My Trip To Rome
Most pages I have seen on the internet that deal with Italy show you
only the highlights of the big attractions: The Coliseum; The Vatican
and St. Peter's Basilica, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, etc. Yes, I visited
those too. But with these pages, my intention is to show you more of the
life of Rome, walk the streets, and see things in Rome that you won't see
on most other pages.
This will cover my steps going through Rome during the week of Sunday, November 18, 2007, to Thursday, November 22, 2007.
I flew in on November 17, and home on November 23. Those days aren't included in this.
The pictures begin on the next page.
TIPS for Arriving
- Have at least 100 Euro before leaving the airport to cover the taxi trip to your hotel. I was able to do an exchange in Detroit before the trans-Atlantic flight on KLM/Northwest.
That came at a cost. The exchange rate was $1.45 US for 1 Euro that day. The exchange counter at the airport charged $1.60 US for 1 Euro.
That gave them a 15 cent profit for every US dollar exchanged. If there is a bank near your home that does foreign currency exchange,
you may receive a better deal with them before your trip even begins. That's not the case for the small town where I live.
- The good thing about the exchange at the Detroit airport is, if I held onto my receipt, which I did, they would exchange my Euro
back to US dollars at the exact same rate. That's a plus.
- My taxi trip from the Fiumicino Airport (a.k.a. Leonardo DaVinci Airport) to the hotel cost 60 Euro. It was about a 28 km
trip. Since the hotel worked with a Taxi company,
my return trip at the end of the week was only 45 Euro. It would be useful if you check with your hotel when
you are booking your room. From other travelers, I have heard rates as high as 75 Euro from the airport to the hotel.
- After you have your baggage, when you go outside the airport, literally look for a TAXI sign. That is where you wait
for the taxi. They come up to the curb to that sign. The car will have a TAXI sign above it similar to what you see in America.
If someone approaches you, with no car, or in a car with no TAXI sign, decline. They are not legit.
- Have the complete hotel address written on an index card to give to the taxi driver. Don't assume the driver
can speak English. If you have some additional information on the card, such as a main street that leads to the hotel,
that's even better. I even had a map and picture of the hotel if it was needed. They weren't. The index card information
was good enough for the driver. This is what I had on my index card.
Villa Maria casa per ferie
Largo G Berchet No 4
00152, Rome
-Via Giacinto Carini
- Vascello Teatro
- Note: When I was told to write that, I was confused with the via.
I was thinking of the English word, "via." Via is the Italian
word for street. Viale means avenue. From above, "Via Giacinto
Carini" means "Giacinto Carini Street," or literally
translated means, "Street Giacinto Carini."
- Depending on the time of day that you arrive at your hotel, 50 additional Euro is good for evening and night arrivals so
you can buy some food/water/supplies on arrival. Not all places in Rome accept charge cards, especially after hours.
- It's good to know some basic Italian before you go. I didn't. On my first day, I was walking around the area near the hotel to
orientate myself. I walked into some food/pastry/gelato places (there are plenty of them). When I saw people crowding the counter
and acting like kids, the best I did was buy some water from the cooler. I hadn't the foggiest idea how to order something,
especially since I didn't know Italian and no one in the place could speak English.
- My bank card/MAC ended up having a better exchange rate. On Via Carini was Banca di Roma. There were multiple MAC machines
which, after inserting your card, ask you which language to use. They were simple to use. I had to use it twice. They also have
predetermined amounts such as 110 Euro.
- Take a portable alarm clock and an electrical converter. I bought a converter for $30 US. It switches between 110 and 220 volts,
along with 5 different types of adapters to cover Europe and Asia.
- From the above tip on a portable alarm clock, don't assume the hotels
are equipped as the ones are in America. There may be no clock in the room.
If you want the TV, it may cost extra.
- As I understand it, electricity is a premium as it is not as readily available as
in the U.S. Do not leave all the electric items on in the hotel room at all times.
They may cut the electricity to your room for a while. That happened to us a couple time in the middle of the night. Imagine you are given a block
of electricity - use it wisely.
Tips for Surviving in Rome
- Do not look like a tourist. Blend in with the people who live there.
- Do not wear white sneakers. Find a comfortable pair of black or dark brown walking shoes. Besides sticking out as a tourist, the whiteness will be ruined after
a day of walking due to the dirtiness of the city.
- Do not have a camera/camcorder hanging around your neck. Out on the streets, I kept my camera in my winter jacket pocket
and pulled it out only when I was ready to take a photo. As soon I as finished, I put the camera away. Even when I was inside
of an attraction such as the Coliseum or Vatican Plaza, I kept my camera in my pocket.
- Ladies, avoid using a purse if at all possible. A waist pouch that can be kept under your shirt or jacket, or any other type of concealable item would be better. This
does not include baby bags with diapers and food.
- Do not take anything valuable. If you're traveling from North America, it's a long journey. Between the airports, and being
in Italy, to me it's simply not worth losing something that cannot be replaced. If, out on the streets, you are displaying
expensive jewelry, you are making yourself a target to thieves.
