Let me start by letting you all know that I found an American burger place, ate the best fries I’ve ever had, and I found guacamole. Ok, lets move on.
The biggest and most important thing I learned this week was that Europeans take football (Soccer, do I have to explain that orr…) VERY seriously. I knew this to begin with, after all it is the most played sport in the world. On my way from work on Thursday, I ventured towards Piazza di Spagna as I do every day coming from the gallery to catch the Metro. However, what I did not realize was the enormous crowd that had gathered (which I had assumed were tourists because the Spanish Steps are weirdly a popular tourist area). I turned the corner and there in front of me was a massive and angry group of people (mostly men). They were either tall and blonde, or short, hairy and dark…if you haven’t heard, Holland was playing Italy that day and things got a little out of hand. I was planning to stop in one of the stores right outside the metro station to get a new handbag, so despite being terrified, I walked towards it and tried my hardest not to be noticed. I got to the door of the Longchamp store and made a terrified face at one of the sales associates who then quickly scuffled over and opened the door for me, relocking it once I was safely inside. I asked her what was going on and she said riots had broken out all over the city because of this game. I guess the Dutch can just leave their jobs in the middle of the week and come to Rome for a few days to get rowdy. Who knows? Regardless, it was anarchy like I’ve never seen. The Italian police had their safety SWAT shields and had begun forming a line around the piazza. This of course, made the hoards of drunken idiots very upset and the tension increased. After I had made my purchase, the sales woman opened the door for me again and said, “Run!”
I walked hurriedly toward the metro but it was all the way across the square on a side street. I had no other choice but to cut through the crowd. I was almost instantly hit with a glass bottle that had been thrown (apparently smashing alcoholic beverages is a thing) and it shattered at my feet. As I proceeded to scurry to my destination I received some alarming remarks and advances from very drunk (very tall) Dutch men. Let’s also say that many of these people were too drunk to make it to a bathroom and had decided to urinate out in the open…and let everything hang loose if you know what I mean. All very alarming, all very strange.
If you would like to see a news coverage feed of the police beating drunken idiots and the defamation of the Spanish Fountain, see the link on my Facebook page.
I digress, the rest of my week has been like any other here: some pasta, some pizza, some wine, and school. We visited Trajan’s Market this week which was especially interesting because we walked along the ruins right at sunset and got a spectacular view of Capitoline Hill. Trajan’s Market and other forums like it were essentially the birthplace of modern trade; it’s very humbling to stand amongst the ruins of one of the greatest trade centers of the ancient western world.
This Saturday, Kelsey and I had decided to eat lunch at one of the only Irish pubs in town, which was the move. Our waiter was Irish, and after talking to him for a little, I found out he lives in the county next to where my family lives. He gave me a list of places to go for when I visit (which is soon hopefully). I ordered a cheddar bacon baked potato, fries and a CESAR SALAD. YES, YOU HEARD CORRECTLY CESAR SALAD. Basically the only thing I’ve been searching for since I got here besides guacamole was Cesar salad. As expected, it was both delicious and satisfying. All in all, it was a great week, fully equipped with both things that struck me as strange, comforting and profoundly existential in its nature.
da Roma
Kat
The biggest and most important thing I learned this week was that Europeans take football (Soccer, do I have to explain that orr…) VERY seriously. I knew this to begin with, after all it is the most played sport in the world. On my way from work on Thursday, I ventured towards Piazza di Spagna as I do every day coming from the gallery to catch the Metro. However, what I did not realize was the enormous crowd that had gathered (which I had assumed were tourists because the Spanish Steps are weirdly a popular tourist area). I turned the corner and there in front of me was a massive and angry group of people (mostly men). They were either tall and blonde, or short, hairy and dark…if you haven’t heard, Holland was playing Italy that day and things got a little out of hand. I was planning to stop in one of the stores right outside the metro station to get a new handbag, so despite being terrified, I walked towards it and tried my hardest not to be noticed. I got to the door of the Longchamp store and made a terrified face at one of the sales associates who then quickly scuffled over and opened the door for me, relocking it once I was safely inside. I asked her what was going on and she said riots had broken out all over the city because of this game. I guess the Dutch can just leave their jobs in the middle of the week and come to Rome for a few days to get rowdy. Who knows? Regardless, it was anarchy like I’ve never seen. The Italian police had their safety SWAT shields and had begun forming a line around the piazza. This of course, made the hoards of drunken idiots very upset and the tension increased. After I had made my purchase, the sales woman opened the door for me again and said, “Run!”
I walked hurriedly toward the metro but it was all the way across the square on a side street. I had no other choice but to cut through the crowd. I was almost instantly hit with a glass bottle that had been thrown (apparently smashing alcoholic beverages is a thing) and it shattered at my feet. As I proceeded to scurry to my destination I received some alarming remarks and advances from very drunk (very tall) Dutch men. Let’s also say that many of these people were too drunk to make it to a bathroom and had decided to urinate out in the open…and let everything hang loose if you know what I mean. All very alarming, all very strange.
If you would like to see a news coverage feed of the police beating drunken idiots and the defamation of the Spanish Fountain, see the link on my Facebook page.
I digress, the rest of my week has been like any other here: some pasta, some pizza, some wine, and school. We visited Trajan’s Market this week which was especially interesting because we walked along the ruins right at sunset and got a spectacular view of Capitoline Hill. Trajan’s Market and other forums like it were essentially the birthplace of modern trade; it’s very humbling to stand amongst the ruins of one of the greatest trade centers of the ancient western world.
This Saturday, Kelsey and I had decided to eat lunch at one of the only Irish pubs in town, which was the move. Our waiter was Irish, and after talking to him for a little, I found out he lives in the county next to where my family lives. He gave me a list of places to go for when I visit (which is soon hopefully). I ordered a cheddar bacon baked potato, fries and a CESAR SALAD. YES, YOU HEARD CORRECTLY CESAR SALAD. Basically the only thing I’ve been searching for since I got here besides guacamole was Cesar salad. As expected, it was both delicious and satisfying. All in all, it was a great week, fully equipped with both things that struck me as strange, comforting and profoundly existential in its nature.
da Roma
Kat