After a long sweaty trip to Verona our life in the north is coming together. We went up to go apartment hunting and stayed with one of D’s friends who is also in the air force. I had met him a few times in Rome while he was here but I was excited to finally meet his wife, but I found out she was down in Puglia with her family. D thinks we will really get along and she is in the same boat as me: living in a new area, military husband, no job and lonely. She sounds hilarious and that we have a lot in common-another added bonus of moving!
We visited apartments ranging from a hole in a wall near the train station (EW) to a HUGE apartment with 2 balconies overlooking Via Mazzini (For you Romans think Via Condotti/Via del Corso). I was in love with it but it was just barely above our price range. I was surprised how cheap rent is there compared with Rome-def works to our advantage. We also looked at a really pretty attic apartment a tad out of the center, but it had a view of the entire city! On foot it was about 10-20 to Piazza Erbe (we are trying to live car less the first year). Add another 10 minutes to get to D’s office and it seemed too far away. It was also on a hill and there wasn’t so much as a grocery store or a bar near, being that the apartment was flanked by a convent and a monastery. We were going to go for it anyway when we found the PERFECT place! It was just around the corner from the Via Mazzini apartment, so the street intersects with Via Mazzini but it is a on a side vicolo (which equals less foot traffic/tourists/noise). Plus, Bershka is on the corner-heaven! So the apartment is completely remodeled, and actually when we looked at it, the bathroom was gutted and being completely redone. In all ways it was perfect: size, location, newness, and rent. We would def be able to manage the city with bikes and walking. The apartment has a huge bedroom, a living room a separate kitchen and dining room and the bathroom. All for under 600 euro per month (our budget from the military)!

The owners were not in town (they live in Mantova) when we called initially but told us to stop by and look at it as the workers were there. We immediately called them back after looking at it and told them we wanted to take it. The bathroom won’t be done until the end of the month which is perfect for us since we want to move in the beginning of August. We offered to drive to Mantova but they told us they were actually vacationing in Garda and to come down (accomplishing my secret mission to go to the lake during that week even though D had initially poo-pooed the idea since we were not on vacation).

The next day we went to meet them. They were an old retired couple and were extremely nice. We chatted for a few hours and signed the lease.

I can’t wait to move!!! It’s even more exciting now that I can picture where we are going to live.

Tags: apartment in verona, Bershka, Italy, Jessica Romes: Road Trip!, moving, Moving within Italy, My Neighborhood, renting in Italy, Shopping, Verona, Via Mazzini

Well, I dropped out of language school a few weeks ago. It started with being sick, then it was being out of town and then my pre paid 3 months was up. I didn’t really feel like forking over another 450 euro. So for the last few weeks I haven’t studied at all. Just when I think I am managing just fine without school, the barman at our neighbourhood bar made fun of me. Everyone thinks just because I am shy and don’t ramble on in Italian that I don’t know how to speak, or at least say “un Caffè”. Here’s how it all went down: I was at the bar with my suocera (mother in law), we were on the way back from my doctor appointment (more on that below) and I was kind of spacing out when he said something. I didn’t say anything back because I didn’t think he was even talking to me and I was deep in my own thoughts. Then he said something along the lines of “She still doesn’t speak any Italian?!?” Then my MIL said told him no only a little. At this point I had realized he was talking to me and in Italian asked what he had said. Apparently he wanted to know if I take my coffee in a tazzina o un vetro (a little mug or a shot glass). For one, no bar person has ever asked this to me, and two WHO THE HELL CARES!? The thing that really pissed me off was how I had just had a visit with my doctor and talked to him for a half hour in Italian about my medicine, how I was feeling and the upcoming plans for my medication. Did I mention this was ALL IN ITALIAN? Then when I don’t hear the bar guy ask me what my preference in coffee cup is, I am told I am basically an idiot for not speaking Italian. I know it’s not his fault, but I got no love from the MIL either. I mean, I talk to her the most out of everyone and our whole relationship takes place in Italian, but in her opinion I speak very, very little. I think maybe she is like protecting me from being embarrassed. I don’t know. I also think that people don’t actually realize how shy I am sometimes, especially when I have to think really hard before I speak. I don’t know, it’s just annoying to me. It makes me feel like I have made no progress even though I know I have. So after that whole scene I came home and signed up for Cyber Italian. I did the free trial and took the placement test and it seems pretty decent and a steal for only 40 dollars (not euro!). You get 6 months of self paced lessons, vocab, quizzes games and chats with a teacher and other students. I’m not sure what to expect, but we’ll see. I do know that I need some sort of structure or I just don’t study. I think this will be good for that.

