Yesterday ... after 17 hours of travel we arrived in Rome. We flew from DFW to London and then London to Rome. We noticed immediately that the flight to Rome was completely sold out and a majority of the passengers were indeed Italian men who had been in England for an important soccer match between Arsenal (English) and Roma. The games result was on they’re faces. Somber, sad, consoling one another. Passion!
After our arrival and check in to our little hotel near the Forum we went to find the Trevi Fountain. On out way we noticed the Police had stopped all traffic at the intersection of Via Cavour and Via Dei Fori Imperiali. They stand there with little round plastic paddles red on one side and green on the other. The light would turn green and everyone and I mean everyone would start to toot they’re horns. Scooters, cars and trucks all blowing they’re horns as to tell the police to hurry up and get on with it. Then as we stood in amazement we saw a scooter, yes a scooter run through the intersection. The lead vehicle in a motorcade that included Vespas, motorcycles, Fiat police cars and then finally one Mercedes with the Burlesconi and Sarkosy sitting in the back. Of course the honking didn’t end until the motorcade had passed and traffic was allowed to move freely again. Passion!
After dinner we stopped by a small store to pick up some water, beer and wine. When we walked in there was another soccer match on TV. This time Chelsea (English) was playing Juventus (Italian) and the score was not going the Italians way. There were ten men standing in front of the TV smoking, and drinking wine out of little glasses. I could see when we walked in they paid me no attention, but the men here tend to really enjoy evaluating the opposite sex, especially blondes. We went to the front to pay for the items and duck out. As I stood to look at the score I told one the men I’m sure Juventus will turn it around to beat Chelsea. He looked at me and said “Oh, your English” and then turned to tell his friend the proprietor of the shop “Charge him twice” with a big smile on his face. I told him “No Amercian” to which he responded to the owner “Then charge him three times” with a huge smile on his face. Passion!
So far in less then 24 hours I know three things for sure about the Italians. They have a passion for women and traffic but most of all for Soccer!
Today we go to check out some sites. Collosseum, Spanish steps and Trevi durning the day for some better pictures. Tomorrow, look for Ro’s commentary on the food. There’s a whole other passion!a
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