As part of IBM's quest to cause international discontent and drive down the value of their stock (Sell, Sell, Sell) I am on a short term assignment in Rome. Italy, not New York, not Georgia, Italy. Land of a thousand pastas, cars smaller than a Mini, and incredible pizza.
Now I am not the world's greatest or most consistent blogger, in fact I rarely read any of them. Of course, I have read _everything_ Alex has written, several times. Fascinating stuff, even if I can understand about a fifth of it...
Anyway, someone once said a picture is worth a thousand words. And usually easier to understand too. That being said, here is my first weekend into Rome, in pictures.
AHHH HELL WITH IT!!!! running from the hotel room, on some rinky dink two bit Italian-Swiss ISP that refuses to upload my pictures. Maybe tomorrow from work I can update things.
My general impressions of Rome is a mixed bag. First, it was very, very hot - well over 90F. But the city seems very friendly and open without being in your face. Its almost as if they realize the clouds or swarms of tourists are a necessary evil, and are something to make money off of, but should you not wish their wares, so be it.
The first "site" I saw was the Victor Emmanuel monumnent that faces Piazza Venitia. Huge white monument, called by some a giant wedding cake or a Victorian typewriter. The spirit of the monument is a cross between the George Washington monument and Arlington Cemetary and the Imperial War Museum - it is a monument to the first King of Italy, as well as having the Italian Tomb of the Unknown Solider, and a everchanging museum exhibit, right now centering on the history of the Italian Army. The most fun here - watching the police outside keep the tourists from sitting on the grass or fountains. As soon as one batch is moved along, another comes in.
As for tourists, they are everywhere. I cannot think which are worse - the Americans who are ususally clueless about what they are looking at, but willing to pay someone to tell them, or the innumberable Japanese, who are clueless as to what they are looking at, but each want their picture taken in front of it.
The Roman Forum is impressive, if not amost boring - plenty of old stuff, some in a shape that allows you to imagine the buildings, others just empty, half excavated sections. But it is heady to walk in an area that has been used for thousands of years.
I did not go into the Colusseum - the lines were very long and it was too hot to stand around with the great unwashed - I ma not sure if the basic Italian has discovered personal hygiene yet or not. But that is another column. In front of the Colusseum, as well as many other places, Ancient Roman or not, you will find people dressed like a Hollywood Roman Soldier, who will allow you to take their picture for 3 to 5 Euros - $4 to 6.50 US. And they seem to do a pretty good business (see the comment about the Japanese tourists above).
Mobs of tourists are everywhere - in guided groups, as part of school tours, or as 3 or 4 couples (this is usually American, ususally retireees, and from the accent, predominatly from the South). The only time I was really free of them was in the more non touristy areas, of course. And fortunatly the churches for the most part were tourist free.
For anyone going to Rome, Kevin's tip of the day is to ignore things like the Spanish Steps (whoopee, a big flight of steps, gee we don't have those back in the US) and go to a church. Be respectful, be quiet, don't use the flash on your camera, and take the time to look, really look, at the incredible art work in them. I went into churches on little backwater streets that in the US would have a turnstyle and guard to charge admisssion to see the artwork and architecture that are contained within. Crowds of people were ooohhing and aahhhing at the Pantheon, while just around the corner was a nondescript church containing the relics of St. Catherine of Siena, as well as a statue of Christ by Michelangelo and sculpture by Bernini. But very few people in there. Their loss, my gain. Oh yes, and when in a church, don't be a cheap SOB, drop something in the poor box or light a candle.
The Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. Boy oh Boy, Rome should be sending Hollywood money every month for all the tourists who flock to these places. Give each one about 5 minutes each, then get the hell away. The only thing they are good for is people watching and probaly making the pickpockets wealthy. And the Spanish Steps - well they were built by Italians, and financed by the French. Who ever said the Romans don't have a sense of humor......
Other impressions - find an out of the way place, sit and have a pannini - but not from the carts that ring the tourist sites. I found one little place near Trajan's Column where the sandwich was fresh, -proscuitto and cheese one day, salami and cheese the other - and the beer was cheaper than Coca Cola. Up by the Fountain and Steps, Cokes were easily 4 or 5 Euros each, and pannini were neither fresh nor cheap. Water is found many places - there are spigot like fountains in many areas and the water is cold and does not taste bad. Else, expect to pay from 1 to 4 Euros for a small bottle of water. Warm.
Food is very good. You can have pizza any way you like, as long as you like it thin crusted. They invariable come pretty large, even for just one person. And the way to eat it in Italy is wiht a knife and fork. Only barbarians and tourist eat it with their hands. Or have their picture taken with it.
Thats all for now. Off to the local pizzeria for dinner. Let me know what you think.
Kevin
