Rome Alone 2: Lost in Trastevere

Yo yo yo, I'm back again. Sitting at my table here listening to the school kids yell nonsense in Italian and the street sweepers cleaning up the beautiful mess of last night. Here's what it looked like last night at primetime 730:

Even when it's not crowded here during the day it's very easy to get turned around in Trastevere. The small streets never take you where you think you need to go, but they take you exactly where you want to go. I've watched countless people (including myself) walk down the cobblestones a while, then a slight look of confusion hits their face, and they walk right back from they came. I've gotten lost like 3 times getting home from 5 minutes away. Luckily for me, they have these all over the place so the water situation is vastly improved, and in a cool way:

Speaking of beautiful messes, it’s like riding a bike, scooter, or driving around here. No one knows what the rules are so whatever you do, just do it confidently. Hesitation will get ya smoked. I hiked on up the Aventine Hill again to see one of the great tourist attractions and here is the unbelievable photo I took:

This is what it's supposed to look like and it did with the naked eye, I'm just an amateur photographer:

I walked my way up the Mercato trionfale and the Vatican for a tour after that. I couldn't believe how much there was to see at the Vatican, or how crowded it was. The place is perfectly kept and the sheer amount of art and cultural artifacts in there amazed me. Alright on to pics:

The pope is good at mowing his lawn:

What up dude:

I needed a break after all the touring of the Vatican and the long walk home in the heat, but I got back out there pretty quick to catch the Spanish Steps at sunset. That and the Trevi were packed houses, but the Piazza di Spagna where the Spanish Steps are located was one of my other favourite landmarks next to the Forum that I've seen:

I already did my one coin toss of my stay in Rome so I skipped out on the Trevi Fountain after I got a view of the crowd. My impression was: damn, all this for a fountain.

After a day that included a tour of the pope's house I committed a cardinal sin in Rome. I ate at the same spot for a second time...Yes I know there are a million amazing and wonderful places to get a once-in-a-lifetime meal, but I also promise you these sandwiches are off the charts. I had pasta twice and wanted a change. I needed to try something else from them and could tell after the first time + some research that this place was young hustling chefs. They're trying to create a unique fusion of new and old dishes and I respect it. Yeah, that's a pretentious way to say "the food is good dude". (also side note any one who knows me knows that is not a surprising move) I was not disappointed:

Off to act like I'm Maximus Decimus Meridius today then I'll check back in when I feel like it.