Rome Day 1

My first thought of Rome is it's just like Paris. There's a ton of modern buildings, banks everywhere, people always trying to sell you something, and random ruins just sitting in the midst of it all.

Our hotel was not that hard to find - only a couple blocks from one of the few metro stops. It was more of a chore to get through the train station actually. Half the metro line was under construction, so you had to take a million escalators and u-turns just to reach the proper metro platform. The hotel was ok. But just ok. Window looked out on the stairwell....but at least it had air conditioning that worked well. And the bathroom was clean. The internet was crap and too expensive, but we ended up getting better internet from a random connection anyway. All in all, it would do.

It was situated only a couple blocks from the Trevi Fountain, which ended up being our go-to spot. When in doubt, just follow signs to the Trevi and we could find our way home from there. We never actually spent much time at the fountain because #1 it's just a fountain and #2 there were constantly people trying to sell you stuff and take your picture for money or just generally asking you for money. Go see it, take a picture, and move on before someone can wrench your camera out of your hand and then charge you for it.

We take a detour to an Irish Pub to see US vs. Slovenia - I say Irish pub only very loosely. The staff was entirely Italian (highly unusual for an Irish pub - even the Vienna one was all Irish) and they charged through the nose for everything. They also refused to serve anything but burgers before 5 at night. At 4:55 I ask for a brownie - She looks at the clock and say "not till 5". Like that extra 5 minutes is really going to make the difference. Their loss - never going back there again. Stupid fake Irish pub.

We went to the Pantheon that first day, too. It was also really close and free, so why not. It was humongous and full of people, but really awesome. It certainly doesn't disappoint. I just wish it was still a roman temple to the gods instead of a church. By now I've seen a ton of churches, so one more (even the Pantheon) is just meh.

We wander around some more and get some mediocre food at the Piazza Navona (you really do pay for the view and not the food). Then follows Trajan's column, some more general wandering, lots and lots of marble monuments, and lots of sleep.