Rome

August 22nd
Rome

Today was my third visit to Rome, but my first time back in about a year. I had signed up for a “Rome on your Own” tour, or basically a bus ride there and back, with the plan of exploring some areas I haven’t hit in my previous visits. Ben (tenor player) was on the same tour and we met up in the city to start the day off together. Ben had his mind set on going to the top of St. Mark’s Basilica, something that he’d been recommeneded to do from some old friends. Being something new to me, I was up for it, and 5 euros and 500 stairs later, we were standing at the top of the dome looking out over the city. It was actually a really interesting ascent, probably more so than any other stairwell I’ve yet to encounter. Aside from it just being cool that you’re climbing to the top of the copula, there were times that the walls would slant with the bell shaped walls we were climbing inside of – I felt like I was hanging out with Willy Wonka. Same thing goes for the spiral staircases we had to negotiate, which had the tightest spiral I’ve seen. But we made it to the top, got the view we were looking for and eventually found the way back down to celebrate our success at ground level. We did happen to take a wrong turn exiting the basilica meaning we had to jump some fences at the risk of being chased down by the Pope’s guards, but what’s a real Mike adventure without jumping a fence of some type?
Following that visit we continued into the city where Ben wanted to make his way to the Coliseum. Having been there myself I decided to break from him and explore an area of the city I’ve been wondering about since my last visit. There’s an area on the other side of the river where tourists don’t seem to go and where there appeared to be a large collection of cafes, meaning a much hipper area than old ruin-y touristy Rome. When I finally figured out a way there through the backstreets of Rome I found all the cafes and restaurants I figured were there, and after a couple hours of walking, couldn’t find much more. Yeah, there weren’t many tourists, but I wasn’t as excited about the “hip-ness” of the place as I thought I might be. Really, all I wanted to do was find a café with a wireless connection and a cool vibe, but after a couple hours found no such thing. Disappointed by the lack of useful cafes and maybe a little wired from an espresso, I began wandering the back alleys with my computer open actively searching for an open wireless signal with every passing block. It took a few minutes, but I soon found a signal in some alley, sat down, and began enjoying the freedom that unrestricted internet access allows.
The alley wasn’t anything special, not especially attractive and not especially unnerving, but either way, maybe not the prime place to sit down in a road and work on an expensive laptop. While I sat there I was passed by a couple gypsies who did nothing and an Italian woman who made some comment to me in Italian. Not having any ability to comprehend Italian, I faked a laugh as she continued to walk by, probably not convinced of my chuckle. Then came the most exciting part of my day.
In front of me stood a motorcycle, parked in a usual way, acting as part of an arena for a fight that was breaking out between a cat and a roman rat! (Don’t even pretend like that’s not exciting) I raised my head to the sound of a vicious squeaking to observe the duel, which oddly enough, was being dominated by the rat. The rat had a strategy, squeak his brains out and lunge at the cat’s face. Man, it was a real life David and Goliath as this rat fought the cat to the point where the cat turned and ran. Now in all honesty, the cat was kind of a wimp, not quite the vicious beast that would have put up a real fight against the rodent, but regardless, it’s the principle. Anyway, after the rat proved his dominance he walked over to the front wheel of the motorcycle, near which lied a smashed piece of food, the apparent catalyst of the skirmish. Soon enough, however, the cat returned, and from the safety of the other side of the motorcycle wheel, observed the victor eating his spoils. After a moment of observation the cat returned to try again, and was again vanquished by the overly aggressive rat. And then later, after the rat had finished his mid day snack, as he slowly waddled across the alley toward my side of the street, the cat was literally right on his tail trying one last time while the rat’s back was turned. But after a similar combination of lunges and squeaks the rat proved unstoppable and the cat again went running for cover. It was an inspiring showing of strength in spite of unfavorable odds, regardless of how not terrifying the cat was. Like I said, it’s about the principle.
Now that I got that story off my chest, the rest of the day was usual. I finished up on the Internet, walked by to the bus and made the trip back to the ship. Nothing else out of the ordinary to get all riled up about, I don’t think I could handle it if there was considering my treatment of the rat tale. So that’s what I did in Rome, maybe not anything at the top of a usual tourist’s to-do list, but certainly worthwhile in the end. Thanks for reading!