Roman hospitality
Trip Start
May 25, 2007
1
68
73
Trip End
Oct 29, 2007
Rome,
Italy
Sunday, September 2, 2007
As we drove from the airport to go get breakfast I realized that in the past 3 and a bit months I've only been in a car twice, including this time. It was a strange feeling, really. I'd gotten so used to public transport that a car feels, well, so foreign.
As we sat eating breakfast a young girl, maybe 7 years old, came up to us with a cup in her hand. Obviously she was looking for a hand out, but it was strange not only cause she was so young but because she came right into the patio area, going from table to table. Giuditta talked with her for a minute (in Italian, so I just sat there blankly) and then they went inside. Apparently Giu had offered to buy her something to eat instead of just giving her the money. Good plan, and a tactic that many others I've come across have used. But the little girl refused! She just wanted the cash.
Later, as we were leaving, the child was on the street hitting up other people when she finally accepted the offer. She walked away with a mighty tasty looking ice cream cone.
After getting back to the apartment I met one of her roommates, a really tall guy called Luca. He was friendly, but admittedly distracted due to his impending move to London for school. She had another roommate but he wasn't around.
I was able to stay at Giuditta's place because she was going to be in London for a wedding. Unfortunately she had to leave that afternoon, so I didn't get to see her for the rest of the the time I was in town. It was a shame, but I was (and still am) very thankful for her hospitality. Before she left she even made some dinner for me and the guys, which was fantastic.
The rest of the afternoon I spent, as usual, walking the city. Starting at the Piazza del Popolo I saw the Pantheon, the Capitol Building, down past the Forum to the Coliseum, over to the Arch of Constantine (where I found out yes, it is possible to pay €4 for a .5l bottle of Fanta), then over to the Church of St. Maria Maggiore.
It was a hot, beautiful day. I'm looking forward to enjoying as many of these as possible before I have to go home.
