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Bus to Rome
Europeans are not famous for bus travel, but it is the absolute cheapest way to go international over a long distance. Unfortunately, I got even less sleep on the night bus than I would on a night train. A little warm, and the seats just don't recline enough. It also brought back memories of knee pains past, that can't be good for the legs. I managed to use up my last marks on some Mezzo Mix at a gas station, and I was in Rome by about 8am today.
Sandra
There was a good variety of people on the bus. I sat behind a longterm traveling Australian guy who was off to Napoli with a Danish friend. They introduced me to the other English speaker onboard. A woman from Calgary who married a Turk who lives in Germany. Sandra is on a weeklong solo vacation from her husband and her life in Munich. She had done her trip research on the web and seemed well prepared. We decided to look for a hostel together.
Pensione Ottaviano
We got the last three beds in a triple room at the hostel style Ottaviano. We would spend three nights there, each one in a different room. We had a little trouble figuring out the room reservation and
paying system, but we did get a bed each night. All of the 23 beds in the place are a little too close to Via Ottaviano, which has bad traffic all night long. If you close the windows, you can sleep better. Then you sweat, though, and you have to wait in line for on of the two showers in the morn. The place was home to many American backpackers and the walls are lined with tourist info. We got hooked on the Walking Tours offered by the affiliated Enjoy Rome cultural organization.
Wandering Around
I had some extra time to waste before Josh would come in in the afternoon. Sandra and I went for a walk over to the Spanish Steps.
She would whip out her book and fill me in on the history and whatnot of random spots along the way. Augustus Mausoleum, lots of Egyptian oblesques, the steps themselves.
Meeting Up
It cost me a bit to run out to the airport, but it was the easiest way to rendezvous with Josh. No problems like in Bordeaux. We made it back to the city and took our own little walk before meeting Sandra for dinner. We picked out a Chinese just along the river. We found that our hostel is near the Vatican and many other sites as well. It sounds funny to have Chinese in Rome, but I was in the mood for some rice. We have lots of time for pasta.
Tiburtini Island
Sunday the twelfth means World Cup final here in Europe, so we were searching for a TV after dinner. There is an island down the river which someone is trying to make into a night spot. They have two large screens for outdoor movies, some shops, a disco, and whatnot. We paid a couple bucks to get in and see France beat Brazil. The few French fans in the front row seemed more than happy to see their team win. However, we were the only ones who stuck around afterward for the French film. Cheap entertainment.
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