Rome Temps: 32 Celsius feels like 40 Celsius
Euro 2012 – Germany v. Italy – tonight!
Last week’s Rome tours with family kept me pretty busy and by this past weekend all was quiet… my apartment was sort of like a silent tomb. It was quite an eerie feeling. I swear everyone had gone on vacation. Then on Monday I could hear people slowly trickling in as the wheels of their suitcases clanked up the stone steps. Having the quiet time was probably good for me as my nerves were a bit shattered with all of the change going on. This stupid eye twitch had returned and I had drawn a creative blank with everything. I decided I had to take a step back and re-prioritize. So, on Monday I spent a few hours over lunch contemplating and doing online research in an air-conditioned Irish pub. It’s not what you think really… I needed air conditioning! When I ordered water, the Irish employee said “Come on you can do better than that!” I was actually coerced into having a glass of wine with my lunch. I felt a lot better and I think I have enough information for my next steps. Change is so unsettling but its sort of like Life knows what I want to do and is forcing me to take another leap… I keep telling myself “What’s the worst that can happen… that I have to start all over again?”
After my research, I came home to tackle the freezer in my mini fridge. I know that doesn’t sound very exciting but it was not defrosted when I moved in so there was a serious North Pole situation happening. By 6:30 a.m. the next morning there was success and my freezer was completely de-iced.
Vodafone was also on my to-do list this past week. I am getting more and more familiar and comfortable with the different Internet packages for my laptop and my mobile phone. I’ve gone from buying a new version of the “Wind” key that is not compatible with my Mac to having my minutes eaten up because I did not wait for the 4th email advising that Internet Sempre has been initiated. There was actually never to be a 4th email I later found out. I think the person that sold me the package gave me the wrong information. I try to keep a couple of keys handy now because they tend to slow down before the end of the month and it makes it virtually impossible to upload photos or do any sort of internet related work.
After my visit to Vodafone, I decided to check out the Hard Rock Café here in Rome. This was a combined lunch dinner for me. Air conditioning… a welcomed relief. After, I walked another 1.2 km back to the flat stopping to shop along the way… I was not intentionally shopping. I had passed a particular store front window earlier and wanted to take a closer look at something. As I stepped into aircon-heaven I took one look in the mirror… my makeup had melted off and the humidity had taken over my hair again. I found myself staring at a clone of store clerks with perfect hair and makeup, all wearing the store brand of jeans and white t-shirts with a gold lipstick print on the front. The Italian store clerks have a way of convincing me that I do deserve purchases… and this one almost had me in a pair of black heels… but oh no… I was not taking my boots off… that would have been just dangerous.
I put in over 2.5 km of walking so when I got home I went straight into the shower and after I duly rewarded myself with Prosecco… I LOVE Prosecco!
Temperatures continue to be high here in Rome and I am now strategizing and working around the sun’s hot rays. Yesterday morning I was up early and headed down to Trevi Fountain to get photos. Along the way I saw a gypsy woman straightening her costume out and carrying her prop “the walking cane” slung over her arm. By the time I got to the Trevi Fountain I discovered that I was not there early enough as tourists were quickly flocking. Instead of taking pictures of the fountain, I found myself taking pictures of tourists. I think I actually grumbled at one point when a couple asked “Could you take our photo?” I know not very hospitable of me … also one has to be careful of pick pockets who try to distract. Strategy for next Trevi Fountain photo shoot: 6:00 a.m.!
Now I am on the train to meet family in the land of the Winged Lion…. Venice! Looking forward to my Spritz and hoping for a successful weekend. Big game tonight – Germany v. Italia… Forza Italia!
