Ciao tutti!
As you’ve probably guessed, I no longer live in Rome. Whilst I love this blog, I figured I might as well start anew, which is why I’ve created a new blog! Be sure to check it out! It follows what I cook at home, and also what I eat when I go out.
I hope you like it 🙂
Ciao, Zoe xxx
As I have mentioned before, I am a self-professed gelato pro. I therefore thought it would be nice to share my gelato-wisdom with you all…
1) Go somewhere good
Sounds obvious, but there are so many crappy places that are designed to rip off tourists, especially in the centre of town. If you’re in the centre, my two favourites are Grom (their flavours are constantly changing, depending on the ingredients that are in season), or Giolitti’s (amazing gelato, very generous portions, worth the queue – but do as the Italians do and push to the front, or you’ll never get served!). My favourite local is called Mi Scialai on Via Catania… If you ever happen to be in the Piazza Bologna vicinity, go here for amazing Sicilian gelato! They do incredible Nutella variations, including with pistacchio, banana, and even just plain old Nutella (as in, actual Nutella, just frozen a bit. So rich. So sickly. But soooo worth it.).
Giolitti’s aren’t mean with their portions… and yep, these each cost only 2.50 euros, with cream!
2) Try cream
When you ask for your gelato, you will always get asked, ‘Panna??’ Yes, it may be adding a layer of richness to something that is indulgent enough already, but you have to try it at least once. The contrast between the ice-cold gelato, and the light, airy, comparatively warm cream will blow you away.
3) Try brioche
As if simply adding cream isn’t enough of a luxury, swap your cono or copetta for a brioche. This sweet, fluffy, cloud of a bun is the ultimate way to enjoy your gelato, and the typical way to serve it in the south. A gelato con brioche is pretty much the more beautiful, sophisticated, and all-round delicious sibling of the standard ice-cream sandwich. And it makes for a fabulous brunch. Trust me.
Gelato in a brioche… heaven
4) Get a great flavour
It’s hard to be boring and just get vanilla here. Not only are the other flavours far too tempting, but vanilla is rarely even an option! Some of my favourites are: Pistacchio (pistachio), Nocciola (hazelnut), Bacio (chocolatey-hazelnut, a bit like Nutella). Tiramisù, Cioccolato Fondente, Caffè are up there too. In fact, the list of amazing flavours is endless; there are fruity ones, chocolatey ones, nutty ones, and sometimes weirdly wonderful ones that don’t really fit into any of those categories. A particularly memorable gusto del mese (flavour of the month) at Grom was ‘Salted Caramel’ – I wish they’d bring it back!! And remember, you can always ask to taste (once you have paid already)!
How can you narrow it down to just two flavours?!
5) Pay less
In the centre of town, Italians would never pay more than 2.50 euros for a small gelato, which is always minimum of two flavours, so neither should you. If you find you’re paying any more, you’re in a tourist trap. Outside the centre, most places are 1.50 euros! Don’t be these people – I can guarantee that their gelato was not good, and definitely not worth the money! When it comes to gelato, and, to be honest, any food in Rome, the less you pay, the better, and more authentic, it is going to be – that goes for pizza and pasta too.
These were just 1.50 euros each!!
6) Don’t sit down
This is basically a continuation of ‘pay less.’ If you sit down and order your gelato (or coffee/panino/anything really) from a waiter, you will have to pay about 4x the normal price. Fact. Sometimes you can get your gelato first, then sit down after. Just please don’t order it from a waiter, and sit and watch the world go by next to the Trevi Fountain. Please don’t be that silly tourist. Please. (Unless, that is, you are in Giolitti’s, where it’s still far more expensive to sit down, but the seating area is very nice and the gelato will be wonderful!)
7) Pay first
The Italian system for ordering anything from a bar can be confusing at first, but it’s actually simple once you know how to do it. Before choosing your gelato, you have to pay for it first at the cash register, then take your receipt to the counter to order. Don’t waste your time queuing at the counter first! Choose either a cono (cone) or copetta (cup), pay, then queue again at the counter. And then choose your flavours!
8) Take napkins!
You’ll need them!
Sorcha made a bit of a mess with that one..!
And that, I believe, is everything you need to know about how to get the best gelato in Roma!
