Stop number 3…Rome. In every city we’ve visited, someone has asked us what the most comparable US city is to our location. Barcelona was comparable to Miami because of the beach and late night party scene. I thought Florence was a little like Austin because of its size/small town feel and relaxed atmosphere. While Austin was not the home of a cultural revolution like Florence it is where Bob Schneider got his start, so for me there is a common theme. To me, Rome was comparable to Chicago. The pace of the city was much faster than any where else we visited. It was hot and humid as hell. This night life was good but not the main focus of the city.
I forgot where or when it came up but someone told Adam that a
trip to Rome in the summer could be described in a few steps.
- Get in line.
- Sweat you ass off.
- See old stuff.
Maybe that’s not exactly how the quote went, but that was basically the summary of our trip. While I’m pretty sure we were all exhausted, sore, hungover and tired, we did what we could to make the best out of Rome.
We arrived from Florence on a bullet train around 10:30. After dropping our bags at Alessardria Downtown Hostel, we headed out to Vatican city. Unfortunately for me, I was quite stiff in the back and the tourist spots were absolutely packed. After waiting in line outside the Vatican (which is technically its own country), we headed into the aptly named Vatican Museum. The museum was quite an impressive collection of religious based art which spanned through most of modern culture. I thought some of the art was interesting, but I thought the lavish architecture was more impressive.
Eventually we worked our way to the Sistine Chapel. I never realized The Birth of Man was one of many scenes Michaelangelo painted on his back. The celling was amazing but it must have been a huge pain in the ass to create. Apparently, it took 20 years which is 1/2 of Mikey’s working life. That makes my stint at eBay look like going to first period grade school Social Science class. I would have enjoyed the museum more if we hadn’t seen a grouping of similar work by the same artists at the Ufitzi the day before. Either way, as I usually do, I did exactly what you aren’t supposed to do in the Sistine…
After the museum we headed across the Vatican City to St Peter. The building was spectacular. While I don’t know that much about any religion, specifically Catholicism, I did learn that JC anointed St Peter as the apostle to go and spread the word of whatever had gone down in the 33 years before. Apparently St. Pete is buried in the building we were observing. While I questioned if Pete ever made it from the middle east to Rome, it was interesting to be present to some sort of link from 00 AD/BC to today. By the time we got to this Cathedral I was totally spent, I sat where everyone was praying and pretended to be Catholic. I pretty much felt like the chick from the Scarlet letter. After Adam had traversed most of the audio guide, we headed out to our next stop.
The Colosseum was amazing. I think this was my favorite sightseeing of the whole trip. As to be expected the seating in the stadium was decided by what class you were in. All of the senators sat in a specific section on marble. When they became a senator, each man would engrave his name onto his seat. The seats are still engraved with the names of the last senators around while the stadium was being inhabited. 
At some point in time the best rocks and other materials were taken out of the Colosseum and used to make other monuments in Rome (IE: Vatican). The actual floor was a set of traps and rooms where animals and other gladiators were held before being released (al a Gladiator).
After the Colosseum, I was totally spent! I mean really, done and done. All I know, three hours after I got back to our room, Adam and Mike came back from whatever else they saw in Rome and I was absolutly passed out. Apparently I was wrapped in a pair of boxers and a bed sheet a la toga party. Seriously, it was 1,000 degrees out and I don’t even remember getting home. I did manage to find a bar of soap somewhere for the first time on the trip and took the most relieving shower I’ve ever had.
As our European adventure would have it, we headed out for dinner and to make some trouble. Our dinner was sub-par but as luck would have it just so happened to be Adam’s birthday. THIS MEANS TROUBLE!!! A 1/2 mile walk, a 20 min bus, 3 bars, a couple beers and a shot later and we were on our way. Somehow we ended up at another restaurant…another bottle of wine…x3. As usual Adam asking the cute Italian wait-staff to come and drink wine with us. Let’s dwell on this for a second, if you have the chance, I highly recommend going to Europe with Adam and/or Mike. Adam specifically has a amusing habbit of leaning back in his chair and saying things like “yes, yes, yes come, come and drink with us” as he sits back a la Santa Claus in the north pole. 
Somehow, we ended up staying out until 4 am, again, with a handful random Romans. Maybe the highlight of my trip was one of the locals saying “are you American…come sit with us…I love Americans”. Really, maybe it’s just me, but I didn’t exactly feel loved in Europe. Maybe the “I’m American sign on my back was too much. Anyway, we sat and hung out shooting the shit with the Romans…it was great.
HOLY SHIT! What time is it? Fuck! Where is my watch? 11:30…crap…if I pack in 10 minutes, shower for 10 and check out I can be out by 12. That gives me an hour and a half until boarding…
As luck would have it, my flight was delayed and I was the last person on the flight…Off to Jolly ole’ England…
Shall we shag now or shag later baby…Yay!
-b
P.S. At this point I am really dirty looking.
