"I rejoice to say I did not"

We are in Rome.

We arrived yesterday by train. Thanks to Caroline. We were aware of the transportation strike today - Friday - so we arrived without a problem. Strikes and demonstrations seem to be the norm in Rome judging from our first day here. But, they are orderly and good natured. The police are out in force. Helicopter churns above. A lot like Paris. Demonstrate in Siena, no coverage. Tie up traffic in Rome and it is news.

Not sure what the rules are because trains and buses seem to still run. Taxis are not at the stand but if you call they still are on the street. There are rules but I am not sure what they are. But, thanks to Caroline, I do not need to know.

Like Paris, protest marches are a penalty of living in the city.

Great hotel. Just off the Temini (major train station) and very nice. Again, we have an elevator out of  the "Bourne Identity" or "Third Man". This one is cooler than the others because it is a cage with double doors to open before the gate door. Gregory Peck looking at Audrey Hepburn comes to mind.
We have our first shower curtain. The joy is short lived with a shower head in a ridiculous position so you shower quickly.

We saw a little of Roma today.

Rome is different than the other Italian cities we visited. More of a big city to feel to it. The cars are bigger and more limo drivers. Mercedes dealership in Rome is making out alright.

All I have ever heard is about Italian drivers, particularly Rome, is that they are crazy. My opinion is the same comment I made in other cities - they know where they are going. You do not. The streets here confusing And, just like New York, Chicago or LA, they do not suffer hesitation easily. Just like driving and walking in the Loop before Daley took the sport away.

The Spanish Steps

For example, they have crosswalks in Rome. Step off the curb and the drivers will stop. But, it is the same faith in the certainty of life that a matador exhibits which each pass of the cape. ""It should work. The bull will keep his head down and will not hook with his horn". Step off the curb and enjoy your own "Afternoon in the Sun".

We walked to the Spanish Steps in the morning - about 30 minutes. I cannot image what summer crowds must be like in Rome. Every tourist we have met begins or ends in Rome. We have met people who have toured Rome in two days. It would be hard. Sistine in the morning and Colosseum at night. Can be done but why. "Always leave something undone in life so that you don't know when the journey ends". Now there is a quote to look up.

Rome is taller than I thought with more curved buildings to go with curved streets.  Florence and Milan do feel like small cities next to Rome. Every building is a monument. In Florence, the buildings are 600-800 years old. In Rome, they really are ancient. They are everywhere. In some cases, they do not even try to name them.

We saw the Victor Emanuel Monument by accident. It is huge. It is excessive by any imagination but some how it fits into the city.

Victor Emmanuel Monument

View from the top of the Spanish Steps

From the top of Spanish steps the view is panoramic. The steps themselves are a little of a bust. Only 138 steps, it is a jog to the top. The people watching is excellent. The city changes at the Steps. It becomes more urbane and more tourist. The big hotels begin at the Steps.

We quickly visited the "Trevi Fountain". Unfortunately, it is being repaired. Watching the work being done, I understand why. The workers are carefully removing water scales from the fountain stones. The fountain is the façade of a building - honest. Can you imagine how it must look. It is in a very small piazza. I have no idea why the fountain exists. It is formidable in size. I think part of the attraction is that it is a surprise. You turn a corner on narrow "via" and there it is.

You can still throw a coin in the fountain for your wish. We did.

We have meant a lot of interesting people. In Siena we met a lady from New Mexico by way of Seattle who was traveling Italy by herself. Her husband decided to stay home.

Today, we met a couple from Jackson, Mississippi. They had toured Venice and Florence before Rome and saw more than we did in those cities.

What is interesting is everyone does it differently. Some are "check list" tourist. Some are interested in the adventure. Some for the history. I think we are the adventurers. We want to learn about the people and places.