roma is my life
After saying ciao to
the cinque terra we
hopped on the first
train on our route
to Fiesole, a small
town outside of
Florence where Smyth's
friend Tiare studied
in college. It was a
fairly short trip but
had us train hopping
like crazy. Once we
arrived at our
destination, we were a
bit perplexed as how
to get to our hotel.
Smyth had said that
Tiare usually took a
bus from the train but we were at a pretty remote station
with no bus, let alone any human activity, in sight.
My phone had given us a walking route that said
36 minutes. It did not specify that it was straight uphill
:) so we started our journey baggage in tow keeping our eye
out for buses, cabs-basically any form of transportation other
than vertical hiking. Coming from hiking for two days straight
I didn't think it would be that bad but boy it was rough. Hot
and sweaty we slowly made our way up and up and up (Rambla
Vista style). I kept telling myself I would laugh about it
later in order to curb the annoyance that was creeping on
me with every minute! When we finally got to our hotel, we
both were just drained and could not believe what we just did
...apparently there was a Madonna concert in Florence holding
up a bunch of taxis buses etc-just our luck. Our room was
nice and the view from our hotel was breathtaking. I ran to
the vending machines to get any kind of hydrating drinks they
had and we collapsed for a couple hours. When we finally felt
ready to stand up I showered and put a dress on, ready to
redeem myself and go to nice meal!! We strolled slowly through
feisole, stopping by the cathedrals and admiring the expansive
views of hills, small mountain towns and of course Florence.
We found a nice Italian restaurant with a patio and ordered
a bottle of wine. We ate grilled veggies, beans, green beans,
salad and again lots of bread ! We took our time, talked,
laughed and were serenaded by an accordion player. During
dinner we could hear and see the lights from the Madonna
concert below! It was a great night and we returned to our
hotel happy girls.
Smyth luggin' her luggage
Much needed bottle of Chianti!
The following morning, we had breakfast at Villa Bonelli
(our B&B). Cafe Americanos, fruit, toast, juice...I
suppose this is the typical Italian breakfast. We were
going to spend the day in Florence ! Rich from BAZ lived
there for three years and gave me some spots to check out.
A friend of Tiare's was also going to meet up with us for
a picnic in the Bobali Gardens. We took the bus down to
Florence and got off at Duomo square where there is a huge
plaza with Giottos Tower, the huge dome and a few other
tourists spots. We were close by a leather store that
Rich's friends own and a gelato spot that he recommended.
We stopped by the store and his friends were so welcoming!
They poured us wine and chatted with us about Florence.
They also brought some leather jackets for us to try on...
I must say it was funny seeing Smyth put them
on....I was wondering if she was screaming "I'm vegan!!!"
in her head but trying to be polite. Serious entertainment
for me! The gelato spot next door called Perque No was also
amazing! We were in heaven because they had a whole
section of vegan (soy based) gelato. With the heat, it was
the perfect mid morning delight!!! Next we headed to meet
Tiare's friend Giacomo and his girlfriend. They were a
goofy couple, engineering students who did not speak
English very well. They were very nice though and walked
us through the city, passing by many famous spots and
across the old bridge to the Boboli Gardens. Giacomo gave
us brief history lessons as we walked. The gardens were
beautiful but the sun was very very hot and we could not
last long walking around outside. After getting the full
garden experience and a semi awkward goodbye, we went
inside the museum at Piazza Pitti to cool down and see some
art. It is not the best museum in Florence but the lines
and all the people at the larger, famous museums did not
sound appealing. The museum did have a very beautiful costume
gallery though. After that we were tired and decided to head
back to Fiesole for dinner. Tiare recommended an Indian
restaurant that was a couple blocks from our hotel. The
staff was very nice and the food was bomb!
Smyth got a potato chickpea dish that rocked my taste buds!!
