Everything about it is strange. First, and most obviously, the guy photo bombed with out me noticing... congrats to him. Secondly, the girl just looks adorably embarrassed. And finally, the drawing has the girl and guy on opposite sides. Many artists do street portraits here to make money and I just wanted to photograph the phenomenon. This is what I end up with.
It's exceedingly difficult to capture people candidly.
While atop the Spanish Steps, the view was spectacular. I felt like I could see all over Rome. The Sistine Chapel rose up brilliantly in a haze, far off in the distance. It was striking. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to capture the experience with a camera. Of course, I tried.
Also atop the Spanish Steps, I got Gyped... literally. He was slick. He started talking to me, asking me where I was from. I thought, Italians are friendly! Then he says, "show me your hand real quick." In hind-sight, obviously I shouldn't have. He tied a string around my finger and quickly began making a bracelet. I knew right away.
Actually, he was quite talented. He finished up and his buddy asked for 10 euro. I laughed and said 2 euro at the most. Then he said ten-five, which either meant 15 euro and that he didn't understand bargaining or that he would drop it to 5 euro. I said no way, 2 euro. He said ten-five again. So, I gave him a 2 euro, he took our picture, and I left.
I thought I was the smart American.
I was upset at first, but I thought I might as well just let it happen and enjoy it. I think the sad part is that this guy is talented, nice, and speaks English well, but is stuck scamming stupid tourists. It says something about the employment situation in Roma, which is bleak.
Later that evening, after Skyping with my Mom and Dad (adults using Skype below... hilarious), I met some friends and had some coffee right across the street at Tazza d'oro. According to Rick Steves, this is the best coffee in Rome and I've been going there just about every day. It's pretty delicious.
Then, we went to the store and bought some bread and Peroni with the sole intention of consuming our purchase in the Piazza Rotunda outside the Pantheon. We sat down and we reached a consensus that never in a million years did we think we'd be doing anything like this. Ancient Roman monument, modern beer, bread, friends, and fun. Something special.
(Credit: Samantha Weiss)
I cooked some dinner and got ready to go clubbing. (Parents look away)
Picked up a couple bottles of wine on the way over to our friends. We took the tram, Rome's favorite public transportation... which nobody pays for (more on that later).
The clubs we went to were in a district called Testaccio, south-east of the river. The way the clubs are set-up is the coolest part. The clubs encircle the base of a small hill. They are man-made caves with run-down brick and stone facades and terraces with neon lights. They are lined up, one after another. Only clubs. Nothing else. Each club is bumpin' there own house DJ music.
(Credit: Google Maps)
There is parking all around with drunken, Italian teenagers and young adults everywhere. Food stands selling pastries line the streets (not really my idea of drunk food). The atmosphere was exhilarating.
As Americans, we couldn't get anywhere without having to pay a cover charge of 10 to 20 euro. So, we didn't really 'go' clubbin' last night. We did find an American club which didn't charge a cover and we spent the night there.
We left around 3:00am and things felt like they were just getting started around us. On our way, I had a cigarette butt thrown at me from the back seat of a car (it bounced off my hair and I was fine). Maybe it's because I'm American, maybe it's because I'm blonde, or maybe it's because they were just hammered. In any case, I came to realize that as a middle-class, white American, I had never experienced anything remotely close to hate before. It made me understand and empathize, ever so slightly, with those who have struggled through hate. And, I must emphasize, ever so slightly.
Basically, it's not a good feeling to be different and have shit thrown at you. Something for everyone to remember.
I trekked the rest of the 45 minute walk home and fell right to sleep.
