I did say Dating ROME, not dating IN Rome or Dating a Roman...

I just date the city of Rome...   :)

Current love affair with Rome...

Dating Rome isn’t easier than dating a male, but it is defiantly more enjoyable…

He wakes me up with a smile and gently reminds me of the daily blessing from God, Oro Gold Lavazza coffee. With the sweeties aromas of coffee one could ever smell, I slip on my brown rainbow sandals and head to the table. There glowing with gold shinny lines on the 6 burner stove top stands, my personal, double shot espresso maker, steaming hot waiting for our good morning kiss. At last my love has saved me and he is perfect in his original form, which is never the case for a man, but this man needs no sugar, he slips down with ease.

Rome and I went hand and hand on a walk, with no map, I wanted to explore and see his creative side. Through the tiny stone streets at the bustling time of 8:00am I was determined to find untouched ground. I stumbled upon a tiny corner shop. There were two old wooden doors, one on each side of the corner, they almost touched. Looking though the open door my heart skipped a beat at what my eyes saw. Beautiful breads of all kinds, and pastries that added ten pound with the glance of an eye… I bought three things and ate them through out the day.

Skipping down the cobble stone road wearing black leggings and an oversize pink tunic, and carrying my white goody bag in my left hand, I was determined to be a local, not a tourist. I turned a corner and there stood the Pantheon, oh the camera was out faster than an Asian at Disneyland… I am a tourist. In my previous trip to Italy I never saw the Pantheon, and what a mistake that was. It really is a magnificent sight, dating back to 120AD. The first thing I did was walk though the yellow and pinkish marble floors, straight to the very center of the dome and look straight up. A local boy told me that no matter how hard it rains, it never rains in the Pantheon. When we have our first day of full rain, I am testing this Roman theory and its validity. Every couple has their spot, and this will be OUR spot as long as we are together.

Finding the Pantheon without looking for it.

Roaming around Rome

We are all created with a hole that needs  'love'. That is how God created us as humans. We are made to crave love, and find things to love and eventually God comes and fills the cracks of every part of our hole so that we may feel whole. Milana is our family's new love. She has brought a joy to everyone around her, even for me. Although my heart is broken and longing to hold this precious gift God has given Sebastian and Denise, her pictures bring me sweet joy. What an amazing creation and beautiful gift you have blessed us with. Forever she will be part of our family, and a joy to us all. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1M0flYf1rg

Thursday night I decided to adventure out of the house to a near by pub, I was in need of a drink…after two full days of travel, a new set of parents (as if the 2 sets I already have weren’t enough) and 3 new little brothers (as if the 5 I already have weren’t enough!) a glass of procceco seemed like bliss. So off I went in my navy blue JCrew dress, gold sandals and a scarf to have one drink. I get down to the bar and there in all of his glory was 50 cent and Lil Kim singing Candy Store on a 60” flat screen tv, and a man sitting in a San Diego Charger football shirt drinking a beer. Ahh home, I found my ‘posto’ (spot).The setting was very posh for such a tiny bar. It has a very clean sleek look, with white illuminating plastic everywhere and clear barstools and chairs. I order my glass of procceco in Italian, because I am determined to improve my skills. The bar tender, which looks like the black curly haired guy from Gym Class Hero’s, entertained my idea of ‘Italian only’ and started conversing with me. Three minutes later into our Italian conversation a group of American students came stumbling in. Francesco, the bar tender looked at me and rolled his eyes as the girls said… “shots…Vodka…molto economico”. I just laughed trying to contain my composer and said to Francesco, ‘Si, loro sono di Americano”(yup, they’re American). Next the girls started to speak to me in Italian! I couldn’t take it any longer, I blurted out, “Where are you girls from?!” Next thing I knew I was given 2 shots of vodka and a glass of procceco. By this time I was yelling BASTA (enough for me). My bill was only 6 Euro, thus my first night out…

            Friday it finally hit me. I was dead tired; I took a nap in the afternoon for almost four hours, and then awaited my call for the news concerning Milana. As soon as I heard the great news, I was out cold, dead asleep. The best part of houses in Italy is the shutters that pull all the way down to the ground, and make your room literally pitch black! I could sleep for days and never know what time it was. Saturday I woke up at noon and ready for adventure! I packed my bags, grabbed my things and was on my way…within two minutes it donned on me that I have never been alone in my life. It’s a weird, but fun concept; I did whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. As Jackie told me before I left, “get used to it sister, it will be good for you”.  Such wise words from my 21 year-old sister, although she is speaking from her own experience, she was right.

