Anja was impressed that I was going to go 10 days traveling with just my little red backpack. I'll admit I wanted to bring more, but it felt better to have my hands freer and not have to deal with any rolling bags dragging around behind me.
My first impression of Rome was a bathroom that smelled like they mopped the floors with urine instead of water. That and the rush of tourists that looked as alarmed and wary as I felt on the inside. Even the kiosk where I bought my train ticket advised me (in an automated voice of a women with a choppy Italian accent) to "beware of pickpockets." I'll be happy when I'm reunited with Blake and Laura and we will be able to watch each others' backs.
Finding the train was easy enough, and not checking any luggage proved to be the right course of action. The ride toward the city center through the countryside from the airport was pleasant despite every travelers' shifty eyes and overall distrust of everyone around them. A happy group of Argentinians chatted up a storm next to me all the way to Roma Trastevere, and then it was time for almost everyone to lift off. I had fun exercising my Spanish skills for a little while on the trip. Have I mentioned that I think my Spanish is getting better while I'm in Sweden? Every time I want to say anything I'm always caught in the realization that I can say it in two languages, but not the one that would be the best. I'm fortunate that everyone in Sweden speaks English better than I speak Spanish. :)
My walking path carried me across the Tiber River on a pleasant evening toward our Airbnb. There were just enough people to keep me from feeling lonely, and few enough people to make it a pleasant and uneventful journey.
It was only about a 1.5 km walk and I found the place with ease (again, thank goodness for google maps and my amazing boyfriend).
Our host and his roommate are fantastic. They have an entire collection of maps for us to use while we are here all ready for us to carry around with us. The place is really safe feeling too. Street gate, building gate, floor gate, a lock on the front door, and a pad lock to my room if I want it. That also means I have to carry around a set of 5 keys, but that's ok. There are also 3 different bus lines that run from POIs around the city almost literally to our front door. Laura picked well 😊
I just got back from the little market on the corner with some yogurt and crackers for dinner and maybe breakfast depending on how I'm feeling tomorrow. I think it might be bed time now. Blake and Laura will be here around 11 tomorrow morning, so maybe I'll run out and scout a good lunch place for us in the morning so even if they are tired, maybe they won't be too hungry.
NOTE: I didn't bring my computer so I have no idea what these posts will come out looking like... Forgive me my formatting and spelling errors for a while 🙃
Ciao 🙌🏽
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