12/18/2006
We awoke to the alarm in plenty of time … only to find out we could have slept another 45 minutes. I can’t remember, actually, when we discovered this. Whether it was the night before, or that morning. The problem was we thought our flight to Rome was at 6:00 am, when it was actually 6:50 am. Whoops.
Back at Gatwick, the EasyJet check in was no problem and we ended up with great seats. EasyJet is one of the Southwest Airlines type of providers in Europe - free-for-all boarding.
It was a cheap flight, but onboard the plane, it was like a flying convenience store. Nothing was free except a cup of water, and we had to specifically ask for that. They don’t offer. Soda, coffee, beer, wine were all like 2.50 Euros. We also didn’t get even the smallest bag of snacks. They did seem to have some good airplane food available, though.
The end of the flight wound up messing up our whole day, though. It was no one’s fault, I think, but it sent us for a bit of a spinner. We were headed for Ciampino airport. Unfortunately, though, there were heavy clouds directly over the airport. It was odd - there were other clouds around, but it seems the airport is situated in a depression where clouds stuck. We were actually on our final approach, landing gear down, coming into the clouds and could not see a damn thing. No runway. The pilot abruptly pulled up, accelerated and went around for another try. This happened TWICE!
After two rounds of that, they announced we’d land at Fiumicino airport. I didn’t really care as long as we landed! The whole ordeal added another two hours to the flight time as we had to figure out transportation from a different airport to Rome.
We finally sorted it out and caught the train to Rome. Around 2 pm we arrived at Roma Termini. We stored our bags at the train station and I called Stefano, our couchsurfing stop for the next two nights. We couldn’t meet him until after 6 when he got off work. We took a good walk around Rome in search of food and an internet connection. A little wandering around Rome, which I definitely enjoyed, and we found what we were looking for.
Rick Steves had recommended easyInternetCafe for internet access. We found it just off Piazza Barberini, right where he said it would be. We ate at a small restaurant near there and paid way too much for beer! It turns out what we paid is normal, but our lunch bill with two sandwiches, a desert and three Peroni beers was 38 Euros - about $50 US! We won’t make that mistake again.
After some food and expensive internet (we paid 5 Euros for one hour of laptop wifi) we went back to the termini, got James’ bag and caught the 310 bus headed for Stefano’s place near Piazza Crati.
The transportation system in Rome beats the hell out of most American cities, but it isn’t nearly as friendly as London. It’s dirty, rude, noisy, but it works. We couldn’t find a bus map anywhere. it would have been nice to coordinate the routes with a city map as when we got on the bus to Stefano’s, we had no idea what stop or what street to get off on. Luckily people sitting next to us on the bus were helpful. And, it ended up that we got off on the exact stop and Stefano was right there as we were getting off the bus. That was nice! It was a relief to be there and talking with someone we sort of knew and where we wanted to be!
Stefano fixed us a great pasta meal and we talked, watched (translated American) TV and fought staying awake. I could not keep my eyes open sitting on the couch, but, unfortunately after the bed was made and we were in it (James and I shared the smallish pull-out couch bed) I didn’t sleep well at all.
Even from this first day, Rome is amazing. I love being here noticing all the difference and hearing Italians speak. It is fun to try to communicate with them in their language, although that doesn’t always work! The traffic is crazy. The streets are narrow and dirty and packed with people and cars. The piazzas are beautiful with their statues and fountains. Everything is scenic. It was fantastic and the reason I couldn’t sleep!