Day Two: Our Full Day in Rome (aka: sleep is overrated)
June 23, 2008
Hello and welcome to what I consider our day two post! Today was our first (and only) full day in Rome. And let me tell you right now – it was like two completely different days that somehow got merged together into one endless experience. (To start with… I’m writing this at 5AM technically the next day… and I haven’t slept yet.)
So first we’ll go over what I consider part one of today. This was the touristy part. Like I believe I’ve explained before, Leslie was responsible (more or less) for planning our Italian excursions. So as a side note – this whole Leslie-being-responsible-for-Italy-stuff-and-me-responsible-for-Eastern-Europe has really highlighted that we are, in fact, different people. I sometimes hold this strange belief that people are really all the same and just pretend to be different. But actually…no. We are not the same. Leslie has basically been coordinating and planning her portion of the trip for quite some time. In fact, 
she and Rick Steve (the guy who writes travel books) are pretty much in an intimate relationship at this point. (Sorry, Anthony). So Rick Steve told Leslie in his book that she should try and see (in one day mind you): the Vatican Museum (where the Sistine Chapel and lots of Raphael stuff is held), St. Peter’s Chapel (which, I’ve decided, is one of the eeriest places ever… though it has the Pieta… which is pretty much amazing to me), The Pantheon, The Colosseum, The Forum, and Capital Hill. In one frakin’ day. And, since dear old Rick said it, it was law for Leslie. And, since this is Italy, what Leslie says is law for me!
The only thing I said was that I thought it’d be fun to walk to Vatican city – because it looked like less than 5 miles away from our hostel and I thought it’d be a better way for us to get a taste of Rome that would be off the super-tourist track. She, after some serious hesitation, agreed.
Well I’ve learned a personal lesson. I’m really meant to be with a map-reader. Like someone who looks at a map and is like “Oh, this makes sense”. I say this because that sort of person, I’ve come to realize, is not me. I look at a map rarely (at best) and then I’m really trying to get a feel for if I’m supposed to go “up” “down” 
“left” or “right” generally. And to be fair to myself, this typically is (more or less) effective in a grid like city. Rome, however, is no grid.
So our, what I thought would be less than 5 mile walk, ended up taking about two hours and, upon talking with this guy I met later in the day, probably was something like 7 or 8 miles. And it was friggin hot, man. It was hot.
I of course am a huge fan of walking. When I want to get to know a city, I walk it. Five miles, Ten miles, Twenty miles – I’ll do 
it! Let’s go. As long as we can take stops for food and beverage – I can go from sunrise to sunset. I love love love walking.
So… I don’t think Leslie really has this sort of relationship with walking. I can say this with confidence because, as the video one mentions, she started to hobble. hahaha. About half way through our walking I swear to the gods – I looked over and she was hunched over, legs wide, and that girl was friggin hobbling. And I, apparently too tired for the sensitivity chip to be active, started laughing aloud in the middle of this quiet area in St. Peter’s.
Ok… back to the story.
So we walked the distance to Vatican city and had some cool memories made along the way. It’s only by doing this sort of walking that you really get a chance to randomly go down these tiny little alleyway side streets that are just stunningly gorgeous. I’m talking warm brick covered in plants with little old people sneaking a peak down at you from their balconies (Leslie found these old people to be pretty much the coolest part of Rome). Another cool thing is you find these little stores that are totally run by these super old tiny Italian couples. And, as I’m sure you’re guessing, we entered one such store. This tiny Italian woman greeted us. And, Leslie being the first one in, said something like “hola”. I think this excited the old woman as we then attempted to have the rest of the conversation in Spanish bastardized Italian. She then gave me this huge bubble water (which I love) for super 
cheap. Rock on! I knew those “Spanish skills” would serve me some day!
So anyways, eventually we made it. Then we got in the long line and entered St. Peter’s. We got the audio tour thing, too. Our first stop was the tomb area underground. Of course, when I entered I didn’t know it was the tomb area… and it took a few of those coffin things before I got the picture. The picture of course became super clear when I saw a bunch of people praying at one of them. And this is what really made the Vatican thing crazy. For me, I was sort of viewing the whole thing as historical – like viewing our past. But, when people are walking around as nuns and priests and regular looking people are praying at the tombs of old Popes I start to get it… this isn’t the past, this is like right now!
So we walked around more but, I have to confess, I was totally exhausted. 
Having gotten a whopping two hours of sleep the night before, I wasn’t on my A-game where long walking tours were concerned. But, somehow, we kept going. It wasn’t until Leslie was hobbling and I feel asleep while Leslie was eating her pizza that we conceded the inevitable… we were going to have to let dear old Rick down and not complete his meth-fueled trip through Rome. Oh well. I really don’t find it necessary to see and do everything – I sort of like the idea of walking around, meeting some locals, having some fun, and seeing one or two cool things and spending a lot of time at them.
