Day 13: Rough start to Rome

I'm tired, frustrated, hungry (took care of that problem) and don't know how to forge ahead. Italy was the first country where doing anything felt like a challenge and I felt like it would have far too easy to fall into a bit of a sticky pot.

Slept for most of the flight over here but when we landed at Fiumicino, there were no stairs or crews to greet us. My bladder, which I only twigged onto when I woke up and we were starting to descend, wasn't very happy about that. I also needed a SIM card but figured I could wait until I reached Roma Termini because I just wanted a bathroom and the train, in that order (side note: I can only think of North Americans who don't say "toilets", but either "bathroom" or "washroom").

Found a Wind store at Roma Termini — go me, didn't have to ask or anything — but had to grab a ticket and wait. And wait. And wait. By the time it was my turn, I learned a SIM card would be a minimum of €25. Whaaa? I don't need that much! All I needed was a bit of text and some data, so I canceled this order and now I'm stuck with trying to top up one of my other SIM cards.

My plan was to hit up one of the many, many little mini grocery stores I've been seeing and have a sandwich for supper or something, but wouldn't you know that they only accept cash, not Visa. I got spoiled in Norway by not using cash even once; as soon as I hit Amsterdam — and especially Italy — it's all been cash, cash, cash, cash, cash. There was one shop that accepted Visa, but I had to spend €10 first.

Something bit my hand and my allergies have kicked into hyperdrive over it, making my right hand look like a puffer fish. I've been downing Benadryl and Desloratidine tablets every day, but it's still something I'm trying to hide in a glove.

The traffic is incredibly crazy here. I thought Toronto could get aggressive sometimes, but Rome puts everything I've seen to shame. While the Leonardo Express train was paused a short distance outside Roma Termini, I was watching the cars. They were spread about eight across (with mopeds squeezed in anywhere there was room) with three different lights governing them, although that hardly counted for anything. Once the light turned green, the cars would gush forward and stutter step as they cut each other off, wiggled around and generally just went wherever they pleased. There were no lanes that I could see, just a free for all where you make your own path.

So, I've got an itchy and swollen hand (goddamn these allergies!), a need to hit up an ATM but in a way so that pickpockets don't see me, a body that just wants to shut down and sleep but a brain that's saying, 'Go out and see something tonight! You're in Rome!', and a bit of a helpless feeling in trying to get past being stuck.

Ah, heck. At least the weather's great at around 15C. And besides, if directionally-challenged people could find their way around Rome a generation ago, then I should be able to, too. Maybe.