Four months in Rome, Part Three

Rome                                                                                                                Monday, August 30, 2010

It’s been almost a week since I arrived and I feel pretty comfortable getting around my neighborhood. I did decide today, though, that it wouldn’t be the best place for someone with bad knees. Some of the cobblestone streets are so uneven it can almost be dangerous to walk. When I know I’m going to do a lot of walking I wear my tennis shoes because I tend to slip off my sandals a lot when I wear them. I always notice older adults hanging onto the arm of another person when they are walking… I just thought they had a close bond, but I decided today, they need the added support to walk on the cobblestones!

 

I’ve had several people ask if all the streets are as close as the ones in many of my pictures. No, not all of the buildings are that close together, but the older neighborhoods are. The really narrow streets are either one-way or pedestrian only. They have those really small 'Smart Cars' here, which get through the narrow streets well and lots and lots of motorcycles. They have normal sized streets and highways just like anywhere else. I’ve tried taking a variety of pictures, but I guess I didn’t get the “normal” stuff on my blog. The narrow streets are just more interesting!

Wednesday is the class orientation for the students. Cheri will be gone because she and Brenda (teaches painting) have an appointment to get their “permit to stay” on that day. This means I’ll be giving the students the orientation for their graphic design classes by myself. I don’t feel nervous about it yet! Cheri and I have been working hard preparing for that first day. We take the students out on a neighborhood “tour” that afternoon. They hope to divide the students into groups of ten to make it easier for the groups to get around. Pia (teaches interior design and lives in Rome full time) wasn’t sure I would be able to lead a group, but I told her I thought I was pretty comfortable in my neighborhood already. They have a map with certain places marked to show the students. Cheri was having internet difficulties today (mine was fine) which is very frustrating, so we went out on the neighborhood tour in the afternoon and marked additional stores we knew our students would be needing during the semester.

It wasn’t quite as hot today because it was a little overcast most of the day. I’m not sure what the heat index is here, but so far the weather is similar to an Iowa summer – hot and humid!

 

I walked to the “Largo di Torre Argentina” (Sacred Area of Largo Argentina) in Rome this morning. I thought the angle of the sun would be better for picture taking. It’s kind of crazy that this huge ruin has been devoted for use as a sanctuary for stray cats! I read a sign that says all of the cats are sterilized, vaccinated and tested. They are cared for through charity. I noticed this morning there were at least two people in part of the sanctuary cleaning and hauling in cat food. The ruins include four Republican Roman temples and the Theatre of Pompey, where Julius Caesar was assassinated.

We had been told that “everyone” goes on vacation the last two weeks in August and that could be easily seen in the number of stores that have been closed. It was refreshing to see my neighborhood in the Jewish Ghetto come alive this morning with most of the shops opening up their doors and sweeping out the dust from the last two weeks. Cheri and I were looking forward to the opening of the “Dollar” store. I stopped before going to the studio to get the “essentials” of daily living. The place was packed with shoppers! I guess I wasn’t the only one holding out to buy certain things until it re-opened! (I took this photo on my way to the “Largo di Torre Argentina” so it looks a little desolate, but by the time I made my way back, the street was full of customers glad the store had re-opened!)

I just wanted to let everyone know I really appreciate your comments about the blog. I don’t have time to answer each of you individually, but I really appreciate hearing from all of you! Without the internet, I know I would be homesick, but I’ve even chatted with some of you on facebook and that has been a lot of fun. I was going to try Google Voice to call home, but when I went to download the program, a box popped up to say they were sorry but that Google Voice wasn’t available yet in Italy. Oh well, Cheri has had really good luck with the phone card she bought, so I’m going to get the same kind. It’s really the only way for me to keep in contact with my parents.

 

Here's a better picture of the fountain in my courtyard and a fun view of my neighborhood... well, maybe fun and laundry shouldn't be in the same sentence!