Ciao for now 🙂
I’m sitting on my balcony, taking in the sights and sounds of Piazza Bologna. There is a constant murmur of speeding mopeds and heavy buses, the more-than-occasional honk of a car, and the echoes of Italians going about their daily lives: women shouting at their children to hurry up; girls shouting at their boyfriends for looking at other girls; men shouting at each other for no apparent reason… It’s 30C outside, the sun is beating down on my bare arms, and all I can think of is one thing: when should I get a gelato today?!
I’ve only been outside for about ten minutes, and already I’ve seen at least five people walking around with a gelato in their hand. And not pathetic little one-scoopers either – ‘one-scoop’ is not actually an option here. No, these gelati consist of at least 2-3 flavours, usually with added panna (cream) on top.
And the people eating them are all skinny/slim/not fat in the slightest.
How?!
I’m starting to believe that the Italian diet of pastries for breakfast, pasta for either lunch or dinner, with a gelato somewhere in between (or after – it’s not uncommon to see people walking around at 11pm with one) is actually good for you… Not forgetting all of the olive oil that is dredged over every savoury dish, and the copious amounts of coffee that are drunk throughout the day… As rich as the food sounds, in reality it’s all so light and fresh, and contains none of the added rubbish that enhances the flavour of British junk food – the ingredients are flavourful enough on their own. Italians take enormous pride in the quality of their food, and even ready-meals are made with the freshest ingredients – I once bought a packet of ravioli from the supermarket, and on the back there wasn’t an ‘E-number’ in sight; instead, fresh herbs, real cheeses, and even white wine were listed!
I haven’t been brainwashed (Nutella is good for you, I swear!!!), but my views regarding the health value of the Italian diet have definitely changed a bit… At least, I think it’s safe to say that if I ate back home what I did out here, I would be at least 2 stone heavier… and counting!
But for now, back to gelato. From my apartment, there are seven gelaterias that I can reach in under 5 minutes. If I feel like walking a little further – say, 8 minutes – I could probably choose from about fifteen. It’s therefore hardly surprising that I can’t remember the last time I went more than two days without one… The temptation is often too much to bear. If my calculations are correct, I’ve probably eaten my way through over 100 gelati since being in Rome (terrible, I know), and, because of this, I now fancy myself as a bit of a gelato connoisseur…
Eating a gelato by the river in Florence
And, would you look at that, it’s gelato time again!! Stay tuned for my top tips on getting a great gelato in Rome, coming soon…
Ciao for now 🙂
Whilst the majority of my friends back home have been working on their dissertations, I have recently been spending my time shamelessly working on my tan. Springtime is finally in full swing in Rome, and it’s not quite the spring I’m used to in England. In fact, I’d class the weather we’ve been enjoying lately as what one might expect at the height of British summertime – if you’re lucky.
The beach, yaaaaaay
For some crazy reason, however, the Romans are still refusing to show any skin. Recently, when we couldn’t bear the heat any longer/ wanted to actually enjoy the sun, Becky and I dared to take off our jackets whilst sitting in the middle of Piazza Bologna. As we sat there, with our bare arms happily absorbing the rays, we revealed not only a bit of flesh, but also the fact that we were obviously not Italian. The people on either side of us were both dressed for the Arctic in full-length puffa jackets and woolly scarves; I think that our lack of sleeves horrified them as much as their many layers did us. Unfortunately, we were heavily outnumbered, as every other person there had also never heard of a t-shirt. I can’t help but think that if the weather was like this in England, people would be running around practically naked. But here, people have yet to put away their knee-high boots for the summer – apparently, showing your toes is a crime against the Italian fashion gods, so flip-flops are an absolute no-go, and (sad as this may seem) I’d rather stick to wearing jeans than be perved on more than usual by creepy men for wearing shorts. *Sigh*
However, there is one place where absolutely no one can judge you for dressing according to the weather – the beach! Before coming to Rome, I hadn’t really appreciated how close it was to the sea. But with just a €1.50 metro ticket, it’s possible to get from my front door to the shores of Ostia in under an hour.