Our last morning in Fiesole, Smyth woke up long before me and
my alarm which was definitely a first on the trip. Usually I
am lured out of sleep by her snoring, which is both annoying
and comforting at this point. It was the incessant itching
from her many large bug bites that kept her from her deep
sleep this morning. We went to breakfast at our hotel and
leisurely packed up as we had plenty of time before heading
to the Georgetown villa for lunch. Tiare has a friend still
studyingin Feisole and she asked him to show us around and
if we could be his lunch guests. We arrived at the villa
around 12:30 and met Will. He had to serve at lunch so we
walked ourselves around the villa. It was very beautiful
and quiet with many paths leading to benches or pretty lookout
points. Not a bad deal to spend a semester abroad. Lunch was
at 12:45 and it was a fairly formal setting. We were
introduced to the group as his guests and had to stand
behind our seats while announcements were made and a moment
of silence was taken. It was a small group as only about
13 students spend the summer there along with a few
professors. Once we sat and poured some wine the atmosphere
relaxed a bit and everyone was very welcoming and friendly.
There was a pasta course followed by a salad and vegetable
course (there was a mystery meat wrapped in bacon
that Smyth and I avoided). That was followed by dessert
(chocolate mousse, nutella gelato, and tiramisu) and coffee.
It was all delicious and very fun to chat with all the
students. They had just returned from a weekend getaway to
Rome so we got some good advice before heading there! After
everyone had to get back to classes, two tipsy travelers
waltzed back to the hotel to gather our bags and head to the
train. It was a very good time and nice to talk to some
American students!! Our travels to Rome were not the best
however. We bought cheap cheap tickets to the train not
realizing that it was one that made a lot more stops so
it took a lot longer than we expected. We also did not have
seat assignments or a train number on our tickets so we tried
to find someone on the train to ask if we were in the right
place. No one was around and they suddenly changed the platform
clear across the station 5 minutes prior to leaving. We ran
across the station alongside the rest of our train mates.
We sat with a very friendly Italian version of James Macavoy.
About an hour into the train ride someone came to check our
tickets which we were apparently supposed to stamp (this
was different than the trains in France so we were
very confused). Our friend tried to help but the ticket guy
(a nice looking younger guy who had something deeply against
us) was such an ass. He made us pay 40 euro fine and talked to
us like complete idiots. I had not come across anyone that
mean on the trip up until then. We understood we messed up
but he was such a creep. Later on I had my feet up on the
seat and he started yelling at my and told me to clean the
seat. I kind of thought he was joking because his attitude
was so ridiculous, but he definitely was not. I talked back
to him and Smyth ended up getting uncomfortable and wiping
the seat off (which really wasn't even dirty...). Clearly an
angry guy...anyway when we finally arrived in Rome we were
in a rush bc our hostess was waiting for us along with
a friend of Carolyn's (good friend from wardrobe at BAZ) who
was going to take us out that night. So as we tried to get
our bearings and find the apartment, which should have been
a 10 minute walk, we went the wrong way and found ourselves
in a homeless haven...literally sooo scary. All of a sudden
it seemed we were in their living room...some man was
getting a haircut and I started to freak out and look for
a cab. We turned right around and found the neighborhood
we were supposed to be in. Daniele (Carolyn's friend)
was already waiting outside but was so nice! He said to
take our time, change whatever, Italians are very laid
back he said! So we met our hostess, who was a young
Italian student and the sweetest girl ever!!! She gave us
some info and we rushed out the door to go watch the
Italy/ Ireland soccer match with Daniele and some if his
friends. So we drank beer, ate pizza and watched sports.
The owner of the apartment we were at looked like the
Italian version of Baby from Dirty Dancing! It was just
what we needed...and I fell in love with number 6...
