These last few days have been filled with orientation. Rome is a very confusing city with many narrow, curvy streets flanked with tall buildings. So, I guess it is necessary.
Most of the orientation is boring, touristy and fast.
At our free orientation meals, Rick Steves' son, Andy Steves has been advertising his 'special' travel packages. It seems like a rip-off, but Andy himself is really knowledgeable and very cool. He held a free walking tour with an optional dinner and I attended with some of my new acquaintances (below: Joe, Ellen, Sam).
This was the best orientation so far! We walked from Trastevere, across the Ponte Sisto (below), through Campo dè Flori, to the Piazza Navona and finally to the Pantheon. He briefly and casually stated a few fun facts and got on with it.
The dinner occurred just outside the Pantheon, and Andy called ahead and rented out the whole place. For 15 euro, we had all you could drink wine, bruscetta, pasta and pizza. It was a party. At the end, the bartenders opened what they called "sexy wine" which was sparkling red wine with strawberry flavor. Italians really like to entertain and have a good time.
The wine may have caused me to leave my scarf. However, this may have been the best thing to happen that night. The next morning I stopped in and asked if they had seen it (in the best Italian I could), they said they had not. Before I even turned towards the door, the bartender had a glass of "sexy wine" already poured for me. Yes, it was 9:30 am. You can't say no. Plus, it helped the hangover. We talked. I asked his name and where he was from (again in the best Italian I could). He is Sandro from Albania. He wanted to pour me another, but I said I still had to shower and get to my RA meeting.
Later that day, as I was walking by the pantheon (below) and his restaurant, he was smoking a cigarette and saw me and called my name. Sure enough, he had found my scarf! I said grazie.
People here are surprisingly nice and they love when you try to speak Italian, even if you butcher it.