- Most important, do not have anything of importance in your back pockets. Pick-pocketing is a big problem there. If you
have a waist pouch, especially one you can hide under your clothes, or pockets on the inside of your jacket/winter coat, that's
all the better. Being there in November, and following what I am typing here, we weren't pick-pocketed. If there are ever
a group of strangers, especially children, crowding around you - beware. Some are distracting you so the others can pick-pocket you.
- You will see street peddlers everywhere. We did not look at them and ignored them. When we did that, most of the
time they left us alone.
- Don't be surprised if you see beggars on the street. They sit there with
their bowl to collect coins. Some may be handicapped, missing a limb. Others
may be playing an instrument. They never bothered us. I think we saw them
mostly while in the long line to the entrance to the Vatican Museum.
Traveling Around Rome
- We mostly walked. This will help you walking the via of Rome.
- Using a taxi, bus, or subway/tram system isn't much different than what I have experienced in the US. I have
created a separate section for Public Transportation
- Taxi
- You typically do not flag down a taxi as you would in a major American city. Look for Taxi signs posted along the street, the
same way you would see bus stop signs. Look in the bottom left of this picture, which is at the entrance
to the Vatican Museum.
- If you can't find one and there is a store nearby, you can ask them where the closest taxi
stop is. If you see a line of taxi's, take the first one in line. The Taxi industry is very regulated in Rome.
At the Vatican, there was a group of taxi's near the right side "entrance" to the piazza as pictured below. We just walked over to one and asked
the lady if she could take us to the Catacombs of San Callisto. She was a very courteous driver.
- As you can see from the above picture, Taxi's are usually white, have a sign on top that says, "Taxi," and usually
have a coat of arms with "SPQR" on the side. SPQR stands for "Senatus Populusque Romanus," translated means, "The Senate of the People of Rome." It is the official signature of the Roman government. You will see it in many places. Anything other than that is not a legitimate taxi. Only use the official
Taxi. Don't be afraid to write down the taxi driver’s license number (not the license number of the car) and be
obvious about it as soon as you get in. They are required to have their license number and name in plain view.
- To my knowledge, most taxi drivers are simply trying to make an honest day's wage. We didn't have
any bad experiences. Most of the time, we walked. Rome is not that big. If we had a big day ahead of us,
we used the buses to start the day and save our energy for walking all day. They were easy once we figured out the
system as mentioned in the Public Transportation link.
- We took a taxi to the Catacombs of San Callisto. That's outside the main part of town. When we finished there, we didn't know
how to return to the main part of Rome. We had not thought about that while we were going to the catacombs. A taxi had just
dropped off someone. We asked the driver if he could take us to Trastevere. He said we had to call the taxi company and have a taxi sent to us.
He gave us a 4 digit number we had to call. Since we never made a call in Rome, we had no idea how to do that. We didn't know there were
two additional numbers in the phone number that preceded the four digits he gave us. Point of the story, if you are going some place on a taxi and
know that you will need a return trip, it would be best to call the taxi company ahead of time, or ask the hotel front desk if they
would help do that.
- If your feet blister easily, be sure to bring plenty of band-aids/blister related medicine. If need be, you can make a trip to the pharmacy
and ask the doctor on duty for band-aids.
- Have a good map in your pocket just in case. Good means having as many street names as possible listed. I have found good ones at
major book stores that have a section devoted to travel. However, don't walk around everywhere with it in your hands. That again is advertising to thieves that you are a tourist.
Breakfast in Rome
- The people in Rome are a sweet tooth society. Other than at your hotel, if they are offered, don't expect pancakes, bacon and eggs for breakfast. They eat
pastries.
- At Villa Maria, they had cream filled pastries,
fruit, small boxes of cereal, buns/rolls of some sort, slices of meat (typically
it was prosciutto , if I am using the correct word), and slices of cheese. To drink,
it was water, orange juice, milk, and coffee.
- At all hours of the day when walking around, you will see pastry stores.
Dining In Rome
- Restaurants (ristorante) are everywhere. You will not have a hard time finding one.
- You will not see much in the way of chain restaurants.
- You will see many places have chairs and tables outside. Even in the cold, Romans enjoy dining outside. There is usually
a menu (often in 4 languages) near the entrance.
- If you go to a ristorante, you are charged for everything that is placed on your table.
There are no complimentary bread sticks or water. The 1 or 2 litre bottle
brought to the table is on the bill.
- Double and triple check your bill for mistakes.
- Don't be surprised if the tips/gratuities are included on the bill. That's typical.
- In all the ristorante we ate, there were no Smoking/Non-Smoking sections.
- Don't be surprised if the waiter/waitress offers some recommendations.
- The amount of food served on a plate will be smaller than what American restaurants
serve. That's just that way Italians are. If you are still a little hungry after your
meal, that's a perfect reason to go find a gelateria and enjoy gelato.