****Ooohhh as I was writing this I realized there was a “chat with the professor” going on. I joined in and it was really fun! The teacher is an Italian living in Rome. I am quite impressed. Now I want to jump in and start the lessons. There are 2 chats a week, one in text and one over video. It seems cool and is 100 times cheaper than my school. I’ll keep you updated on how it goes. So far so good!****

Speaking of doctors (see above) I am so, so happy I have excellent doctors around me now. The one I saw the other day was my dermatologist. I have suffered from acne since I was like 14, it’s not the horrible disfiguring kind, but it’s enough to make me really self conscious. In the US, with my spotty medical insurance, I either couldn’t afford the treatments or the doctor, or they were reluctant to put me on anything other that antibiotics, which didn’t clear up my face and left my body virtually defenceless against everything that might require antibiotics (think really painful kidney infections). So basically I was screwed and still had zits. Now I have the best derm I have ever seen (and I have seen many). He is Italian and speaks no English. I glad I went with him regardless (I had a REALLY bad experience with an English speaking doctor in Rome, I will write about that soon). He had no hesitations putting me on accutane, something I have wanted forever. I am so happy! It’s been 3 months and my skin looks clearer than I can ever remember. I’ve had some gnarly side effects like back pain and crazy chapped lips, but it was nothing like suffering from the breakouts I had previously. Thank god I have universal healthcare, that’s all I can say.

In other news, I wanted to thank everyone for their advice on my blog conundrum. I still might switch over to a new site though LOL. I have great new ideas for a complete overhaul. I am kinda leaning toward moving and recreating a new pretty blog, but it is nice to know that if I get lazy none of you will care that much! Thanks buddies!

Still no word on our exact move date. GRRR. However, Daniele has been poked to death with all sorts of needles in preparation. He has to get every vaccine known to man since he will be in Afghanistan and Iraq. Poor pookie.

Tags: Learning Italian, My Neighborhood, Verona

As Shelley posted we are in the middle of a week long strike. Last week the taxi drivers, train conductors and bus drivers walked off the job, and this week it is the truck drivers turn. They are unhappy due to rising fuel prices. Although this was a planned strike, the drivers have illegally been blocking freeways and not delivering gas or food. The police have not intervened to clear up the road blocks even though the drivers were ordered to move and deliver basic goods to stores. The Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi stated that “The blockages constitute an unbearable violation of the liberty of citizens.”

Yeah, this pretty much sucks. For me it started Monday on the way to the doctor which is only a few miles down the road. The back up from the freeway was so bad cars were lined up for miles and were at a complete standstill. Then last night Daniele had to fight his way home from work in the middle of the lines of traffic from the roadways, then the lines at every gas station, then even more lines at two of the areas grocery stores. I have never seen anything like this. There is no control. Everything seems like it is in total chaos. This will be a fun week of no milk, no gas and no fresh food Here is a video I found (I tried to load my own but it’s not working) showing the madness. Apparently these cars were in line for gas, when there was gas….

Tags: Italian Politics, My Neighborhood, Videos

I had to go to the store today. I am deathly ill with the flu and/or the sketchy butter I ate 3 days ago (2 more days and I’ll go to the doctor). I felt ok enough to take off my sweats and my fast food friends shirt and put on real clothes to go to the Panorama near my house, the one that’s conveniently in the mall, that conveniently has my favorite store: H&M. I decided I could muster up the strength to go browse for just a minute while D bought me t

he flu/butter induced food poisoning necessities: bottled water, Sprite, saltine crackers, and popsicles. I walked in and noticed much of their new line featured deep green that happens to match my face color perfectly. Moving to the back of the store, I was halted in my tracks.

It’s a noise like no other.

It’s like fingers to a chalkboard.

“Like, OMG! That is SOOOOOO Cute on you!!!”

There was English in MY H&M. And not your lovely Britished accent English. Big Fat American Valley-Girl-California English! OMG in my store! WAAAAY out in the boonies! It’s like seeing a rare animal or a crazy art exhibition. I am so used to being the freak out here that all I could do was watch in an intrigued, horrified, trying-my-best-not-to-puke, amazement. I decided to go stealth and follow them from a distance. They were tanned, normal looking girls, but one was really tall like me. They talked about how much this H&M sucked compared to THIER store in California. I could cry. H&M saved my shopping life here in Rome, no other stores carry my size (14). They were OMG-ing in and insulting my place of worship.

