Halfway through I changed trains in Verona. I had an hour wait so decided to walk. Italians are beautiful. I had always wanted to come to Italy, and just keep falling in love with it.
Halfway between the train station and a cafe I was stopped by a young man. He was tall and dark sporting a black leather jacket and a cigarette. He went on in Italian and I gathered that he wanted me to join him for a coffee but insisted that I don't understand. He spoke with his hands saying a few more words I didn't understand, then frustrated said, "beeauutiful" and hurried off waving his cigarrette.
I smiled and continued walking. Maybe I like these cultures so much because they let me know they think I'm beautiful, or maybe the fact that so many are brave enough to say it. And the Italian language is beautiful. I am going to learn to speak it.
I sat and had my cheapest cappuchino yet - 1.60 for the goodness - and studied the streets. One reason I always wanted to come to Italy was what I pictured as their streets and buildings, and so far my mental picture has been right.
Stone streets and brick buildings with matching balconies and overflowing with flowers.
Driving through Italy you see every kind of landscape - from snowy mountains and castles on rocky hills to endless farm land, and in many places there are bike and hiking trails through it all to explore.
And the people range from the German speaking South Tyrolian culture in the north to the Romans and costal people in the south.
Besides that, Italy has countless cafes in every town, not to mention the food. Yes, they live off of pasta, but they eat it in every way imaginable, and then some.
And then there is the gelato...I have eaten my weight in the stuff.
Walking along the streets the smell of freshly baked bread is everywhere. Another staple food. And, thanks to the train and bus system running all throughout Europe, its so easy to get around for pretty cheap.
Downsides....powerlines are nearly everywhere, spotting the farmland and ruining the nature.
Hostels are pretty expensive thanks to the tourist industry, and yeah, there are tourists everywhere, but for good reason...this country is fantastic.
And despite what it is or may represent, Italy is covered with artistic, colorful grafitti.
I can't help but appreciate the work and wonder why the artists don't focus on creating art that could be sold or appreciated without being vandalism.
Arriving in Rome, I was more excited about the city than maybe any other city I've been to.
It looks just like the photos, but way cooler...
I filled the first day with wandering and visiting the colloseum.
I walked around it and got a little tour and took on tourist status with my picture taking.
I can't believe the history packed here...People from the Bible walked and died here. Crazy stuff.
I wandered up small side streets with rocky roads and balconies with flowering plants and vines spilling over beneath the wooden shuttered windows.
Walking up steps beneath a stone, vine covered arch where a man played slowly on an accoridan, I was greeted by an artist.
He asked if I wanted to look at his paintings and insited that looking was free....but I never just look, paintings are my weakness. I stopped to look.
As I scanned his work, we talked. He told me he was from Albania and that there was a huge population of workers in Italy that had come from Albania.
I bought two little paintings. He invited me to go dancing that night. I gladly agreed. Dancing makes every place awesome.
The rest of the day, more wandering.
Walking through the park I was stopped by a man asking for the time.
I gave him the time. He proceeded to give me a detailed history tour and drive me around on his motorbike showing me cool places.
I love traveling...and being a blonde female.
Later, I met some fantastic people in the hostel and we explored the fountians and streets as it got dark.
The two Frenchmen and I sat on a monument looking down at the roman streets and discussed cutures and politics, permaculture and family, and factory farming and the nature of gun cultures.
Later, I met up with my new Albanian friend and we explored the nightlife, finding a small latino club and a scottish bar that turned from modern pop to latino and we danced and walked the streets and laughed about how similar but different the Spanish and Italian and Albanian languages are.
The next day it rained, then got sunny. Then rained again. More walking, the bacilica, vatican, and countless cathedrals.
Walking past a cafe with three waiters outside one says, "I love your shoes... black shoes muwah." Two girls in front of me look back at my shoes and I say, "Uh, thank you..." Then to the girls, "Old, dirty shoes, I hate my shoes." And we all laughed and it felt so good to laugh with strangers.
Later, I walked with an Argentinian roomate and he treated me to lunch and coffee. A roman soldier grabbed my hand and posed with me for a photo, wanting 10 Euros but accepting a few cents.
A tall man with midnight skin selling bracelets called out asking me where I'm from.
He told me he is from Senegal and is going home tomorrow and his wife is pregnant. He gave me a bracelet and said don't worry, it's for me.
I wonder if Rome is as lovely to everyone, or just to me...or maybe infatuation is blinding me.
Another night of exploring the beautiful, lit monuments...
And conversations with wonderful people made me wish I had so much more time in the city.
But the night ended, I spent one more day wandering around in awe of how much cooler Rome was than the history books said...
...and headed back to my South Tyrolian paradise in the mountains for one more week of workaway before my next checkmark on the map. :D
Until then. Xoxo
