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Thanks to weather (or perhaps workers going on strike), my original flight was cancelled and rescheduled for several days later. It actually ended up working out as I was upgraded to first class to make up for the inconvenience. I don't know how I will fly economy ever again!
I landed in Fiumicino, Italy with one and a half suitcases (one I left partially empty for when I return) by myself with no contacts and without the ability to communicate. All I had was 80 euro and an address: Via Santa Maria Dell'Anima 30.
Knowing the Fiumicino cab drivers charged a minimum of 60 euro for a ride to Rome, I set out in search of the train that runs between the airport and Termini Stazione. After buying my ticket (11euro) and almost getting on the wrong train, I found myself stepping onto the Fiumicino-Termini Train and embarking on a one way trip to the heart of Rome.
Disoriented, alone, and mentally and physically tired from both lack of sleep and carrying my luggage everywhere (Italians love stairs) I wandered out onto the notorious streets surrounding Termini Stazione. After a short time, I found a group of cab drivers huddled together speaking fast Italian. One noticed me and leapt from the group, “CAB?! You need cab?” he said pointing at his car and waving his hands.
“Si, si!” I nodded after ensuring the vehicle was one of the legitimate, white, metered taxis of Rome. He opened the trunk and helped me toss my luggage in.
The ride was as expected: crazy, fast, and with more than a couple middle fingers involved. He dropped me off about two blocks from my apartment claiming that Piazza Navona was under construction and that he could not drive there (I’m fairly certain he just didn’t feel like navigating through the back roads).
“Ventinove euro.” The cab driver said.
“Gratzie.” I said as I handed him a 50. He produced 10 euro in change (most likely assuming I wouldn’t understand how much ventinove (29) was. After a bit of arguing over correct change, he produced another 5 euro and proceeded to act like he couldn’t understand me. Giving up, I set off to find my apartment, and the rest of the day, like much of Rome, is history.
Since then I have stocked up on food (the first couple days were rough), figured out when to shower so that I have hot water, rearranged my room, consumed a few bottles of wine, bought a jacket, started my classes, visited the pantheon (I buy groceries there… no, not kidding), the Forum, the Colosseum, Trajan’s market, and St. Peters, shopped at the Campo Dei Fiori farmers market (my studio overlooks the piazza), walked the 7 hills of Rome, went bar hopping on the Colosseum pub crawl with 15 of my classmates and a sketchy Canadian guide by the name of Tac, watched an authentic Italian movie, Skyped with Kathleen and my parents, bought an Italian phone, and finished 30% of my history class grade (I was assigned a week long project the day before it was due and I somehow pulled it off. Go me!).
That just about brings you up to speed! I’m sure I’ve forgotten something, but all will be revealed soon enough. Besides, I need to go to bed because we are going to see some priceless works of art tomorrow (well… today) at 10:00am.
Buona Sera!
-BJC
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