#5 Roma

 

July 4, 2008

 

So then there’s the Euro. I guess it’s not the Euro’s fault that the US economy is stuffed. Bring on Barack Obama, please! Cool guy, just in the middle of reading his book called “The Audacity of Hope” It’s so wonderfully logical and moderate, no overreactions, looking at issues from both sides and good compassionate common sense. America has a lot to offer, just needs the right leadership. I and many others are hopeful.

 

I was going to have a rant about the Euro; got side tracked. Yesterday we filled up our very little car for $60 Euros; folks that’s $120US…..eeek. And we bought 2 gelatis and a fanta for 15 Euros ($30!!!!) I should not convert, advice from one of my sons, but blimey. Admittedly, we did get 2 scoops in our gelati!!!???

 

So this apartment is in a town called Pomezia, a commute from Rome, 10 minutes from the beach. Last night we drove to the beach, it’s a little scruffy but we set high standards in Aus! But to update, we spent 3 days in Tuscany. What a beautiful place. Reminded me of the Barossa Valley actually (in the winter). The hotel was OK, not very friendly. A surly manager upgraded us when we told him our airconditioner didn’t work. In these parts you actually really need it, we weren’t just being obnoxious Americans. But the upgrade was worth the battle and we had a lovely three days driving through little villages, sitting in a town square listening to the old people chatting, and drinking excellent and affordable (PC word!..see below) cappuccinos (or is that cappucini?) …very gezellig.

 

And we had a day in Florence, an amazing city, though the long lines for museums put us off, every man and his dog were in Florence that day. See the piccies, they speak for themselves.

 

Yesterday we took the train to Roma, about 20 minutes away and checked out the Colosseum, awesome….and the Vatican….also awesome….and , unlike Florence, minimal queues. These are ‘must see in one’s life’ things.

But Rome is covered in graffiti, (especially the subway trains!) has few traffic lights, and rafferty’s driving rules apply. They get away with it because it’s so bloody amazing.

 

Today we’ll explore the beaches and the coastal towns near Rome, and tomorrow off to Adelaide via a night in Singapore.

 

Affordable….means cheap…in America they can’t say cheap…as if it is impolite,, they can only say affordable, eg… you don’t look for a cheap apartment you look for an affordable one. Blimey.

 

Today working on picture poem links starting around "better" (August 03, 2012). Picture poems are the digital format of work I did as a street artist in New Orleans in the 1970s, as well as New York City, Honolulu, San Francisco and Adelaide South Australia.

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