I woke up at 4 am this morning so that I wouldn't be late for my 5:22 train to Ventimiglia (or something like that; it's in Italy). I was out the door by 4:30 and me and my bag rattled up the hill to the train station. The neighborhood must have loved me. I got to the train station in the dark to find that it wasn't open yet. I stood outside in the cold and ate a waffle that I had stashed in my bag. At 5:05 or so the train station opened and then I had to wait until about 5:15 for the track to be announced. The second it came up on the board I raced over and got on the train.
The train was empty and dark when I got there. The train was covered in graffiti probably due to its time spent in Italy. I was alone in the car except for a sleeping man. I sat there until it was time for me to get off the train less than an hour later. I switched trains, which happened to mean going one track over, and found my seat. I really liked the train. There were cabins for six people that had controls for heating and air, a light switch, and mirrors. My seat was next to the window. I promptly fell alseep for awhile. It was only going to be a short eight hour train ride to Rome.
I dazed in and out of consciousness for hours. I saw cute beach cities, cute country villages, and then absolutely nothing. Half of the trip was just farm land. Less than fascinating. I did manage to read a chapter for my histories class. I had to have something to entertain me for a bit. I'm not going to talk about the other passengers besides to say that towards the end they were really annoying. I slept for most of the end of the voyage. I awake to find myself drooling into my own coat sleeve. Classy.
I got to Rome and found my way to the exit. I had walking directions, but I was already a little anxious. I got into a cab and watched as the ruins of Rome flew by me. Roman taxi drivers are nuts. Everything in Rome is nuts. The taxi driver dropped me off at my hotel and charged me 17 euros. It was worth it. I would never have found the hotel on my own.
The man at the front desk was less than helpful. It turns out that I forgot my passport and he totally was not happy to only take a copy of it. At least I always have a copy floating around my purse. Another fun shock. The room I'm in tonight doesn't have a private bathroom. He promised to move me to a room with a private bathroom tomorrow while I'm at breakfast. I really don't like Rome already.
I came upstairs, put my bag down, and went out to a tabac (or whatever they're called in Italy) to get myself a three day metro/bus pass. I had to walk quite a ways, but I found it and bought my pass. Then I came back to the hotel and got a map. I was determined to at least see one thing on my list before the end of the day. I have so much to do in Rome that I can't go wasting days. The man at the front desk told me how to get myself on the tram to go to the Colosseum. Five or six streets then I'd see the tram. Take the number three. I met some people on the street and they told me to take the tram to a metro and then go to the Colosseum from there.
I got on the tram number three, after taking some pictures of the area so I wouldn't get lost later, and waited to see the Colosseum. I was getting anxious when I started to see ruins and a pretty church. I then saw a sign for the metro and I got off the tram. I got onto the metro and look for the Colosso stop. It wasn't on that line, but I just happened to see that the Pantheon was near the Barberini stop. I got off at the stop, and saw the Trevi fountain. I took a few pictures and looked around for the Pantheon. It was nowhere to be found. I figured that I'd get back on the metro and find the Colosseum so that I wouldn't waste time.
I was getting kinda upset by this time. I don't speak the language, Rome is crowded, and it's impossible to find anything. I just kept reminding myself that I've survived living in Paris, and I can handle this. I'll find my way around even if I have to get a taxi. I'm in this godforsaken city for a reason. I have ruins to see.
I got on the metro and was able to take the A back to Termini and then take the B to Colosso. I got out of the station and there was the Colosseum. Literally it nearly smacked me in the face. It was smaller than I thought it would be, and there were shops crowded all around it. Not what I had pictured in my mind. I then took some photos of the Arch of Constantine before looking around the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum. They had already stopped selling tickets by the time I got there, but I hiked up the hill and looked out at the complex through the bars. I don't think I'll have time to go back, but I'm pretty satisfied. I've seen what I wanted to see.
I got myself back on the metro and went one stop to Circus Maximus. I walked around a bit and took a few photographs. I started to walk towards an arch I saw in the distance, and it turns out that I found my way back to the Colosseum. I heard some girls speaking English and asked them to take a picture of me in front of the Colosseum. At least I have one photo of myself from my time in Rome.
The Colosseum and me
I hate to say that I wasn't impressed. I've seen Roman ruins before (I just saw some in Nice), and I expected these to be…special. I've spent so much time studying these ruins that I thought I would have a magical moment. It's like my first time at Notre Dame all over again.
By this time it was getting dark quickly. I got on the metro and went back to Manzoni station where I had gotten off the tram. I wanted for the next number three tram to come and got on. I wasn't sure how many stops it would be, but I looked at the map and counted. I positioned myself near the window so that I could see the names of the stops. I got off the tram when I saw a familiar area. I walked quickly back to the hotel because I knew I shouldn't be out at night. I was going to stop and get a kebab, but the man working there seemed kinda creepy.
I kept walking and couldn't find any food that was open. I finally stumbled into a small cafe and got a mozzarella and tomato sandwich. The woman working there and I had a serious language barrier, but I managed to get her to heat up my sandwich a bit and we had a laugh. It was kind of a nice moment. I paid my three euros and started to take the tomatoes off of my sandwich as I walked back to my hotel.
I got upstairs and ate my dinner along with a candy bar from my stash. Thank you Lauren for keeping me well fed while I'm on holiday. I ate most of the cookies you sent me while I was on the train.
I just so happened to email mom and she emailed me back. We finally got to skype today! It was so nice seeing her face. She reassured me that I would be fine here and reminded me to take it easy. Talking to her was exactly what I needed.
I'm going to get up early tomorrow so that I can spend the whole day at the Vatican. I don't want to have another stressful day. Only one metro ride, and I'm using the whole day just for the Vatican. I'm actually looking forward to it.
Wish me luck as I use the communal shower. It's shower time before I try to work on my papers.
Wish me luck on all fronts. How do you say good luck in Italian?
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