The beach at Ostia! Excuse the blurriness, there was something on the camera lens… although it does look quite cool this way 🙂
Ostia is hardly Rome’s best beach, let alone Italy’s, but it’s so cheap and easy to get to that it makes it a winner for me. Plus, when you compare it to England’s beaches, it’s practically like being in Barbados. The sea is freezing (apparently – I obviously went nowhere near it) and the sand’s not the best, but I really like it there. The people are so friendly, and the little town is very cute and full of “gelaterias” and fro-yo shops. There was also some entertainment going on for kids, giving the place a really nice family vibe. I felt like I was in a totally different country to the Italy I’m used to!
Entertainment in the town
I definitely want to start checking out some other beaches; as the days get hotter it seems like they’re going to be the only bearable places to be! And when I do, I’ll be sure to let you know… just watch this space.
Alice and I loving Ostia beach!
Please don’t hate me too much… I’m fully aware of the fact that I am very, very lucky!
Ciao for now 🙂
Some of you may remember one of my aims on my New Years’ “Things to start doing” list was ‘networking/ friend-making.’ Another, which I failed to mention on said list, was to start venturing away from my Roman comforts and begin exploring the wonderful other places that Italy has to offer.
One of the perks of being an Erasmus student is that there are several Erasmus groups that organise trips for you across the country. These trips give students both the chance to meet new people (friend-making, check!) and, of course, visit new places (venturing, check!), which, combined with their relatively low cost, makes them a perfect way for me to achieve my New Years’ goals.
When I heard about the trip to Venice and Verona, which included all transport, accommodation, and (most importantly) breakfast for each day, I was immediately interested. Venice is somewhere I’d always wanted to visit during my time in Italy, particularly during Carnival time; it’s biggest event of the year. However, transport to anywhere from Rome is quite expensive, and, once you’ve factored in the cost of accommodation – even the cheapest hostels in Venice are pretty pricey for a student budget – a weekend away can end up costing a fortune. And so, shortly after deciding the trip was good value, I found myself in a ‘middle-of-nowhere’ district of Rome, in the back of some strange man’s car, handing over 120 euros in cash. Fortunately the process – which, in all honesty, felt like some dodgy drugs deal – was actually legitimate. Oh Italy…
Little boy in his Carnevale outfit, Verona
A few weeks and one 7 hour coach journey later, I arrived in Verona. We had a guided tour of the city, which included Juliet’s Balcony (made famous by a certain Mr. Shakespeare), the Roman arena, and some sort of well, where two lovers tragically died many years ago. After the tour, we were free to grab some lunch and enjoy the street parade…
(Clockwise from left) Lovers’ padlocks; Lovers’ graffiti; Juliet’s balcony
Verona street parade
Myself, Becky and Livy enjoying the street parade at dusk
As the sun began to set, we got back on the coach to head to Venice. Soon enough, we arrived in our camping village, where, that night, I had one of the coldest sleeps of my life… But I won’t bore you with that.
The next two days were spent walking around the city. Venice is busy at the best of times; during Carnevale, it was absolutely mobbed. There were points where I got split up from friends, and terrifying moments where I was being so squashed that I actually couldn’t breathe. Literally. Thought I was going to die.
Nonetheless, I was still able to appreciate how beautiful the city was. Every corner I turned revealed a hidden canal of crystal blue water with a hideously-priced gondola calmly gliding down it. Every building looked like a painting, and couples dressed in incredible period clothes almost made me feel like I’d stepped back in time. It was like walking through a movie set!
Me with my Venetian mask; some child had just thrown confetti all over me!
As beautiful as it was, I was glad to be leaving after a couple of days. The place was so tailored to tourists that it was actually quite overwhelming. Every other shop sold tourist tat; at first it was fun trying on all the different masks, but it didn’t take long before I realised that you could pretty much find the same mask in each store. Plus, most of them weren’t even made in Venice, or even Italy – what was the point?!
I couldn’t leave Venice without trying a spritz – a typical Venetian aperitif, made with prosecco, campari and I’m not entirely sure what else. I actually rather liked it; unfortunately, I was the only one out of a group of four who did, so it was up to me to finish everyone else’s too.
Sophie and I enjoying a spritz!
And that, I believe, sums up my trip to Venice and Verona!
