Rome-ing Around

Milan from the Air

The following is part 1 of a 2 part series I have sent to my family via e-mail. Deal with it, you're getting the hand-me-downs...

Hello all, and welcome to the first installment of "Joe's Adventures with Strangers..."

So this past week has been pretty hectic. It all started last Tuesday with the adventure to Chicago with Lou and MM. There was a huge traffic jam on the way to Chicago somewhere around the Michiana (Michigan/Indiana) area, so Papa D used his wit and grit to somehow maneuver our way to the Windy City -- it was pretty exciting when I wasn't falling asleep.

We stayed at a lovely Double Tree near O'Hare after showing my house near Loyola to Mom and Dad, and then we feasted like kings at Gibson's Steakhouse. I had a lovely cut of beef, thank you for asking.

My parents were even so generous as to let me sleep in their room on a spacious pull out sofa at the foot of their KING SIZE BED for my last night in America! YAY!

Then Wednesday came, and it all hit the fan...

After waking, waiting for Mom to punch her time sheet, and traveling to the airport, we finally realized that Milan was being bombarded with some absurd amount of snow so the airplane couldn't even reach O'Hare. I was stuck.

Luckily, I was introduced to a wonderful guy (Robert Johnson) and we shared a room at the Wyndham right near O'Hare. AirOne gave us the room and some food vouchers for the inconvenience, so it wasn't too bad at all. Looking back, I am happy that we were delayed because it really allowed for a lot of us to get to know each other in a different way instead of the really crappy icebreakers like a trust fall or some name game.

We had to check out by noon, but our flight was scheduled to leave Chicago sometime around 6 or so, so you can imagine how much fun it was sitting in the international terminal for an extended period of time.

The flight wasn't bad at all really. Somewhere over the Atlantic it got a little bumpy, but other than that all was well. We landed in Milan around 11 AM Italy Time, so do the math as to how jet lagged I was (and kinda still am). After being cattled like steer ready for slaughtering, our big group of American tourists boarded a flight specifically being held for us destined for Rome. You can imagine how happy the handful of people waiting on board were when we showed up loud and cranky, eager to get the F off another plane.

We landed in Roma safely, but the baggage sitch is still an issue for a lot of people here. Some don't have bags still (it's almost been a week). Thankfully, I have both of mine so we can stop talking about THOSE people.

Those of us who had both of our bags were then bussed over from the airport to the John Felice Rome Center in Monte Mario. Surprisingly, I was more excited to be closer to a bed than I was to actually be in Italy (Yay ungrateful American!)

I was amazed at how dirty the surrounding areas of Rome are. Every inch of every wall seems to be coated in some form of graffiti. Anything from love notes to swastikas can be found in the blink of an eye -- I would have never imagined it. It's not too bad per se, because it does give me more to look at, but it is a little unsettling to see how people treat their cities no matter the history or beauty the town truly carries. Oh, and no one picks up their dog's shit either so you have to either walk in the street and cheat death with every passing step because the drivers are f-ing maniacs; or you run the gauntlet on the sidewalk and chance smelling like a dog's asshole for the rest of the day. I guess local Italians really think their shit doesn't stink?

I have been able to walk around downtown Roma only once since I have been here! Since we arrived a day later than planned, our orientation schedule that was planned to a T was now consolidated into a lot of great trips! This past weekend we took a bus early in the morning to Tuscany, and stayed in Siena. (More buses, yeah!)

All I could say is WOW. It was gorgeous. I can't even begin to describe (but I will) how gorgeous the countryside is. We stayed at the Hotel Garden -- this amazing hotel villa on a bluff snuggled between the hills just outside of the city. I'll be sending pictures of this place when I can (we don't have wireless in our rooms, I am in a computer lab down the hall right now.)

We were supposed to do all this "planned" stuff Loyola scheduled for us, like lunch, talks, blah blah blah boring right? Of course I was first in line to say F that. Myself with a group of about 7 or so walked (like a 2 mile walk, but it was so worth every step) into town from our hotel because the D'uomo wasn't going to be open the next day when we were "allowed" to have free time. [The D'uomo is the cathedral in downtown Siena, and it is redonculous.] Oh! And along the way is when we stopped to have our inaugural slice of pizza in Italy! Ham and cheese. Yum. So so good.

We walked through the Piazza del Campo too, and this time I really cannot even describe it to you -- words don't do it justice. (If you have seen the opening scene of the new James Bond film, it's the place where the huge horse race takes place in the opening fight scene.) I'll be sending postcards out to all of you, so get ready for some imagery!

Um, there's so much I can tell you but right now I am so overwhelmed that I need to pause and think of what to tell you next! That night we walked back into town and went to a few bars around Siena. Again, gorgeous. I want to live there.

Of course we all went to the sleazy American bar there, but this is after a buddy I met here (who luckily can hold his own in Italian) and I went to a makeshift bar next to an ice rink in the center of town, and met up with some local kids. You know the scene in movies when a guy walks into a room that he REALLY stands out in and everyone looks at him? Yeah, like music stops, everyone stares, and there's no sound but the guy's feet sliding ignorantly across the floor? I am that guy, welcome to my life. Enjoy.

It wasn't too bad though, so I really can't knock it that much.

After we met up with some locals we headed to a few pubs and ended the night there.

We headed back to Rome on Sunday, only to wake up early once again to go to Hadrian's Villa on Monday. It was incredible to walk through his palaces and imagine the Roman Emperor living life within the walls. I'll be sending pics right after this so you can get some visuals too.

Ok, I know I'm a scatterbrain and I hate to do this but I'm stopping right here cause I could keep going on and on and on. So I'll be sending another e-mail real soon cause now we don't have day trips to take all my time away.

(The second part will soon follow...)