But Leslie really wanted to see at least the Pantheon. So we called a cab (my idea to walk there didn’t go over as well as I’d hoped) and went. And it’s a good thing we did! Because after making our videos, eating some gelato, and sending about five minutes inside of it [“Leslie, what happened in the Pantheon that makes it so great?” “Dude…who knows” "Ah, I see… well 
good thing we came, then"] we went outside and happened to meet this really great guy! We were standing on the side and this guy, named Chad, started talking to us. He’s an architect from Portland, Oregon, spending some time in Europe on his own. So after explaining to me where we actually were in the city and making lots of recommendations on things for us to do and eat, I was about to head out. But then he said, "You know, I could just walk over there with you?!" This of course was a totally awesome idea and so the three of us headed out from the Pantheon to this super cute square area where we sat down and got some drinks.
As a side note: this was totally a part of my European fantasy! I told Leslie my goal was for us to eat dinner/have drinks with a new person every day! And look at us go! So I got a sangria and we talked for quite a long time. And then, as luck would have it, Ross, one of the guys who worked at our hostel, spotted us and ran over to join us. So there were the four of us: Leslie, me, Ross, and Chad, having drinks outside on some gorgeous square at sunset in Rome. Seriously - I was so into it!
We then decided to get dinner at some place Ross knew of and had a great time there as well. We decided not to get dessert there but instead get drinks at another awesome area. When we got there, we ran into even more of Ross’ friends (from Germany) and they joined us, too!
So there we all were, out having a serious Roman experience. It was low key 
and great.
But then… Chad had to leave (he was staying at a covenant and his curfew was 11PM) and more and more of Ross’ friends showed up. Leslie decided it was high time for her to get a bit smashed so I took it upon myself to be Heather the designated I’ll-make-sure-we-get-back-to-the-hostel- Whitney. [and, I have to admit, the idea of getting totally smashed and partying with a bunch of people I don’t know isn’t really my thing. I tried so hard to get into it, but I’m more a get-a-small-group-together and eat and talk… but oh well, I’m trying!!!]
So anyways, we were all out and then Ross and the two German girls (out of a group of like ten) decided they wanted to go to San Lorenzo to some more bars. Leslie decided we should go, too. I of course, in my unavoidable geekness, was pretty much ready to call it a night, go back to the hostel, blog, and maybe have a few more shots with my new hostel friend. But I was trying! Trying to do the adventurous thing.
But, long story short, things got messed up and we ended up not going [ssshhhh: yay!!!!]. Instead, I being starved, told Leslie we had to venture out for food. So we went to this place like two 
seconds from out hostel. And oh my goodness this was where I had my first real Italian guy situation!
So this dude was sort of our waiter. Basically, I walked in and said, "Oh I want Tiramisu!" and then a few minutes later this guy comes out and says, "My name is Tiramisu".
So I, trying to be more, you know, not geeky, decided to not run away. At one point he brought out actual Tiramisu and we decided it’d be funny to get a picture of me, this guy, and me eating Tiramisu. But, in order to take a photo you have to get your camera out. And that’s when we realized Leslie lost her camera. So after there was lots of crying about that Italian-guy was like "Oh we’ll take a picture with my cell phone". But of course Leslie was totally spaced out at this point so he was just talking to me. So he put his camera up and I gave my classic "Heather mouth open looking super excited face" and then he looked at me and was like "It’s not a real picture if I don’t kiss you in it… let me kiss you"
So I said to myself, "what the hell. You’re in Rome Heather Whitney. Here’s a beautiful Italian dude and he’s asking to kiss you. Sure it’s totally not like me at all in a million trillion years. But whatever!"
So I agreed. He kissed me. And I was so proud of myself! Having this totally crazy Italian experience!
After that of course he said we had to wait ten minutes so he could get off work and we could go get drinks. But… it was already 3AM and I’m like "There are so not bars open at 3AM". So, after telling Leslie she could never ever leave me alone, we decided to pay our bill and run for it (run the whopping block). I was like: that was my threshold for craziness. And I’m quite happy with that. Crazy beautiful Italian guy experience: complete. 
After that (and since then) Leslie and I have been at the hostel drinking with our new best friend - our hostel dude, John. And I’ve been trying to write this post all night (it’s now 6AM!!!) but he keeps making drinks… and they’re making fun of me for being a sober geek. And so, like the mature gypsy I am, I’ve attempted to drink a few
So that’s it for now. Enjoy the videos. And I’ll write again tomorrow (or shit, today)
We are leaving for Florence!
Goodbye Rome, you were fantastic!! Your weather was evil, but your citizens are friendly and great!!!!
… I’ve now been told I have to take a shower and go to the Colosseum. On, literally, no sleep.
May the gods have mercy
Oh and for all our photos from today, go here
<3
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Hi, It would be nice if you would contact me I’m worried, Is your phone working because I’ve tried to text you. Please send me Heathers phone #. I don’t have her info.