Ciao for now 🙂
I know what you’re thinking: “This is supposed to be a blog about Italy, not some site that reviews the latest Hollywood releases!”
Well, you are correct. However, since I saw Quentin Tarantino’s latest feature film, ‘Django Unchained,’ on Monday night, I’ve hardly stopped thinking about it; so I thought, why not blog?! Plus the film in question is more Italian than you probably realise…
– It was inspired by Sergio Corbucci’s ‘Django’ (1966), a ‘Spaghetti Western‘ film, and an Italian classic. Franco Nero, who played the original lead, even has a small role in Tarantino’s film during the Mandingo fighting scene; although, admittedly, I spent the majority of his screen-time with my eyes hidden behind my scarf… Those of you who have seen the movie will undoubtedly be able to work out why! Ahhh, makes me shiver just thinking of the glimpses I got from that scene!!! So, so grim.
– The film features an Italian song, ‘Ancora Qui,’ by Ennio Morricone. It was pretty cool being able to understand (some of) it. Morricone is also responsible for much of the other music in the film… Although I think ‘Ancora Qui’ was the only song purposely written for the movie – grazie Wikipedia.
– Looking at the cast list is like reading an Italian school register: Leonardo DiCaprio. Quentin Tarantino. Franco Nero. (Say them in your best Italian accent. Seeeeee?!) Fine they’re the only Italian names there. And Franco is the only actual Italian one. But stilllllll.
– I watched it in Italy. With Italian subtitles. Surrounded by Italians… Ok, I’m clutching at straws now, but I shall stand by the fact that it makes the film somewhat Italian (for me).
So maybe the film wasn’t that Italian – aside from points one and (potentially) two of the above list – but it was still very good. There were scenes that had me literally crying with laughter, obscure characters that really challenged the viewer’s preconceptions, and moments that had the whole audience cheering wildly, which were all nicely rounded off with a killer sound track (containing a healthy/unexpected mix of heavy gangster tunes and some more classical notes). It was aahhh-some!
I do tend to love Tarantino movies, so perhaps I’m a bit biased, but I would definitely recommend that you go and see this film if you haven’t already. Yes, there are some rather violent moments that would probably make squeamish people feel quite uncomfortable. Just do as I did and take a scarf (or similar) to wrap around your head during the scenes you can’t bear to watch. And don’t go see it alone – unless you don’t mind burying your head in a stranger’s shoulder…
Would love to know your thoughts on it! Although the film’s had an overwhelmingly positive response, there have been a fair number of silly people who wouldn’t rate it at all. What did you think?
Ciao for now 🙂
P.S. This could well be the funniest scene I’ve ever seen in a movie. It’s at least in my top 5. Don’t watch it if you haven’t yet seen the film, as you might not get it and it’ll just ruin it for you. If you have seen it, then I’m sure you’ll agree it is just priceless. Enjoy! (Contains very strong language.)
On our way back to Rome after the holidays, Becky and I complied a list; a list of goals, hopes, and aspirations, creatively titled ‘Things To Start Doing.’ It even had an exceptionally keen tag line: ‘New year, new start, new goals!’ – exclamation mark included.
Unfortunately, simple though the list may be, I haven’t really stuck to any of it so far. But I thought I’d share it with you anyway. Maybe publicising it will somehow encourage me to keep to it…
Things To Start Doing:
1) Italian book/ magazine club! – we took the first step by buying a book to read as part of our newly founded book club… Whether anyone has started reading it yet is a different matter (I haven’t).
2) Read the Italian news at least once a week! – ha (still not bought a newspaper).
3) Study each day! – haha. My exams start in a week, and I’m still not entirely sure what I’m going to be tested on. My lecture notes make no sense, I don’t have the books, and there are no online materials… My strategy for passing is genuinely to cry during the exams and hope the examiners take pity.
4) Fast walks in the mornings! – hahahaa… Just going to blame that one on the incessant rain we’ve been having over here.
5) Cut down on coffee/pizza/wine/gelato! – in fairness, I have kind of stuck to this one. Since I’ve been back, I’ve only had pizza twice, gelato once, two cappuccinos and not very much wine at all (by last term’s standards, anyway..!). Am tempted to turn this into a part-Rome/part-food blog, and share some of the things I’ve been cooking/eating. Thoughts?
