"I have to leave you now"

It is our second to last day in Italy. We leave Monday morning at 6:00 AM.

Betty and I have been traveling since October 6th. We are excited to get home and get back into a routine. We have been invigorated by having the kids with us the last two weeks. It has helped. The Roman apartment has helped also. It is comfortable and we have a home if only for two weeks.

We are content with Italian cable TV. There are tons of channels. Italians love their News channels judging by the  number available. Italians love to shop. Just like the US, there are, at least, fifteen QVS type channels. They are all in Italian.

We have found the "Crime" channel which has Matlock and Law & Order reruns. We originally found the channel in Siena and it is now our "go to" channel. We have learnt to change the language to English.

We do watch Italian TV in the morning. We can follow the Italian news somewhat - but we need a lot of video. In Europe, they do not have the fascination with weathermen that we do in the US. Two minutes tops in an hour show.

Early morning on the "Crime" channel is a cop show from Belgium (in Flemish, figure that out) and a French police show which has followed us through Europe. Here, the show is in Italian.  Evenings are Matlock and Law and Order in English.

I have gained a great of respect for the actors who do "dubbing". These guys are geniuses. Matlock actually looks like he is speaking Italian.

Everyone is tired from three days of Metro and train rides throughout Rome and to Pompeii. It is Saturday and everyone goes their own way to shop or do laundry. We have bought some souvenirs along the way. But, the acquisitions have been minimal since we have had limited space. We have traveled fifty four days with two carry-on suitcases and two backpacks. With the next packing being for the trip home, we can jettison some personal items we no longer need and cramp gifts into our baggage.

I am a poor shopper. I am on my own. I believe the trick in buying souvenirs is to try to find items people will use and also feel that you put some thought and effort into the purchases. The problem is that this is a global marketplace. Thirty years ago, you could buy a gift from an Italian manufacturer or shop that was unique to Italy. The gift would be identified as Italian and special.

Now, you can find that same Italian designer brand with the same "Made in Italy" tag in a store in Woodfield Mall or on Michigan Ave..

The other issue with buying in a quaint Italian shop is the cost. It is actually cheaper to buy Italian goods in the US. First, there is the Italian sales tax of 22% (it is included in the price which makes comparison even more difficult). Then, there is the Euro/Dollar which is roughly a 20% premium to the dollar. Finally, there is the exchange rate that credit card companies charge which is anywhere from 2%-4%.

Europe is not cheap. But, worth it. But, this does make that special gift harder to find.

I decide to go for gifts that are decidedly Roman - soccer jerseys, hats and scarfs.

We are back to the apartment by about 1 PM. Betty and I suggest the Hard Rock Cafe for lunch. The Hard Rock has become our place. For Betty and I, who have had great Italian food, it is a respite  from antipasto, primo piatto and secondo piatto. The great thing about the Hard Rock Cafe, as with MacDonald's, is that Romans like it as much as we do. Good food is good food.

After a very American lunch, we break-up. John and Angela decide to visit the National Roman Museum at Il Palazzo Massimo alle Terme which is near the Piazzo de Republica and across the street from Termini Station. If all this sounds familiar, it is the location of the Baths of Diocletian. As I said in an earlier blog "turn your head and you see centuries". Also, I finally figured out why the train Station is called "Termini". The Roman name for a Bath complex is "Terme". The station borders the Baths of Diocletian.

Victor Emmanuel Monument

I think John and Angela want to be tourists by themselves. They flew in Monday afternoon after attending a wedding in Santa Barbara on Saturday. They have endured three flights and three airports. They have also lost nine hours to time changes. In four days in Rome, they have walked the Tiber river; marveled at the Pantheon; consumed great food and wine; shopped; learnt the Roman Metro system; visited the Colosseum twice; walked by Victor Emannuel Monument three times, been to the Sistine Chapel, St Peter's, the Roman Forum and all the other Forums and, finally, Pompeii. They have probably walked thirty five miles.

All the time, John and Angela have John's parents as guides. They deserve a break from us and have an adventure.

The Tiber River Stroll 

I think they enjoyed themselves. I am glad they are young and their bodies will forgive. Having Caroline, John and Angela with us has been the best gift possible.

