My first full day in Italy

First of all let me tell you that I feel pretty important not only doing a blog but beginning it in Rome, Italy and doing it on an iPad.

So I arrived in Rome late in the evening around 7pm. I flew in from helsinki and it was very noticeable the difference between the passengers on my flight and the ones arriving from Madrid at about the same time. The Italians in the airport and the Spanish were by comparison very loud and active. The Finns for the most part were somewhat reserved and respectful. The fashions were strikingly dissimilar as well.

I couldn't believe how lax they were with people coming into the country. No one checked my passport or questioned me about a thing. At Helsinki airport I didn't have to take my shoes off or empty my pockets. It was very different from the Ffull body scan I had in St. Paul. When I asked the woman at the information desk about it she just smiled and said yeah that's okay.

I asked her about getting a train or bus to my B&B and she said no that is too inconvenient for you. I want you to take a taxi. Very interesting, a little pushy but not rude.

The cab ride was the best I've had. His name was Binu and he did not speak a word of English. It was a real test for my Italian language skills. As I was talking to him I realized that I've never really had a decent conversation in Italian before. At least not one that wasn't interupted by a lot of English. It was a challenge but exciting.

I told him that I would be going to visit the town of my mother's family in ripabottoni. He had never heard of it but gave me advice on how to get there anyway. He asked me later where I was from and I said I was American. He waved his finger and told me forcefully, "No é mezzoitaliano e mezzoamericano". You know I loved that

I always ask cab drivers in new cities where to eat. He said it doesn't matter because every place is good. There was a little silence and he corrected himself and told me I could not go to McDonald's then he laughed.

I will be posting photos of my room at Marta's Guest House later today but for now I have to get out and see some of this amazing city.

A piu tardi,