6) Networking/friend-making! – this is definitely my favourite one of the list; honestly, I’m not even sure what I meant by it… I think the idea is for me to start making friends with Italians, which, given that annoying little language barrier thing, has been more difficult than one might expect – even if I am surrounded by them! So far, this semester, I’d say I’m not doing too badly. Speaking has become easier, and I have a couple of new Italian Facebook friends and numbers on my phone… Does that count?!
7) Blog more frequently! – well, you can see how that’s going. Blogging more starting from now. Promise.
8) Learn more about Rome! – bit ambiguous… I feel I know the city quite well now, and have been making an effort to venture to new places as much as possible. Stay tuned for some reviews of said places..!
9) Get a job! – this is proving to be one of the most difficult, time-consuming and confidence crushing things I’ve ever tried to do. But I’m not giving up. Hopefully I’ll be able to complain blog about my new job in Italy in the not too distant future..!
And that’s the list. Innocently optimistic, as new years’ resolutions generally are. I may not have gotten off to the best start so far, but it’s not too late to change that. Now that they’re out in the open, I’m officially going to stick to them. Except for number 4… way too much effort!
Ciao for now, and a slightly belated Happy New Year!
🙂
View of the Spanish Steps, from Via dei Condotti
Oh dear… Almost two months since my last blog post. Whoops!
I’d just like to start out by assuring you that I’m still alive, and also by apologising for my embarrassingly long absence in the blogging world. All of my reasons are actually just rather pathetic excuses, and I don’t want to bore you with them now. Let’s just pretend say that I’ve been so busy living la vita Roma that I haven’t had time. I’ve been too preoccupied with going to uni, hanging out with all my Italian friends, and learning to ride a Vespa, whilst balancing a pizza box under one arm and a bottle of Chianti under the other, and haven’t had a minute to sit at my computer and write. (In case you didn’t catch the sarcasm, I’m kidding… Not so much about the pizza and the wine, but the rest isn’t all that true!)
However, I do actually have lots of exciting things to share with you now. I’ve now visited the Colosseum four times, I’ve tried almost every flavour ice cream in Grom and Giolitti’s, I’ve been to a football match, I’ve officially ‘done the Vatican,’ and I’ve even done three separate walking tours of Rome (thanks to visits from Jayne and my dad). My Roman trivia knowledge is better than ever! I also think I’m in a pretty good position to give these (and other) places proper reviews, which is why each is going to get its very own blog post. Soon. Promise!
Right now, though, all I can really think about is the quickly approaching festive season. Rome really is so beautiful at the moment, with fairy lights illuminating every street, and huge trees on every corner. The Christmas decorations in the shops lining Via dei Condotti are gorgeous, and the scent of chestnuts roasting on open fires fills the air. Via del Corso (which I’ve previously referred to as Rome’s answer to Oxford Street) is lit down it’s entire 3km length, giving the illusion of a starry sky. There’s no tackiness, no hints of the Ice Age 3 theme that graced London last year; just simple, delicate beauty. It’s perfect. The decorations don’t detract from the amazing architecture that you find in the centre, but they’re not overshadowed by it either. My photos don’t do it justice!
Lights on Via del Corso
Lights on Via del Corso
Tree on Via dei Condotti
Tree on Via del Corso
Tree on the Spanish Steps – hard to believe this was only taken two days ago, look at that blue sky!!
One of the major attractions to Rome at this time of year is the Christmas market, which is held in Piazza Navona. I personally don’t think it’s as good as the one in Hyde Park, or even the one in Birmingham. Unlike the rest of the city’s take on Christmas, the market is pretty tacky, with stalls selling tut as random and un-festive as Dora the Explorer key-chains and Hello Kitty balloons. All the stalls just seemed to repeat each other; I’m pretty sure there were no more than five or six types of stall. Food-wise, there were about ten stands selling giant donuts, or ciambelle, and a few selling candy-floss, but not much else. Certainly no mince pies… 😦 However, there’s only so much I can complain about a Christmas market, and I would still say it would be worth visiting if you’re here over the holidays. Would also be a nice place to pick up some souvenirs or little presents; sadly I’m a bit too stingy for that though.
