Rome-ing Charges

First, let's close the book on Barcelona.  All three members of our traveling troop of ne'er do wells enjoyed Barcelona from stem to stern.  It is a beautiful city with lots to see and do.  This is not to say that the three did not get into a tight spot or two...

Mark stuck in a doorway or the human version of a "stuck chuck"?

They also may have had a question or two about products available for purchase in Barcelona.  For example, a bikini diaper for babies?  Isn't that an SNL skit?

Wrong.  On so many levels.

...but I digress.  So Barcelona was fantastic, but now it was on to Rome.  Long time readers of this blog may remember that Anne and Mark have been to Rome relatively recently.  However, Bren was not along on that trip and her number one goal in her European travels was to see the sights in Rome.  So Bren's journey was going through Rome and Anne and Mark were happy to join her.

The last time Anne and Mark visited Rome they stayed at a fairly nice hotel near the Coliseum.  This time, the trio stayed at what was advertised as a B & B near the Vatican.  In reality, this B & B was an apartment on the fourth floor of a residential building.  This was a little different then what they were used to, but not that big of an obstacle for our intrepid adventurers.  Anne even had an opportunity to visit with other lodgers staying there, who hailed from Canada, Peru and Spain.  The one problem was with the owner, Mario.

Mario.

Now don't get us wrong, Mario was very helpful and friendly ("Super"?).... we think.  You see, that's the problem.  Anne and Mark do not really know for sure.  Mario spoke Italian.  Only.  As many of you may have guessed, Mark, Anne and Bren do not speak Italian.

Anne had the first interaction with Mario and managed to communicate to him that Mark spoke Spanish and would be able to communicate best because Spanish and Italian are fairly close.  Anne is a lovely person and generally very helpful, but this is perhaps the greatest example of one person throwing another under the bus in the history of traffic.  It is true that Mark TOOK Spanish for 3 semesters at Lewiston-Altura High School (Go Cardinals!), but other than being able to tell you that the bathroom is on fire and ask you if you like the products pictured below served together, Mark's relationship to Spanish is similar to the Backstreet Boys' relationship to gangster rap: yeah, they have heard it, but you would never mistake them for being able to produce it.

Te gusta?

After Anne's gracious and generous assessment of Mark's bilingual abilities, she conveniently disappeared for a quick nap.  This left Mark and Mario together to try to communicate (this is when Mark realized that Anne had quite cleverly ditched this Ital-Spanglish conversation/ game of charades on him and then made herself scarce: also the moment he realized that he was now 'under the bus').  After the 'conversation' (if it even qualifies as one) with Mario, Mark came to the following understandings: (1) the bill must be paid in cash even though Mark had provided a credit card number over the internet months ago, (2) if the stove was used improperly, the entire building could blow up, and (3) Mark should have tried harder during those 3 semesters of Spanish at LAHS.  Seriously, kids, stay in school.

But eventually, Mark and Mario muddled through and Mark paid the bill in cash.  Then he went back to the ATM for more cash.  In fact, pretty much every time they walked by an ATM, Anne and Mark made a withdrawal.  Either they were carrying their wallets upside down, or Rome is an expensive city to visit.  A 20 minute train ride from the airport to the city: 14 Euro/person.  Slice of pizza: 6 Euro.  Not doing anything fee: 4 Euro (this fee is only charged to visitors - native Romans appear to be REQUIRED to do nothing all day long, especially if they are working in ticket lines).

Anne operates the ATM while simultaneously holding a tall boy and doing that thing that you have to do with your hand while speaking in Italy (momma mia).

But eventually, Anne, Mark and Bren were able to finance their way to a few sights.  One the first day in Rome, they visited the Coliseum and Forum.  They attempted to visit Palatine Hill as well, but were informed that there would be an additional fee since they had left the Forum and walked the two blocks to the entrance of Palatine Hill (rather than walk around the back of the Forum to the other entrance of Palatine Hill).  That will be 15 Euro each.

Sorry, Rome, that's the 15 Euro that broke the camel's back.  No Palatine Hill this time around.  Instead, the trio returned to the Coliseum and attempted to take a little revenge on Rome for this one charge too many.  How could three visiting Americans take revenge on the city of Rome?  By scaring away other tourists, that's how!  Take that Rome!!!

Scary.  Please keep this photo away from children.

Later that night, Anne, Mark and Bren decided to take a night walk through the eternal city.  There is a fairly convenient path that takes you through several piazzas, by the Pantheon, near the Trevi Fountain and finishes at the Spanish Steps.  If you are ever in Rome on a nice evening, it is definitely worth the walk.

Bren @ Trevi Fountain