Frederico something-an Italian soccer star with a ponytail
:) Smyth and I were exhausted and ready to go but Daniele
insisted we see "Rome by night". So his friend Mimo joined
us and they drove us all over the city! We started at
Vatican city, headed to the river and walked across bridges
and saw the Congress building. Next we went to a popular
bar area, Trevesere, where we got fruity strong drinks from
a bar called Bum Bum. Since Europe is amazing you can walk
the streets with alcohol, we wandered down the narrow
streets lined with pubs and late night restaurants. We
stopped at some stairs where people mingle and drink and
hang out at night. We laughed a lot and they taught us some
roman slang. Bella-auhoooo. When we tried to repeat it they
did not understand us at all though! We finished our drinks
and made two more stops before heading home. There's spot
atop and steep road where you looked through a keyhole
and can see just the dome from the Vatican. It was crazy!!
Last on our "Rome by night" adventure was the Trevi fountain.
They said it was very special at night because there are no
tourists and it's alllit up! Such a beautiful spot. Smyth
and I threw coins in so I guess we will be back in Rome
someday! Very very tired at 4 am we headed home to pass out!
It was the best way to see Rome-skip the heat,
the lines and the walking...Rome by night wins.
Smyth developed a Coke habit in Europe...
always using on the trains...
Trying to explain to our friends the meaning of "overwhelmed"...1.)overwhelmed
2.)whelmed 3.)underwhelmed, thank
you Alicia Silverstone
The Vatican
The next morning we were very tired and both agreed that we
were ready to go home...we saw Rome and did not feel like
braving the heat and the tourists. But, hangover, blisters,
low spirits and all, we set out for our last day in europe.
Thank god we were meeting up with former BAZ dancer Giacomo
to take us around. It was so nice to be escorted because
honestly I was so sick of figuring out what to see, where
each place was and how to get there. We walked to the
Coloseum to meet Giacomo and his twin brother Mattia.
Our spirits were instantly uplifted as the two gay boys
giggled and pranced and were so excited to see us! Giacomo
wanted to know all the ballet gossip. He gasped and oooo-ed
as I caught him up on all the latest. They were both
hysterical. They led us around the city to see some of the
plazas and popular sights. We stopped for pizza...yum...a
must in Italy ! We went back to the Trevi fountain and
Smyth and I agreed it was much more majestic at night.
I remembered that Jennifer recommended a gelato place
close by and the boys new just where it was. Giacomo
treated us to some amazing gelato! I got a very
interesting honey flavor and Smyth tried a grapefruit
sorbet. Next we walked to the Spanish steps where I
forced everyone to make the trip to the top-work that
pizza off ladies! We walked down the major shopping
streets and went to a fancy, old time coffee and tea
house. It was adorable but charged 6 euro for an espresso.
From there we said our goodbyes and headed back for a
nap! The walk home was entertaining as I met an interested
man from Milan. At first we thought he was starring
because we looked like tourists but he explained that he
thinks Italian women are ugly and it's rare to see pretty
girls there. Ha..he thought I was German or Russian or
something. He needed directions to the Coloseum
and as we were walking there as well, I showed him the way.
When I told him I was a dancer he said he does some
street dancing and he showed us a backflip in the middle
of the street. Very random but fun. After Resting and
packing, we went to our last dinner. Our apartment was
in San Lorenzo by the university, which is a young area
with lots of pubs and restaurants. We chose a classic
Italian restaurant with checkered tablecloths and outdoor
seating. We reflected on the trip and ate spaghetti.
Off to bed and definitely ready to go to the
airport. We woke up early and Selene our hostess prepared
us toast with her grandmothers homemade jams! So amazing!
She taught me how to use a single espresso maker on the
stove and I taught her how to use a French press (she had
one but had never used it!!). We said our goodbyes and
headed out the door. Smyth fell down the stairs on the way
out and yelled "I hate Rome"...I don't think she will ever
go back. A walk, a train, a shuttle, two checkpoints,
security, another passport checkpoint, one more shuttle
and about 5 escalators later we were at our gates.
Which were conveniently a couple stepsaway from each other.
Now about 17 hours until I'm home.
Goodbye Europe and I hope to see you again soon :)