Christmas Market, Piazza Navona
Merry Go-Round at the Christmas Market
Donut Stand!
As none of us are going to be here over Christmas, we decided to have our own early Christmas dinner at my apartment. There was roast chicken, sage and onion stuffing, perfect roast potatoes, veg, plenty of gravy, which was all followed by a delicious toffee apple crumble. Not forgetting the mulled wine of course! We played cheesy Christmas music all evening long, and there were moments where I felt like I was back home; a great roast without a shard of pasta in sight!! As much as I’m loving the food here, it’s hard to beat the nostalgia that comes with a roast chicken and all the trimmings. Yum.
(left) Sorcha and I carving the chicken
(top) Mulled wine, with crumble behind
(bottom) Now isn’t that a fiiiiiiiiine plate of food?!
And finally, it would be wrong of me to go on and on about the holidays without mentioning Chanukah. As many of you may now know, I happen to be living in one of the most Jewish areas of Rome. There’s even a kosher restaurant directly opposite my apartment block (which, if you’re ever in Rome and fancy it, does a great falafel and houmous)! It therefore didn’t come as much of a surprise when I saw a giant menorah being constructed in the middle of the Piazza that I live on. I may be 1,157 miles away from home (according to Google), but I’m still right in the heart of a vibrant Jewish community. It’s so nice!
Giant menorah just outside my apartment, Piazza Bologna
Well, that concludes my festive post! Hopefully you won’t have to wait as long for the next one..!
Buone Feste! And ciao for now 🙂
P.S. Just one more sleep until I’m hooooooooome!! Can’t believe how quickly this term has gone!! Ahhhh…
Alright so maybe you’ve not all been waiting for this news/ many of you will actually know it already, but here goes:
I FOUND A ROOM IN A BEAUTIFUL APARTMENT! AAAAHH.
Finding the perfect room in Rome was probably one of the most stressful experiences of my life… As in, there were times where I almost began to show signs of stress, which really doesn’t happen to me very often. I actually started to think that I might never move out of the family’s home. I lost count of the number of places I viewed, but I would guess at least thirty, maybe more. Nowhere felt right, and, as the days went by, my hope of finding somewhere started to drift away.
Thinking I must just be too fussy, I broadened my search. Living with boys was no longer an issue, and I widened the area of my search too. I almost signed on a room in an apartment with two guys; the room was bright (but small), the apartment was nicely refurbished (which is very rare here) and the location was great. The idea of me living with two Italian guys worried my parents a bit, but I convinced myself that it wouldn’t matter; the fact that I’d just been watching back to back episodes of New Girl probably had something to do with this. The room was put on hold for me, I’d seen the contract, it all looked great… But, for one reason or another, it fell through.
A couple of days later I saw another place I liked. All girls this time, except two were Spanish. Wouldn’t be that great for my Italian, but hey… I was starting to realise you couldn’t have it all. The girl who showed me around seemed really keen, I allowed myself to think that it might actually be the one… But no! Fell through again!!!
Checking the housing websites online became as much a part of my morning routine as brushing my teeth and eating the cornetto that Paula got me from the bakery every day. One morning, I saw an advert that interested me. I called them up, expecting the standard ‘no Erasmus‘ rejection that I’d become so accustomed to. Instead, however, they told me to come view it straight away…
As soon as I saw it, I knew immediately that it was the one. This wasn’t a case of desperation; I actually think I would have signed for this place if it’d been the first one I’d seen. The location was as perfect as it gets; the room was bright; it had a balcony overlooking the piazza; it was shared with other Italian girls who were around my age. I signed for it on the spot!!!
I’m a firm believer in the saying ‘everything happens for a reason,’ and I truly believe that all the apartments that fell through did so because they just weren’t right for me. Now I am in an amazing apartment that actually matches all the criteria I’d set out with. I guess that good things really do come to those that wait 🙂
Mine is the second balcony up!
Enjoying a cup of tea on the balcony…
Ma rooooooom
White Teddy and Yellow Teddy seem to like their new home too!
