Roaming around Roma … Carefully

It’s cooler here than you might think, cool enough for us to have pulled out the heavy blankets and, in the morning, to try to get the shower stall steaming as quickly as possible. Of course, getting here was a trial, flying from Washington’s National Airport to Atlanta where I picked up an interior seat in four-seat format, which forced me between a tallishly overweight guy to my right, an average nondescript guy on my left. And when the elderly woman sitting in front of me pushed her chair back to within six inches of my face, I realized I was going to be in for a long flight. Especially since I couldn’t get comfortable — kind of like the princess and the pea. And yet when the fat guy fell asleep, I had to sit in that ratty seat for six and a half hours, trying to ignore the pain in my back, the crappy little movie screen that looked as if someone had rubbed its screen with sandpaper, which was OK because it gave me that less of a reason to watch the mostly crappy movies they were showing (I did opt for “”Rango” out of clear desperation). The worst, though, was the meal, a swillish blend of chicken gravy, rice and broccoli that tasted like something I used to get served at Harborside Elementary way back in 4th grade. I didn’t even touch the “chocolate pudding.” And I took two sips of the Nescafe “coffee” and nearly spit the rest on the carpeted deck. I resisted, though, realizing that I would soon be drinking some of the best coffee in the world. Maybe tomorrow morning as I head out to find the office where I have been promised a desk. Sounds good. I’ll at least enjoy the walk there. This is, after all is said and done, Rome. Something to be said for that, eh? Just what remains to be seen.

Below: Of course, not everything here is cool and casual Take a look at the OWS protesters doing their street work.