Roma

So I missed writing about a few of my trips, but I'm back with a vengeance. 

Roma

Trains are the same everywhere. There is always a muddle of people who are utterly confused looking around as if they are lost. There never seems to be anyone around to help at that precise moment, but when help does arrive, a gaggle of confused tourists huddle around him. They then all return to where  they were as they were correct in the first place. 

I gracefully sat on the lush train, and flipped open my book.  Every time someone boarded the train,  they looked at me trying to best ask if this was their correct train. "Termini?" Was typically the case, in an attempt to have an Italian accent. They were all shocked when I spoke in English "yes". This happened 4 times before a lady sat down across from me and started asking me for a pen in Italian.  I responded non capisco which means I don't understand. How in the world I look like I would speak Italian is beyond me, but it's comforting in some sense that I don't seem to be standing out as a tourist. 

I made my way to the Spanish steps and around to find a place to eat.  I found a quieter street and picked the restaurant I found.  I was on a quest to find the best amatricana in Rome.  Big glass of red and an ok pasta.  

I left the resturant and walked, li and behold two doors down was the restaurant that my friend recommended. Doh!  

I then wandered finding my way back to the metro to find the flat that I am staying in.  I met Luca whose spare room I am staying in. 

I was to meet my friend Trisha at a resturant. I found my way there only to find a locked gate and a lengthy note in Italian.  I then wandered to the hotel to get it translated and found Trisha and her father wandering looking for the restaurant as well. The host at their hotel roughly translated that it was a kilometer walk down a busy street. We left a bit confused and tried to find it again.  Failed.  I called the restaurant and the host attempted to describe how to get there.  I guess it was the confusion, but suddenly she said to wait out front the hotel and they would come and pick us up!  We were a group of 7!  So the chef pulls up in his own car and makes two trips to get us all to the resturant!  We all piled in and got to the other entrance around the block. It was hilarious. 

The restaurant was basically a house. Trisha and i started the wine!  The food was fabulous and worth the confusion!  Course after course our palates were pleased!  

As we were finishing up Trisha and I were debating another bottle of wine. The hostess looks at me and says I'll bring you the cork so you can take it with you. We were sold! 

We then walked back the windy busy road back to the hotel, since we knew where we were going. We never would have been able to find the place if it weren't for the driver!