Here I am Italy!

I figured my arrival in Italy would be a little confusing. …My biggest concern was that out of 3 phone batteries I was on the last bar of the last one….GPS gone!
I was able to figure out the train from the airport thanks to the directions of the b & b owner.” Take Leonardo Espresso to Termini station.; …got it, no problem; He also stated b&b would be within 5 minutes walking distance. …OK, first lesson in Rome..anywhere and everywhere is 5 minutes away according to Romans!
On the train ride, my B&B owner text me to ask where I was….I text back that I was on train, on my way….20 minutes later train pulls in….I walk outside of the many exits of the train station….I text owner that I was across from McDonald’s. …then of course, phone dies!…unlike many men, I have no problem asking for directions. …my tendency is to ask every 10 feet from the last person I ask before…so here I go..Person #1….’I think that address that way (he points)”….#2 “Oh that is not far, points in another direction.” #3. Cab driver wanting to give me an expensive taxi ride, but, I explained address suppose to be too close for taxi….he looked at my address and pointed the way….heading down the street at night with my suitcases, already exhausted. …#4. Fruit stand owner…snickered when I tried to pronounce address name…so, I show him address on paper and he pointed the way…(I get this a lot,snickers…)….#5. Flirtatious restaurant owner standing outside…preferred if I had came inside and eat but he pointed the way and he added that he would be happy to show me anything..#6. Man…my B&B owner, Alexandro, waiting at corner for me…takes me to my room and carries my luggage….extremely nice.
That 5 minutes in Rome is really walking 20 minutes American time….Alexandro (B&B owner) was concerned that I had not eaten, but explained I would much rather take shower and go to bed… he gave me a map of all the sights and recommendations. He was amazed at how I had all my plans layed out in a folder. He just doesn’t understand it is the execution of those plans that will be my problem.

DAY 1
Getting up early and starting my day….rain wasn’t in the plan! It will not slow me down so I began walking….I remembered Alejandro had stated it may be a problem with some museums because it is a holiday. ..Republic Independence. …I walked back to termini station and picked up my Roma pass that I had pre-ordered….I set out walking and after I went around block, everyone was told to stand back….a motorcade was coming through. ..several cars and cycles leading the one with the flags….Italys President. …and looked like a cardinal in 1 car….well now….that doesn’t happen everyday. …I continue walking and taking pictures…most amazing place. Such neat little cubbyholes with restaurants and shops….just how I imagined. …I was in heaven.
I came upon buildings I had seen in many books, I seen parades for the military day, I seen fighter jets fly over; with smoke in the colors of the Italian Flag; I found the Trevi Fountain….beautiful, lots of tourist….I took pictures; for 1 lady and she took pics for me….i found several Piazzas (meeting squares usually with beautiful fountains) and just couldn’t imagine how wonderful this place would be….it was raining, and dreary out….but such a beautiful day….at least the 1st 10 miles was..

I found the Pantheon, one of my must sees, absolutely gorgeous, also fell in love with the Pantheon fountain…..I ate lunch in a restaurant alone, and although I tried to learn a few Italian words I did not retain them…so i pointed at pictures of the food I wanted….or something I recognized…Bruschetta.

The one thing I had not found but was determined to find and that was the Colosseum. I discovered, later that, I had been standing within 850 meters from the coliseum when I was watching motorcade….now I was (probably 5 minutes) from it….not exactly. …I trudged on to where I had been. …11 miles from earlier!. I found the Coliseum. I got in the line of tourist and would be the last group to go inside..amazing and stunning. …I found the Forum and Palatino Hill (there’s a reason they call it that….it’s all uphill ); I trudge and kept moving..Adrenaline, excitement, and wonderment kept me moving forward. …the ecstasy of the sights kept my feet moving. I was truly exhausted and it was time to go back to my room….GPS was messing up and I couldn’t find way back….2 times walking around same block I was determined to figure out transportation system. ..I go to get my Roma pass out, (I had just used it for sights)…and yes, you guessed it…gone. So, I continue walking…stopped by fruit stand got my dinner of watermelon and other fruit, and headed back to sleeping quarters…It was 8:30 and I was crawling into bed….took me a while to recognize building. ..and took me forever to work the keys to the doors outside, gate, entrance and room…but I made it. Exhausted but happy!!! I looked at my walking app on phone before falling asleep…19.5 miles!

Author: kimmiestravelsblog

A special eduacation teacher....degree in police science, criminal justice, worked in call centers, as behavioral health counselor, foster care manager, worked in restaurants, factories, and many other things..for fun I refinish and refurbish furniture, remodel my house, arts and crafts, beauty pageant work, medieval reenactment, gardening, writing, traveling, movies, reading, beach combing, music concerts, photography......As you are probably seeing by this introduction, I am a little ADHD...I am the one who jumps from one thing of interest to another.....but the way I see it, that is what makes life interesting. View all posts by kimmiestravelsblog