Champagne

I didn't know if I should call this post "Cheap champagne and freaking Catholics" or " Seven bottles of champagne and 2 bottles of wine" so I took the best part of both: champagne. 

New Years in Rome. 

Trisha, Mike (her dad), and the Greeks (Ioannis and Majka) and I went out for a lovely meal near the Trevi fountain (wine 1 and 2). It was creeping on 12 and suddenly we had the idea to grab a bottle of champagne and drink infront of the trevi fountain. We scurried out of the resturant and scrambled to get champagne. We had 6 minutes. Trisha went to buy champagne and Ioannis, being astute and classy, decided we should probably get glasses. Armed with a bottle and plastic champagne glasses we rushed to the fountain. 

Now you can't even really see the fountain because it is completely under scaffolding. But we were there. We toasted and it suddenly sounded like a war zone. Fireworks exploded down all of the side streets. Fireworks were thrown from people's second story balconies into the street. People hung out of their windows cheering in celebration. It was impossible not to be ebullient. 

We made our way to the Spanish steps, finding another shop for champagne on the way there (bottle 2).  We toasted and cheered standing on the steps. 

Music bellowed through the streets. People danced, cheered and chanted. Suddenly Mike showed up with bottle number 3. And Ioannis with bottle number 4 shortly after this. 

Trisha and Mike had to go back to their hotel, so they caught the last metro back just before 130. However Ioannis, Majka and I decided to stay longer. I bargained with the street vendor for one more bottle, but when my offer wasn't accepted, I kept trying. 

Him: 10€

Me: 5€

Him: 9€

Me:5€

Him: 8€

Me: 5€

Him: 8€

Me: 2 for 10€

Him: sold.

That was bottle 5 and 6. 

We then drawn to the sound of a guitar and dancing at the top of the steps. We realized that this was a group of nuns and Catholics singing very odd repetitive songs. We were invited to join the circle, but our too priority was our champagne and it was not safe to leave it whilst we went dancing, nor was it socially accepted to bring it into the dance circle of Catholics. The dancers suddenly were playing a game of tag where innocent bystanders were tapped. We have no idea what they were doing. 

We were propositioned with another bottle of champagne. I blurted out 3€ and he was sold. He tried to con me out of the correct change, but I fought my fight. Vendors really try and take advantage of tourists. I managed to get my hangs correctly. This brings our tally to 7. 

The stumble home involved finding a taxi, who two Italians tried to steal from us. The driver got us in the general area that we needed to be and then said 30€. I refused. That was a ridiculous price for where we had come. I bargained back at 20€. This was accepted after he yelled at me in Italian. Extortion. Taking advantage of tourists once again. 

So our final tally was 7 champagne and 2 wine. When in Rome.

I also cannot tell you how amazing airbnb is. What a great experience. I seem to have made a good impression as well! 

I finish my trip with just one more amatricana and a sleepy plane ride and a drive from Gatwick back home. Until next time....