- In Rome, dinner is a big occasion. At 9:00 PM, they are just getting started. Don't be surprised
if you finish your meal and it's a half hour or so until the bill is brought to your table.
For them, after the meal is a big social time. Even after you give them your payment,
it may be another 15 minutes until they return with the change or the receipt for you
to sign. We paid in cash when we could. If you politely ask for your bill, and let them
know you have to be somewhere by xx:xx time, they will accommodate you.
- The menus have all the courses
divided out from the appetizers to the deserts, and in order. You don't have to order
something from every section. If you haven't already saw this receipt from the Trevi Fountain
area from above, it shows you even the receipt is sectioned off into the different courses.
- There are many intricacies to what you eat and when. But there are certain do's and don'ts.
- You do not eat bread with pasta. Bread will not even be served with pasta.
- Speaking of bread, you will most likely not see any butter with it. If you ask for butter, people
will raise eyebrows. They don't spoil the taste to bread with butter. Neither do I. :)
- Don't ask for anything to be held from or added to what you see on the menu, unless there is a good
medical reason. For example, "I would like the blah blah blah, but hold the onions and cream." No, no.
What you see on the menu is what you get. Don't worry. It's great food.
- If you are a vegetarian and having problems determining what is free of meat on a menu,
the waiter/waitress will help.
- It is best to eat everything on your plate.
- Pop, soda, cola, call it what you will, along with milk, are not usually the beverages for the meal.
Water and wine are the usual.
- Olive Oil - I don't care for olive oil the way it is in American stores and restaurants.
I was worried about that before going to Rome. It is used in most prepared meals. That was
an unnecessary worry. All the food I had in Rome was excellent. I didn't even know it had
olive oil in it.
- Their salad dressing is not what you buy in America stores under the name of "Italian Dressing."
- Water Closets - Beware. You never know what type of water closet you may find at a ristorante.
They may be the same as what you find in America's public restroom areas. They be a single room for
one person at a time shared by men and women. The toilet may have a seat, it may not. One ristorante
we were in, the water closet was literally, a hole in the cement (looked like a sink in the cement)
with two foot blocks on which to stand; that was the "toilet."
Shopping During Lunch Time
- Many shops will close for 2 hours around lunch time. It may be from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM,
and so on. In Rome, they go home for lunch and a nap.
Manners
- The people we encountered in Rome on the streets were not exactly friendly. If there were a group of people closely
huddled, a person may walk right through the tight cluster of people and not say, "Scusi."
- In sandwich shops and pastry shops, everybody was crowding the counter trying to be the next
person to be waited upon. It was as if they were all a bunch of kids charging the counter.
I experienced that on my first day when I was orientating myself on the streets near
the hotel. It was one of the first food shops I had been to in Rome. I grabbed a
bottle of water from the cooler, analyzed how people approached the counter, and made my
way up to the cashier. Even though I couldn't speak a word of Italian, I was able to
make the purchase and slip outside without being stomped on by the crowd. Don't let
it scare you. If I can do it, so can you.
Water Closets
- At the big tourist sites:
- There may be public water closets divided for men and women.
- There may be an entry area with an attendant where you wait in line, and the attendant
will direct you to a door to a small water closet room that has just been vacated. It doesn't
matter if the previous occupant was male or female. That is the case with the water closet area
in the Vatican Piazza under the left side columns.
- Ristorante Water Closet information is above.
Currency
- The Euro is as easy to use as any other currency.
- It is very common to use a $1 Euro coin and a $2 Euro coin. The $5, $10, $20, and $50 Euro bills are different sizes -
the larger the number, the larger the bill. All coins and dollars have numbers on them so you know which one to use.
All of the $1 and $2 Euro coins can weigh down your pocket quickly.
- The $1 and $2 Euro coins are so similar, you have to look for the number. The $2 Euro coins I had during the trip have a silver
circle in the middle on the one side. The silver area is about the size of an American dime.
Water
- The water in Rome at the hotels and on the water fountains on the via is safe to drink. Many had warned me before we left to
only drink bottled water. As we discovered, the water within the city limits of Rome is clean and safe to drink. If you should venture
outside the city limits, you may need to exercise caution and purchase bottled water.
Misc
- You will see steel gates in front of churches, or steel bars over windows to protect against
theft. Petty theft is a problem if you live in Rome.
- They are litterbugs.
- You will also see graffiti at many places.
American Embassy Information
Embassy of the United States
via Vittorio Veneto, 119/A
00187 Roma, Italy
Tel. (+39) 06.4674.1 (switchboard)
Fax (+39) 06.4674.2356

More Information will be coming to this page.
MOST IMPORTANT: Rome was not built in a day. Nor can you see
all of Rome in a day. We were there for five days, traveled extensively, and only saw
a small portion of this magnificent city.
If you have any questions about experiences in Rome, I'll be happy to answer
them and help as much as I can to make your experience a little easier. If you wish to share your Roman adventures, I'd love to hear them.
Robert
Go to page 2.