Caroline decides that she wants to see "Hunger Games - Mockingjay" in English. She asks for volunteers. I volunteer. Caroline has located two theaters in Rome that are playing the movie in English. One is in an area of Rome that is the other side of the Tiber. We are not confident that we can find it. The other theater is just off a Metro "B" line station.

Pantheon

We elect this latter station since we will be traveling at night. The feature starts at 7:00 PM. It is December. It is dark by 5:30 PM.

Subway stations do change at night. they are quiet and darker. On the "A" train, we have company. As we transfer to the "B" train, we are now in a uncharted land. The "B" appears to be newer and our stop station is new. It is empty. We raise out of the station on the escalator to a part of Rome we have not experienced before.

The area is more current and newer. There must be a school or University near by. This is a part of Rome that tourist do not see often.

Caroline leads the way. She is very confident. I am lukewarm to the idea that we are walking in the right direction. I work on the theory that you look for crowds or gathering people walking in a purposeful manner. In short, follow the guy in front of you until you are sure you are lost.

In Rome, there are no signs. This is a multiplex with eight to ten theaters. In America, there would be parking and the building would be 4 stories high with flashing signage.

In Rome, the theater is around the corner and off the main boulevard. It is crowded. It is two stories high. Now, I realize that this is not a tourist area and I may have to actually in communicate in Italian.

We stand in line for the tickets (we think it is the line for tickets since everyone else is in this line). It dawns on me that there must be English speaking people here since the movie is advertised as in the original language. So, I may stutter and be embarrassed, but I will get tickets.

The Ticket Lady is very nice. In an exchange of Italian and English, Caroline and I have two tickets for Hunger Games. The tickets are in Italian but I am better at reading than speaking.

Google Translator is great, but I need WiFi. You can purchase data plans when you purchase an Italian SIM card to replace your US SIM card or when you purchase an Italian cellphone. We have done neither and have relied on Skype for calls home so we need wifi.

We stand in line for Coke Light (Diet). I get the coke, but have to go back for a cup. My guess is that I missed the clue that a coke cup cost extra. The counter man is helpful and we get a water cup which is free.

The theater has an interesting system. Each theater is numbered and there is basically a "go/no go" light above the entrance. Hunger Games is in one of the below ground level theaters. We are early so we wait. I approach the velvet rope keeper as to access. Firmly, "No". he says.

When you do not speak the language, there is an anxiety when you are waiting. "Did I miss something." "Why is that line moving and not mine." No matter how many times you are in the right line, the fear remains.

Sure enough, the green light goes on and we march down the steps. The theater room has stadium seating. Since this is Italy, everyone is talking. What if they talk throughout the movie? What is the proper etiquette for "shut up" in Italian.

No problem, when the trailers start (and there are great many), there is quiet. Yes, they have shut off cellphone cartoon. When the movie starts there is silence.

The movie itself is in English with Italian subtitles. I have no idea who makes up this audience. I am sure there are American students; American families living in Rome; Italians who want to practice their English skills (we hear a lot of Italian being spoken) and two American tourists.

Caroline enjoys the movie. Even through I have only seen the first Hunger Games movie and have not read the books, I can follow the plot. The first half of the movie, I try to read the subtitles. It is interesting how translations try to explain another language's idioms. Italian is a language of verbs and conjunction and opposed to English which is a language of nouns.

There is an intermission. Italians are polite and also want you to buy  refreshments.

When we leave, the streets are empty and we have to remember how we got here. Caroline again is much more confident that I am. Now, the station is really empty. We find the ticket machine (there is always a ticket machine - and one will work). On the "B" train to Termini. Transfer to the "A". A brief walk around the Spanish Steps (which still has tourists) and home.

I am sure that Rome has a great night life. Italians love their evening strolls after dinner and the crowds are very large. My experience is that after 10 PM, the streets begin to empty quickly. Shops and restaurants close about 10 PM. It might be a tourist area thing. But I have walked enough in Italy to be pretty sure that
I am right.

Tomorrow our last day in Italy and the trip home.