Back in Rome

Today, Brenda and I took the bus back to Florence then took the train to Rome...Brenda kept going and went straight to Naples. Poor girl is sick as a dog and we figured her best bet would be to get home and sleep in her own bed and get some medicine (insert sadface here).

I am staying near Termini Station in a nice little hostel owned and run by two Americans from LA (a Lonely Planet and Rick Steve's recommendation). I have been on their computer for about 2 hours now checking email, Facebook (of course) and catching up on my writing.

While on the bus to Florence today, I was thinking of random things about Italy that I have noticed or things that have happened that are worth noting...they are as follows in no order and I will probably be adding to the list as I think of more things.

* The toilets here flush with authority.

*We were growled at by a guy in Rome while we were walking down the street...like RAAAR! growled at...like he was a dog.

*The mosquitoes here are deadly and I will have battle scars for sure.

*The Italians rival the Japanese in line cutting and "acting aloof" when you say something to them about it.

*Every leather guy in Florence is going to tell you "I make you a special deal. Why? Because I like you..."                                      

*Merde means shit (I think that's how you spell it)

*We watched a guy at a grocery store in Chianti pay for $10 euros worth of groceries with a $500 bill.

*The people that ride scooters here have some serious balls.

*In hindsight, drinking on the Duomo steps is kind of sacrilegious .

*The car you drive here is not a status symbol like in the US. No one cares what you drive here.

*In Rome, don't be afraid to pull out your map and look like a tourist. Everyone in Rome is a tourist and if you look around, everyone has their maps out and there's lots of pointing and gesturing about which way to go at every part of the city.

*I still prefer ice-cream over gelato.

*The Trevi Fountain at 5am is amazing...a definite must do.

*Not all Italian men are out to get you and smack your ass, some just want company on their  5 am morning bread run!