Maybe it’s the fact that my fever is on par with the temperature outside (today was the hottest day in the last 7 years), but it was really weird to see these American girls at my mall, in my area. I see Americans all the time in the center, but never out here. I am like a dog: this is my territory, can’t you smell me? It’s not that I don’t like Americans, I am American, I love us. I even have been to known to say OMG. But I felt uncomfy and protective of my mall and my neighborhood. Maybe I just love it so much here, I want it all to myself? But for real, how did they get here?

What’s my problem? Thoughts? Ideas? Do I need therapy? TheraFlu?

Tags: American Stuff, Jessica, My Neighborhood

Remember walking into a Starbucks and ordering that BIG 20 oz. coffee to go in a large paper cup with a sleeve? Here I present take-away coffee: Italian style.

Ingredients needed: a shot espresso, steamed milk, and one USED juice bottle.

Tags: Crazy Italy, My Neighborhood

I have been wanting to write about “Daniele’s” pub for awhile now. It’s practically our second kitchen. The pub is basically a small, family restaurant located in our neighborhood. I love going there, it feels like you stepped into your uncle’s house (who’s house just happens to be full of amazing food). It was opened on October 31, 1986 as a place “to spend pleasant evenings” and so “The Extravagant Bus” was born. Every Friday night they feature a live band, and sometimes Pasquale’s own ‘mythical’ quartet Etcetera.

Inside, apart from seeing ‘uncle’ Pasquale and his smiling face, you will see all the little knick-knacks they have in their collection ranging from Jamaican style ashtrays, to lucky elfi and even a postcard collection from around the world.

My all time favorite dish is the Spaghetti alla Pugliese. The tomatoes and ricotta cheese tastes unreal. It’s really hard for me to eat a huge plate of anything, but I practically lap up the sauce that’s left pooling at the bottom of the bowl.

Not only is Pasquale a pub owner, every year he is involved in putting on a rock festival showcasing amateur bands from all over Italy. CastelverdeRock is in its fourth year and is growing in popularity every year. This year the entrance fee was only one euro. In the pics you will see my official shirt and CD from the festival!

And no pub in Rome can be without the requisite Sordi picture! You know the famous scene from the movie “Un Americano a Roma”. This hunt is put on by my pal Shelley at her blog. So to find out more about the Sordi, the hunt for this picture worldwide and how you can join in, go to her site by clicking here!

For more info on the pub visit their website (in Italian).

La Corriera Stravagante

Via Bolognano 3

Castelverde, Roma

Tags: Italian Food, Lose the Guidebook, My Neighborhood, Postcards from Rome

My all time favorite gelateria in Rome in right down the street from my house. It is all totally hand made on site and tastes amazing. My usual flavors are the pistacchio, stracciatella menta and the strange specialty of the house rose flavor. Rose is definitely an acquired taste, kind of a mixture of soap and fresh petals, but its really good when you get used to it. This little neighborhood gelateria is quite cosy with seating in the front under a canopy. There are usually hoards of people outside from 10-midnight. The little extra cialde are really good too, we usually get extra to eat later even when the gelato is finished. My tummy definitely endorses this place! It’s out of the center but really worth it, if you ever come, stop by my house for a glass of wine!

Gelateria Antico Capriccio

Via Massa San Giuliano, snc

00132 ROMA

Check out other places on the tour at the Tour del Gelato Blogroll!

Tags: Italian Food, My Neighborhood, Postcards from Rome, Tour del Gelato

I’m not sure what this Apatosaurus has to with a mall, or even shopping, but it is taking over the parking garage. Also seen inside was a T-Rex.

Roma EST Centro Commerciale
Via Collatina
Roma Lunghezza

Tags: My Neighborhood

It is that time of summer for our areas Party of the Neighborhood! This is put on every year by the neighborhood and church, and this years feste is the 40th anniversary. It goes on for a week and takes place on the church grounds. There is a carnival with rides, a BBQ (which is just Italian food on picnic tables covered with red and white checks), live music and a dance floor, game booths, cotton candy, fireworks and even the marching band complete with baton twirlers that plays up and down the streets in the evening. I love carnivals, always have. So I was really excited when they started putting up all the Christmas-y lights and Daniele explained to me what all the hustle and bustle was about! There was even a stand selling cute glass jewelery and I picked up a necklace and bracelets for only 3 euro. Here are some of the pictures:

Tags: Italian Food, Lose the Guidebook, My Neighborhood, Postcards from Rome