            I went looking for something different, a nice quiet spot away from tourist, you know somewhere for locals. I went exploring at Villa Borghese, the park I had described before. I found a somewhat hidden pond with beautiful cast iron benches and adorable duck families. The trees were aged and over grown hitting the top of the water with their branches. It was the perfect distance from the street and a tiny café-grab-and-go sort of place on the corner, I felt safe at my pond. Feeling very proud of my discovery I sat down to take out a map and plot my next adventure, when I heard a man say, ‘Heeelloo’ in his deep Italian accent. I turned my head to look and there stood a partially balding man with his person part in hand peeing! Yes PEEING! I was so grossed out, I screamed OH MY GOD and ran off!! That was the end of finding a personal spot; according to Italy personal things do not remain personal!!

Walking at such a brisk pace I hopped on the first bus I found and headed down to The Trevi Fountains. Just when I was sick of being alone, I met two girls from San Diego. We grew up 15 minutes away from each other, which made me realize how small this world really is! The three of us continued to tour all of Rome until it was almost 11:00pm and time for me to catch the bus home. On the busses they do not post the up and coming stops, it is the riders’ responsibility to remember where they are going. I choose the stop that said ‘Balduina’ which is the name of the city I live in, except it was completely wrong. I was lost at 11:45 at night, in Rome. Mom cover your ears…Across the street was a gas station so I walked over to the man pumping his gas and asked him if he had any idea where my street was. He stared at me, and then it hit me, he was the same boy I had met the first night who was wearing the San Diego Chargers tee shirt!

I know someone is watching every step I take When in Rome.

P.S. I would like to make a contraction in my previous writing ‘Here I am’ the adorable lifeguard who be-friended me is named Lorenzo not Leonardo… He is now my Italian teacher (whether he likes it or not :)

Here I am...

The first two days have passed by like a dream. So far I have ate 9 different cheeses, 3 different type of prosciutto, a french quiche, and a German curry sausage... not to mention the veal Marsala and pasta and rice salads......Needless to say, I love Italy, and their food...

The house is beautiful and the children are very educated and well behaved, for the most part. They love to fight with each other, which is completely normal to me. Their school is located inside the Villa Borghese which is the 'central park' of Rome. Imagine an enchanted forest with trees that create tunnels and wild bamboo, little double hinged green doors, and rod iron stair railings. It is a prestigious private French school for children ages 3 and up. Today was their first day of school and my fourth time driving to the school. Last night, Mary, (the mother, who is french/italian) gave me a crash course in driving in Rome. Although the Vespa's and scooters drive me nuts, I have found a comfort behind the wheel because of the similarities to downtown LA or Santa Monica. Mary told me that I am the best driver they have ever had, Yes MOM and JACKIE did you hear that? If any of my family heard that they might die! I guess I have been driving in the wrong city my whole life :) I am a crazy and agressive driver, the perfect fit for Rome. There are three habbits I did have to give up while driving...No Make-up or Cell Phone that's forsure, and driving shoes only; which do not include my rainbows, or sandals of any kind. I have to rock my cute outfits with my white nike tennis shoes. I hate my driving shoes, so I now BYOS...bring my own shoes where ever I go.

As for my social life I have not adventured out...yet. I want to be completely acclimated with my new home and family, and practice my Italian before I start to make friends. There is a Lyola University (American) one block from my house, but I have the best American friends in America, why do I need more? I want Italian friends!! I did meet one new friend, Leonardo, who is the lifeguard at the pool and speaks perfect English, he is a sweetie, around 20 years old, and will remain a great friend.

I am driving alone this afternoon to pick up the children from school and continue our English lessons. The boys' English is very impressive and I have enjoyed our 'classroom' times. Ciao, A Presto!


p.s
I forgot how much I hate mosquitoes, right now I am currently sporting 11 bits, and believe I just received one more right now!!

p.s.s
Milana my Niece is coming tomorrow!!!! n:)