The black coffee is hot and strong. The sun comes up casting shadows and making the brightly colored buildings glow. The city streets are quiet at 7:00. There are no sounds of police cars, or throngs of people.
The 7+ hour flight afforded some sleep, but not enough. Air travel is neither comfortable or as exciting as the airlines portray it to be, but travel in a pressurized tube thousands of feet in the air while seated for hours is not a natural way to get around for humans. I would prefer not to fly at all, but time and distance considerations make it a necessity under certain circumstances. Our American Airlines flight touched down on time. Service aboard had been more professional than friendly, but a full aircraft meant a great deal of work for the crew. Customs was easy, with document scanners and Rome’s entry officers. After the ordeal of bags, a very efficient transfer to our lodgings took place. It is wise to use a good travel agent. Check in at the Intercontinental happened quickly and it was a pleasure to finally settle into the hotel.
Our room is well appointed, the bed and pillows so comfortable, and the best medicine to cure the jet lag caused by “crossing the pond.” The balcony sports no view, but is spacious and private. Seating for breakfast is quick and friendly. The buffet offers more food than necessary for a minimalist like me, but food is important to Italians.
We walk to meet friends by the Coliseum. Having visited Rome in the past, I will skip the tourist spots.
The weather in Rome is lovely. Here on the edge of the Mediterranean, it’s a far cry from the morning chill that fall has begun to bring to New England. I sit in shorts and a light shirt on the patio, writing. It will be warm walking in the afternoons, and much more busy as the sidewalks become crowded with tourists and locals.
Security concerns in Rome are different than the U.S. I guard against pick pockets when close to the tourist hot spots. I don’t fear the possibility of an active shooter, like in the U.S., but being an American, I am always alert as to my surroundings and maintain a strong situational awareness simply by force of habit.
It has been many years since my last visit. The expertise required to drive on these narrows streets always leaves me amazed, and I am glad to rely on the professionals. I would never attempt to take the wheel here myself.
In my previous time here, I was much less comfortable. I was a stranger in a strange land, and less savvy about traveling. Age, experience and research have made things easier, as well as the acceptance of the idea that travel is about learning and embracing different cultures.
I pick up my hat and put on my glasses in my pocket. I will travel discreetly, wearing clothes that bear no outward branding or logos. I prefer to blend in as a citizen of the world than an American tourist. My wallet and cash are in a zippered chest pocket, a difficult place for someone to access.
Exiting the elevator, I walk out past the bellman, making my way down the quiet tree lined street.
An Unmapped Route: A Hiker's Blog 