Rome: La Citta Eterna

I've been here long enough now to have a pretty good idea of what makes Rome the city it is. There are ridiculous amounts (not portion sizes, mind you) of delicious food on every corner. There are the Romans that speed by on motorcycles in personally tailored suits and those that just sit on a stoop and throw bread at pigeons. Don't forget about the gypsies either. Although all these things and people contribute to Rome in their own way (even gypsies), I feel the city itself (the streets, buildings, and the connection between them) makes Rome one of the most fascinating places on Earth.

As I've walked the piazzas, gotten lost in side alleys trying to find the hotel, eaten pizza at restaurants in the shadow of famous buildings, I've learned that wherever you go there is history in every step. Rome is a city that has been built up over the centuries. The basements of today's buildings were yesterdays store fronts. Rubble and refuse from ancient structures and everything else that has piled up over the years has raised the city up dozens of feet in some places. I have learned so many interesting things about the city within the short time I've been here and I'm sure that I'll keep learning new things about this place until the day I leave.

Sketching in Piazza della Maddalena. An Italian guy walked
by a few minutes later and started oinking at me. Odd.

As far as life in Rome goes, its pretty interesting. I have a better idea of how to get from A to B and not get lost, and I've also found a place where I can get some decent pizza for under 3 euro. That being said, "pizza" in Rome can mean an couple of different things. There are three types of pizza I've found:

1. Pizza that is basically a sandwich with meat and cheese in between
2. Pizza that is like American pizza other than the fact it's really plain and is cold because it has been sitting at the counter for 3 hours
3. Pizza that is freshly cooked at a restaurant (aka Pizza Margaretta, etc.)

Types 1 and 3 are really good. I have tried to stay away from the second type. It lacks pizazz (no pun intended) and could use about a pound of pepperoni and sausage and get the assistance of a new invention that just came out a few years ago. The oven.

Nightlife has been great, too. After classes, my friends and I have gone out and explored the city and all it has to offer. There was one night where we sat on the Spanish Steps and just chatted. Another night, we ventured off to find a pizza place that we soon found out didn't exist and did the next best thing by eating at the restaurant across the street from its supposed location. We've seen quite a bit so far, but it still amazes me how much there is still to see. Luckily I have eight more months to see all the sights.