Italy Day Nine: The Italian Life

Today, Cheryl and I began our official lives as Italians.  No tour group today to help us about town.   We spent the first half of the day catching up on some much needed rest.  After we had gotten up and going we caught the shuttle bus into Rome and walked around the Forum and Coliseum Area wondering what we could do to kill 4 plus hours. 

On the way to the Forum; however, an interesting event transpired.  We are the first passengers onto the bus at the hotel.  The bus arrived at the hotel around 11:30 and then parked out in the parking lot until 11: 40  when the driver brought the bus around to the front lobby.  Anyway, Cheryl and I were the first passengers on.  The bus loaded up the driver walked through the bus and had confirmed that he had everyone's ticket and it was down the road we go.  Approximately half way into Rome the driver's cell phone rings and he is an emotional conversation with the party on the other end.  He also pulls over on the freeway and walks back to the bus.  Now in our limited Italian understanding we can tell he is talking about a bambino.  He quickly drives down the freeway takes an exit and heads back to the hotel.  As we enter into the hotel entrance a woman is standing quite upset and she boards the bus and says something to the effect: " How could you..." 

Evidently, all we can figure out is that her and her husband had caught the bus back from Rome/Airport and their baby had fallen asleep and they had disembarked and had told the driver that they would ride into Rome and be right back.  Hm...well we they get off the bus in Rome, they have a 8-9 year old boy with them and evidently he was the bambino.  I just can't figure out why they would leave their bambino on the bus alone at all.

Yes, everyone today we put my loyalty to the test and I can say I still have my hand after placing it in the Lion's Mouth.  Well okay I got a picture of the Lion but there was no way I was going to wait in line for over an hour to lose my hand.  A picture will have to suffice today.







At least this time we found the vestal virgins




Well after walking around the forum and deciding not to pay 12 Euros each to enter ( been there done that two years ago) we decide that we were hungry.  No breakfast and so visiting one of the streets nearby we sat down at a sidewalk cafe and enjoyed probably for the first time in my life an one and one half hour lunch.  Can I just tell you I kinda of like the Italian life style. 

You know a work shift starting time, or the painted lines in the road, or the traffic signs are only suggestions.  It's one thing that we have notice while particularly here in Rome is the suggested way of living.  Traffic doesn't necessarily stay in the traffic lanes, they straddle the lines and work their way into whatever side of the road they want to be on.  It's an amazing feat to watch 4-5 lanes of traffic come to a 2 lane ahead situation and they without incident manage to keep traffic flowing by just jockeying for position with the other drivers. 

It may be also that they seem to be unaware of what we Americans call "personal space".  Everywhere you go they crowed as close as possible to keep others from slipping ahead of them.  No such things as an Italian waiting in a line.  It's all for one and one for all.  You learn quickly to use your arms and elbows to keep them at bay.  Cheryl became the linebacker for our tour group as she has the gumption to block them from getting ahead of her and then wave our tour group through first.  The group loved her for her linebacker abilities. 

Tiber River in Rome

Well back to our lunch.  We just sat and enjoyed the atmosphere just up the street from the Forum and the food.  I had a pizza and Cheryl had pasta.  Afterwards we talked about what our trip ahead had in store for us and the fun we have had so far.  After a second round of sodas we had some gelato and then it was time to work our way back to the shuttle stop and back to the hotel for the evening. 

Tomorrow it's a train ride to Naples.