today was a very long and hard day. we had orientation/first Italiana class which started at 10am this morning. we left from our apartment at 9am and walked almost across the entirety of Rome to the tourist district where out class was, near the spanish steps for those who have been there. once there we met chiara was our first person we met with, she gave us random facts and information which is useful and interesting about Rome. we had a coffee break before lunch, which means getting a shot of expresso. that was an intense shot. I was very wired the rest of the day. fun facts I learned. 1. Rome has the biggest historic cnter in the world
2. they don't have spagetti and meatballs or Alfredo sauce or Italian salad dressing
3. Rome is called the eternal City because people change but Rome stays
4. religion "= 90% catholic, 10% soccer"
5. colors gold and red because these original colors of ancient Rome.
6. population = 3.5 million, more like 7 million with commuters and tourists
7. piazza means square
8. you must pay for water and ask for water that is not bubbly and must ask for ice
9. only tourists and young children go to mcdonalds, which is hidden because it ruins the architecture scenery, and they don't like the smell. the mcds we went into had 3 floors
10. a caffe' means shot of expresso with standard cost at the bar of .80-1.00 euros. cappuccino includes whole milk and film, latte has no foam, fredo means cold while caldo means hot. and a caffe' machiatto means with a tiny tiny drop if milk.
11. rent for a building in historic area is $6-7,000 a month! and at the neighborhood trastevere, where I'm staying, it's 2-3,000 euros a month
12. there are 700 churches in the historic center
13. tips are not common, and if u do, no more than 5%.
14. no such thing as separate checks.
15. money is not put into someones hand, but on table.
16. generally there is a low customer service. not at all things u see at walmart. although Italians like tourists because we bring money tithe city. most waiters are professional waiter and some are requires to go to training school and know three languages.
17.soda is only for children, except when eating pizza, then it's acceptable to have soda or beer, wine is not then drank because pizza is to hot to eat with wine.
18. doggie bags are illegal, and considered rude
19. no one gets drunk, drinking is meant a social hour to be with Frieda an family.
20. gas is all imported. and price is translated to 1 gallon = $14-15
we then met Paulo who talked about traveling around Rome, taught us some Italian, told us how to tell people to move! which is scusi permesso! when speaking Italian. word go up at the end. Romans are very curious people and like to watch and examine people especially tourists as we are exotic to them, so it perfectly all right to people watch! we learned about body language an contact, Americans like to be an arm away, Romans half an arm, Indians a shoulder. when guys whistle it's a compliment so just keep walking, it's only bad when u respond because that tells them u want something more. Italians also don't show skin in public, instead they will wear tight even one size to small clothing to show off body without showing skin, unless it's super hot out. they are very conservative people in actions and dressings, hence why they also don't have Starbucks here because it has to many options and Isant simple, although the Starbucks idea originates in Italy off of their bars and caffe's. we were also giving info on traveling and what to see in Venice an the group going to florence were told where to go as well. we then took a tour of the city specifically the ancient district. we saw the Spanish steps which should b called the French steps bc they payed for it. saw the peatro pinnini fountain that is symbolic for sinking ships like faith an how we might be sinkin but we won't drown. the first caffe'/ bar was opened in ad 1760. the column of immaculate conception is a tribute to Mary as the only person to conceive as a virgin, and on dec 8th every year the pope/fireman Hangs a wreath on her. it's a very tall obelisk.the tresa fountain was beautiful and busy, I made my prayer! whn I threw my money into the foundation, and learned that eginated as people giving tribute to Mary again. we saw many different villas and piazzaS, where old carnivals like the one that occurs in Venice used to occur. before banned. agapito st cathedral with st ignes was a gorgeous churn with gold and paintings, and a dome top that was never completed so it's painted on. we also visited the pantheon which top Is open and a site to see when it rains. it also hold burial grounds for rapheal the artist and ninja turtle.. geavelyars for old kings. then we had a 5 course supper with wine bought by the school. first course was calamari (aka octopus) a weird meatball Thingy and some other squishy gross thing. I ate all my calamari :P next course was pasta with sauce and bacon. sooo gooood. third was our meat. chicken, ribs, sausage, potato wedge Thingy., dessert was teramisu which is a coffee like pudding. it was soo good. and filling. then w walked back to the pantheon, the steps, and the tesi to see them at night, somehow w found out way an few of our in our group then we broke of into a separate group and ended up very very north when we needsed to go south west. I it was great whist answering re city and feeling important safe. we walked so much that we ended up getting outselves gilato which is a type of yogurt ice cream sooo good! mine was nutella and cream, we decide we armed up and appetite and thatthe strawberry was the best and we are getting golato every night. we made it back to apartment at 12:30z it's 1:50 now I'm exhausted and must sleep. class at 10 2morrow. ttyl and I'll post pictures in free time that I have that doesn't exist. bye!
Picture 1.Spanish steps
2.st Agnes church?
3. Trevi fountain
4.gelato!
5. Church
6.night at top of Spanish steps
7.view at night from top of steps
8.night infront of pantheon
9.the pantheon
