rome, a chaotic love letter to a city that hates you
i just got here after a flight that was definitely longer than it should have been. the guy sitting next to me kept asking about 'that italian place' and i had no idea what he meant. maybe he was from rome? who knows. i got to rome and immediately checked the weather. i just checked and it's like 9 degrees, feels like 8... not too cold, but the wind's blowing. hope you like that kind of thing.
the first thing i did was try to find the colosseum. i followed maps, asked strangers, and ended up in a park with a bunch of pigeons that were definitely judging me. i think they were mad i wasn't buying them bread. i finally found the colosseum and took a few pics.
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now, the city itself? it's a mess. you walk and suddenly you're on a different hill. i got lost for hours, but i guess that's the point. someone told me that if you get bored, nimes is just a short drive away. i didn't bother checking because i was too busy trying to find a place to eat that wasn't run by a guy who only speaks in gestures. i ended up at this tiny place where they served pasta so thick it felt like eating concrete. it was good? maybe. i'm not sure.
the weather here is weird. it's supposed to be warm, but i swear the air is damp like it's holding its breath. i checked the data and it's like 94% humidity. that's not a typo. i'm sitting here in a t-shirt and jeans and i'm sweating like a fool. or maybe it's because i'm just a sweaty human. who knows.
i also tried to take a picture of the roman forum but my camera died. twice. i think i dropped it in a puddle. or maybe i just hate photography. i'll never know. the only thing that worked was the map i embedded. it's not perfect, but it's better than getting lost again.
someone told me that the local cuisine is all about simplicity. like, just bread and pasta and maybe some cheese. i tried that. it was okay. but then i asked for a salad and the guy looked at me like i was trying to commit a crime. i think they're right. romans don't do salads. they do espresso and gelato and i'm here for it. even if the gelato is melting in my hand by the time i get to the third scoop.
i've been here three days and i still don't know if i like it. it's loud. it's hot. it's full of people who don't speak english. but maybe that's the point. maybe this is what makes rome. or maybe it's just a big mistake. i can't tell. i'm too tired to think.
if you're thinking of coming, just know it's a gamble. you might end up loving it. you might end up hating it. either way, you'll have stories. and maybe a slight headache from all the walking and the weather. i'll leave you with this: the city is a mess, but so am i. so maybe we can match.
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