Waking Up In Rome

This morning I woke up in Rome! Isn’t that glorious?

Espresso Yourself!

Today is a good day — to get reacquainted with the city, to ease my way into the new time zone and new culture, and to get mentally prepped for the start of my intensive Italian language course. Yipee!

First things first though, I made espresso using the little stovetop espresso maker that my Airbnb host Simona so kindly taught me to use. Boy was it good. I wish you could smell it right now from wherever you are.

Morning Run along Rome’s Tiber River

The coffee helped get me going, and with the time difference, I was up and at it way too early. I even managed to go for a run along the Tiber River!

Granted, the Tiber isn’t known for its beauty. The waters are slightly reminiscent of the “bog of eternal stench.” (Does anyone remember that from David Bowie’s 1986 film “Labyrinth”?) Swimming is banned in the Tiber, and for good reason — you definitely would not want to fall in!

That said, there are approximately seven miles of bike/running paths along the river (which is generally much lower than street level). There are steps leading down at regular intervals for access to the bike/running path (on the Vatican side of the River).

A Tip for Tiber-Running in Rome

If you’re thinking of going for a run in Rome, too, I must tell you that the stretch where I started my run — near Castel Sant’Angelo — is rather…how shall I say? Dirty. It’s full of trash, broken bottles, and occasional whiffs of stale beer and urine. But it’s not all bad. Just keep in mind that the stretch of Tiber near Trastevere is much more inviting!

Day 2 of Roman Roamin’

My First Full Day Back in Rome

What can I tell you about my first impressions from being back in Rome? (And from my first post-COVID visit to Rome?) Firstly, for any of my American friends who are thinking of coming over to Italy, remember that your CDC COVID-19 vaccination card is king. It’s absolutely crucial. You’ll need to show it to dine in restaurants and to get into museums and I’m sure that I’ll encounter other spots where it’s needed over the next month. The Italians (and other EU residents) use the “Green Pass” to get into these places. But for Americans, the CDC vax card gives us this same access.

Americans, Don’t Forget Your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Card!

On that note, I should mention — I was in such a daze on my first night in Roma that I forgot to bring my CDC card out with me in the evening. In order to stay awake and acclimate to Italian time, I’d decided to stroll around the neighborhoods surrounding the Vatican (which is where my Airbnb is located). I thought perhaps I’ll get dinner if I feel like it. (With the time difference, I wasn’t sure if my appetite would show up.) I ended up heading to Piazza del Risorgimento, to a restaurant I know (L’Insalata Ricca), which has an impressive selection of salads!

Perfect, I thought! With mask on face, I marched inside and asked if I could get a table for one. Immediately the waiter asked for my Green Pass, and I thought to myself, “shit!” (Or whatever the equivalent is in Italien — I haven’t learned the swear words yet!) I’d forgotten my CDC card, but then I remembered I’ve got a picture of it on my phone. I showed the photo to the waiter, and all was well! I’m not sure if this little trick will work everywhere, but the moral of the story is that it’s a good idea to snap a shot of your vaccination card! But it’s even better not to forget it!

More Wandering Through Rome

The rest of my first full day in Rome, I just wandered with no particular aim, except for one major item on my agenda: to stop by the Scuola Leonardo da Vinci, where I’ll start class on Monday. I found the place and can’t wait to tell you more about it once I start the intensive Italian language program. For now, though, here’s a picture I took of the sign.

More to come on this topic soon!

Face Masks and More: Travel in Rome During COVID-19

My language school made it clear: Wearing a face mask will be mandatory during the hours I’ll spend at the Scuola Leonardo da Vinci. I’m happy with that. Personally — for my sake and the sake of others — I feel most comfortable masking up whenever anyone gets in my bubble. Therefore, I brought plenty of masks with me to Rome.

For reference, the latest COVID-19 rules in Italy (as explained on the Italian Government Tourist Board website) are as follows:

“Wearing a face mask is always mandatory in indoor public places throughout Italy. Masks are no longer mandatory outdoors, but you must always carry one with you and wear it if you find yourself in crowded conditions that do not allow the 1 metre safety distance to be maintained.”

But how is the scene on the streets of Rome compared to back home? Check it out for yourself:

From what I’ve seen so far, this image captures a typical scene. There are crowds, but the crowds are smaller than what I’ve experienced in pre-COVID Rome. Nearly everyone has a mask. But, a large majority wear them on their arms instead of on their faces. This was even true in more crowded areas, which made me uneasy — and made me more vigilant about wearing my own mask (on my face!) in those situations. From what I can tell, though, masks are worn indoors (except when people are eating and drinking in restaurants), so that is comforting.

Two More Shots of Rome!

Before closing, I’ll share a couple more pics I snapped from my first full day back in Rome in two years. Enjoy!

Grazie mille for following along! If you missed it, here’s the link to my post from yesterday: Kicking Off a Month of Roman Roamin’. A presto! See you soon!