Day 54- Rain

OK so enough rain already. I was loving it the first two days, because it was a weekend and I didn't have to go out for any reason whatsoever so that meant I was forced to stay in bed under the covers and read and watch shows online. While eating. What agony right?  But now, it's going to class in the rain, and of course having no car really brightens my mood. Rain. On the bus, off the bus. Rain. Metro. Rain. Blahh.

Plus, the rain only furthers my not running this week. Which was critical after all that wonderful French cuisine.  Not good. It didn't really go well last time I went running either.....I think I was maybe lacking in effort so my feet were maybe less off the ground than they should have been...so I tripped and completely ate it. Faceplanted. It was pretty bad. Of course it was hilarious, and as my eyes automatically got watery, I laughed for about 10 minutes at myself...but it was still bad. I looked like a ten-year-old with a rip in my leggings and my hands all scraped. This guy and some lady came over to me to see if I was OK (I can't stop laughing even as I'm replaying this in my head) and began talking in Italian and all I knew how to say was that I was OK and thank you.  How sad not being able to justify in the least bit why you were just lying on the ground. Awesome haha. Anyway..I will start to do exercise inside soon if this weather keeps up.

Speaking of exercise...and food...Valerio made more risotto.  And this time I paid attention so I am hoping I can make a batch myself soon. Risotto di Funghi (Mushrooms). It was delishh.  And soon he'll be showing me how to make artichokes the "Roman Way" with the fresh ones we bought at a fair that is done in honor of the artichoke, that are now in season here. The Sagra del Carciofo Romanesco, took place on the streets of Ladispoli, a small coastal town about 40 minutes from Rome. So basically never-ending stands of artichokes, as wells those that ranged of things from fresh cheese and salami, to clothes and cooking utensils.  The artichokes are however, different from what I usually have in the States or Chile, because they're smaller and the leaves have a purple hue in them, which actually makes them quite pretty and flowerlike. From what I can see, the leaves are also tougher so I've noticed they only use the inner leaves and the heart to cook with. For lunch we stopped at a place with a set menu, every item containing artichoke. Artichoke gnocchi and lasagna, prawns and calamari with artichoke sauce, and the highlight of my day, FRIED artichokes. See for yourself.

Carciofi Friti!

So..plans for this weekend: it's the Settimana della Cultura or Culture Week. Which is amazing (as long as it STOPS RAINING!), because to promote and celebrate the culture of Rome, they open the doors to all of the museums and historical sights for free! So that means I'm going to get my tourist on (finally) at all the places there are to offer in the city that is my "current location". I am also hoping to look into a guided tours of ancient ruins outside of Rome, as well as a cello concert that looks interesting. We'll see. And I won't be at it alone, because Catalina, a girl Coni and I met in Paris is coming to stay with me until Tuesday. She's actually Colombian and is living in Berlin, so I'm sure she'll be all for seeing the sights.

Besides that, it looks like it'll be Napoli and Pompei next...Sound good?

Day 28- Secrets of Rome

Just booked flights for my first trip outside of Italy, for my Easter vacation. We're off from April 5-11, but I'm taking off the first few days of that week and we'll be leaving March 30th. So it'll be Rome-Milan-Budapest-Paris-Rome. I can't even. SO excited. Tomorrow I have to look for places to stay and of course being the way that I am, will try and make some sort of itinerary of must-do things.  Any suggestions?

Besides that, not too much has gone on.  Went out last night for a little and there is definitely a big difference between weeknights and weekends...the city was so much more alive. And Campo di Fiori was nice, because it's like a plaza with a bunch of bars and pubs, so while you're at one bar you can sort of people watch everyone that's walking around. It's funny you can always tell who's American...flip flops in April? I learned that lesson when I moved to Chile and tried to wear sandals in September. People must have thought I was crazy too.  And then there were the bridesmaids out for what I'm guessing was the bachelorette party. All in their matching dresses with sashes that said "bridesmaid #1, #2, #3", very methodically avoiding the spaces between each cobblestone with their stilettos-definitely not walking in a straight line anymore. That's one I'll have to practice. But I'm surprised at how early places close, everything was closed by 2:30. Which, if I think about it, is actually a good thing considering it takes me at least an hour to get home. Dumb buses.

And then I'm starting to notice little things about a place that you can only notice by living there. Which really kinda makes me happy because that's why I'm doing this. It's why I made the effort of making this my experience instead of just coming here on another vacation. I've learned through being in Chile that there is nothing more special than actually starting to feel like you're part of another culture. There are little details that are like secrets; only those who stay long enough, know about them. Know why things are a certain way, or how things came to be. And of course I'm not there yet...but there are some details that at first were just that-uncommon things that I noticed where different than in Chile, or United States.  And now...now they blend into my routine. They have become common.  Like the sirens. I hope it's not that more people have emergencies here, but a siren wails through the streets at least 4 times a day. And the birds chirp so much earlier than anywhere else.  I mean these are the birds the saying was based on...they're up and singing right now. It's 1 in the morning. Chilean birds are much more lazy. Which is ironic because you would think that being Italian birds, they would be as relaxed as the people. I went to go buy something yesterday and everything but the pizzerias were closed. Lunch break. Nap time. For 3 hours. Amazing. And there are the constant motorcycles and vespas that go by. That vrrooom sound that is starting to put me to sleep like an ocean would. I now understand that just because they are talking loudly and gesturing grandly doesn't mean they're fighting. It's just a conversation. I wonder if I'd look foreign doing that when I can actually complete more than a few sentences in Italian.  Anyway, I like these things that are no longer details for me. I want so much for the list to grow, to feel less....in a bubble? Or outside the bubble? But that is only possible with time, I know.