Rome

After our Amsterdam adventures, Danny, his four friends, and I all flew to Rome, where they live. Danny, Donny, Chad, Lee, and Stefano are all Americans, but from different parts of the country, They’re program involves studying in three separate places, Tuscania, Rome, and Florence. Because of their current location, and the convenience of an extra bed in their apartment, I was able to see Rome for a couple of days. The first day, I slept while the boys went to class. Then Danny and his mother and brother, who were in town briefly before traveling to other parts of Italy, went out for a night on the town. We were told where the American tourists usually go, and where the Italian natives go, and of course we decided on the real Italian experience. But after sitting at a quiet table in a charming piazza and having a glass of wine, we soon decided that, with a language barrier preventing us from making friends with the locals, this was rather boring. So we went to a loud bar in the American tourist area, which was fully equipped with a beer pong table.

Danny and his brother Alex formed a beer pong team while their mother Janeen and I drank cocktails on the side. Janeen was hilarious, proudly rooting for her boys in a competitive drinking game, and sanitizing the beer pong balls with antibacterial hand wipes. No wonder such a fun family could produce a person so weird that I could be friends with him. The next day I slept while the boys were in class (I liked this part of each day.), then Danny and I went off to explore Rome and see some of the typical sights. We went to the Spanish steps, the Coliseum, the Senate building thingy, the Trevi Fountain, and a monument to Mussolini, which apparently is hated by Roman citizens. (Gee, I wonder why?) We were planning to hike it over to the Vatican and the site of Caesar’s murder, but by then it was dark, cold, and rainy, so we ate pizza instead.

The next day, I slept while the boys went to class, then Danny and I went to the beach. We were actually hoping to have a real European experience and find a nude beach, but we ran out of time to explore, and settled on a regular beach. The sand was very dark, almost black like dirt, and there were some of the most beautiful shells and rocks I have every seen. The Mediterranean was nice and warm, and Danny and I enjoyed the warm sunshine (which I happily soaked up after my month in Scotland), and drank some fine Italian wine. By fine Italian wine, I of course mean cheap Italian wine.  We are students on a budget after all. From there I went straight to the airport and flew back home to Glasgow, glad to see my friends and my big double bed (which is the greatest perk of living in a double room after the psycho roommate has moved out, and the beds can be pushed together).

 

More updates soon, I’m hoping more travel opportunities will present themselves.