter and scam artist who did exactly that.

Carlos popped in after a while and we got to chatting. What a breath of fresh air to talk American with someone else. He introduced me to some of the regulars and his friends who were in town. A motley crew of interesting folks. Tonight ended with an invitation to his birthday. It feels great to have something to look forward to.