Ahhh Italy. I was able to live in italy for a couple of years and what an experience it was. It is the land of mo-peds and three wheeled trucks. But what sets Italy apart from most other countries is it’s deep and rich history. Rome is of course the most historical region of this country. From the Roman empire to the Vatican, Rome has been a central part of all Europeon history. Yet, as elegant as Rome can seem, it can be deceiving.
First off, so much art and culture has thrived in Rome that one would feel that the city itself would be well kept and clean. Instead, you find alley ways full of rubbish and trash flying around everywhere. What a mess this place is. The amount of tourism, of course, does contribute to the garbage, but there just seems to be few resources, as far as cleaning crews, to keep the city somewhat tidy. One second you are walking inside the incredibly awe-inspiring St. Peter’s Basilica and the next second you are out in the street trying to dodge flying trash.
I suppose (sigh), just like in any big city, Rome has it’s downsides. There is a lot of crime, it is a very expensive place to stay, the food is great, but not cheap, and it is overly crowded( watch your purses and always have your wallet in your front pocket).
For example, we ate breakfast one morning at a place across from our hotel. When we were done, the bill was almost 100 euro (130 dollars then). This was for just three plates, in which one of them was for my 5 year old son. Also, during this meal, I had some Italian, who was sitting across from me eating with his family, just staring at me. It was pretty obvious that I had pissed him off somehow, who knows, but the guy was just giving me the worst looks possible. At the time I swore I was going to get into a brawl (lol). He ended up just walking away, but believe me when I say that I didn’t back down and I even asked him “what’s up?”. (mafioso??)Yikes!!! I have quite a few stories like this of Italy, but I’ll save them for a later date.
None the less, I did enjoy Rome quite a bit. The Vatican and Basilica are amazing. The coliseum, art, statues, culture, and history of this place are just extraordinary. Unfortunately, we do not have anything quite like this city here in the states. All in all, if you have a chance to go; JUST DO IT! Just don’t be surprised by what you might have to step over, or dodge, just to get to the Trevi Fountain.
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