Ciao for nooooow 🙂
P.S. Only two problems with apartment at the moment. Firstly, no Internet – I’m currently using some unsecured wifi that I found on my balcony. This is also why I haven’t been updating my blog; most of this was written a few days ago, and I’ve actually been living here a week now… Hopefully this will be fixed ASAP! And second issue is the prison-esque bed that I’ve been given. Again, that should be sorted soon; I explained to my lovely landlord yesterday that il materasso was hurting la mia schiena and non posso dormire like this per un anno… You can see my Italian is coming along nicely..!
Warning: This is going to be one massive rant.
As the title implies, this isn’t going to be a post about how beautiful Rome is, or what flavour gelato I had today, or how funny the Italians are. Oh no. I’m basically just using this blog to vent my emotions about the public transport in this mental city, because I’ve had an exceptionally stressful afternoon. So, if you’re only after a happy read, or if you think my rantings may annoy you, please stop reading here…
For those of you still with me, I suppose I’d better start from the beginning.
It was approximately 6pm. After a long day in town, which had brought on a fatigue that not even a coffee could cure, Sorcha, Livy, Becky and I felt that it was time to head back home. The bus from Via del Corso to Piazza Bologna usually takes around twenty minutes, so, allowing for waiting time, traffic, and the walk back to the apartment, I guestimated that I’d be home for 7pm latest. Enough time for dinner, a (much needed) power nap, and getting ready to go out… or so I thought.
We took the number 62 bus from the same bus stop as I’d taken it in the past. To be sure, we checked the sign over and over; yes, we concluded, it was definitely going to take us home. The bus arrived within ten minutes. All seemed well. It was only when the bus started crossing the river, on the opposite side of the city from where we wanted to be, that we really noticed something wasn’t right. Driving past the Vatican confirmed the doubts that had been brewing; we were actually on the other side of Rome.
We’d technically been taken to another country.
How did that happen?, I hear you ask. We were on the right number bus. We got it from the same stop as we always do. There was even a sign at the stop that said which way it was going. So to answer your question: I don’t bloody know!!! Maybe the driver forgot something at the beginning of the bus route, and decided to go back and get it. Perhaps he just felt like changing things up a little. It could even be that he was hoping to get a glimpse of the Pope. Who knows? For whatever reason, we ended up at the Vatican, miles away from my bed home.
Me, Sorcha*, Becky and Livy, accidentally at the Vatican
(*I’ve edited Sorcha’s top in this photo just because it’s not overly appropriate for this blog… I’m sure you can work it out though)
Ok, so seeing the Vatican was quite cool, I’ll admit. It was really beautiful at that time of day; the sun was just beginning to go down, draping everything around us with a soft, magical glow. For a moment we forgot how annoying the bus had been, and actually took some time to marvel at our surroundings… But this is a complain-y post, remember? I’ll save the gushy wow-the-Vatican-is-sooo-amazing one for another time. (Sorry.)
To summarise what happened next:
We were literally standing at that bus stop for an hour. AN HOUR. At least eight no.64’s drove past us, as well as a million other buses; but alas, no sixty-bloody-two. We ended up taking a random bus to Piazza Venezia, walking fifteen minutes to the Colosseum, and getting the metro from there. And that wasn’t all plain-sailing either; at one point, the train stopped inside the tunnel. No one knew what was going on. We saw someone run past our carriage to the back of the train, then back to the front. Then back and forth again. Then again. Then the engines restarted and, before we had time to sigh with relief, THE TRAIN STARTED GOING BACKWARDS!!! As if we hadn’t had enough transport drama for one day!!
It was 9.15pm when I eventually rocked up at the apartment; cold, hungry and exhausted. Needless to say, napping was off the agenda…
I. Hate. Public transport.
I can now really understand why everyone risks their lives to drive in this city, whether on scooters or in cars, rather than taking the bus. Bus drivers literally do whatever they want. You’ll often see three buses come in the space of 5 minutes, then not see another for an hour and a half. I’ve never appreciated TFL so much in my life – seriously, what we have to deal with in London is nothing compared to Rome!
…Which is why I just had to take a photo when I saw this beauty:
Pretty Pink Vespa!
Did you know it’s my 21st birthday in just over two weeks? No? Oh… Well, just saying… *hint hint*
Rant over.
Ciao for now 🙂
sweethomerome 