Rome and Lots of Other News

After a few time problems, I am now able to update you on what has been happening over the last week or so.

Rome

So I spent 7 days in the capital of Italy. So what? These were no ordinary touristy sightseeing days. These were friend-keeping days !
I arrived at Rome airport to be met by Giulia and Daniella in her car and started what was to be an insight into their typical lifestyles.

Most mornings were spent at the the Second University of Rome "Tor Vergata" studying alongside Giulia. When I say studying I don't mean in a library in silence with no breaks, oh no, I mean in a classroom being able to talk, play cards, smoke and go to the bar for some lunch whenever you want. Of course, a lot of studying did get done by us (yes, I too have to study on holiday), but in a much more relaxed atmosphere than in England.

Daniella was working most days (not the weekends), but still managed to go out to pubs with us in the evenings. Chiarra works some days too (3 a week, I think) but came out with us, as did many of their friends.

It is hard for me to remember everything that happened on this trip, by I'll mention the most memorable moments here.
I slept at Daniella's for the first 4 nights (the bed kindly being donated by her grandmother), where I picked up a lot of italian, and practised a bit of english with her mother and brother. In fact, I got to talk quite a lot here as her mother managed to ask about 20 questions a minute, which got divided between Daniella and myself.
The following 2 nights I stayed at Chiarra's as Daniella had to get up early to work. Here I got to talk about football and politics with her father and take her dog 'Oliver' for a walk in the local park.
My final night I returned to Daniella's whilst my bags were left at Chiarra's (ie had to wear the same clothes again).

We visited a few of the pubs in the city centre, including a discopub called Geronimo's where Chiarra and I managed to put on a very fine dance.
We also got taken by Cynthia (I know I've spelt her name wrong, and apologise in advance) to a pub she said was always full and really cool. We were the only people there. Afterwards, she suggested a nearby bar where we would be able to find some people. We arrived there to find it closed for the night. We decided that her suggestions were not on the recommended list.
However, she did redeem herself when on my final night she took us to a pub underground called 'Transylvania'. This was themed on vampires, offered metre-long tubes of beer, and had semi-naked women getting the clients (male and female) to drink beer off of their bodies. Unfortunately, I was stuck with my back facing them whilst Cynthia and Daniella looked at them all night. They didn't get to our table though. Pity. After this we were then taken to a Bingo hall. We stayed for a few games, got very close, but didn't win anything in the end.

I got taken to many houses of friends, for the belated birthday of Daniella (Happy Birthday, by the way), and for some cream cakes just been brought back from Napoli (where they don't speak italian proper - only kidding). Got to know lots of new people, who I would all like to thank for such a great time whilst I was there, even if I can't remember any of there names.

Traffic. Now this is something that always causes great debate to foreigners - how bad is the traffic in Rome. Well, I would like to go down on record as saying that although it always seems chaotic, busy, disorganised, it is in fact a great factor that makes Rome what it is. Without the traffic the city wouldn't have as much of it's charm. I really enjoyed myself being driven around the city by the 3 italians, especially when Chiarra took me on her 'motorino' through all the traffic to the city centre and back to the university. If I thought that going on Jordi's 'Moto' at high speed through Valencia was an adrenaline rush, it was nothing compared with weaving in and out of some of the busiest traffic in europe on a small yellow scooter. What fun !

Trying desperately to think what else to talk about, the problem is that I enjoyed myself so much, even though it was not as action-packed as my last visit to Rome of 3 days. I ate some great italian food, both at the houses of Daniella and Chiarra, and in some of the local restaurants. We played some great arcade games in the games hall (including spot-the-difference from Mainz).
And of course the women. If it wasn't for the fact that I am a sensible young studious man, I would have run off with any one of the thousands of beautiful women that I met in Rome (known and unknown). It certainly proved that it wasn't just the hot summer weather that made them look good.

I also managed to take a few hours out in Bologna. Well, it actually took the whole day because of the train delays, but I did manage to see most of the city, the university buildings and the ambience that the city encases.

Well, as you can see, I really had an excellent time, and would like to thank all people involved for providing accomodation, food, chauffeuring services and great company. As I've said before, the offer is always open for you to visit my home country too.

A bit of other news

Laurent has got in touch to say that things are going well for him, he is studying, and still managing to keep on partying, but he is not intending to visit afghanistan in the next few weeks.

El Gordo, the biggest lottery in the world, was drawn yesterday. Unfortunately I didn't have a ticket. If however, any of you did, and it happens to be the winning one, please don't hesitate in contacting me so I can buy you a beer :)

Also, due to time and money pressures, I will only manage to send out email christmas greetings this year, but nevertheles wish you all the best for the coming year, and hope we will all meet up again soon.

Off to the grotto.