Tips and Tricks for Trip to Roma, Italia

Ciao Bellas,

I am part of a group called Nomad-ness Tribe and family of like minded individuals who love to travel, learn, and explore.  I was asked to put together some tips for the Tribe for visiting Rome and I thought I should share with you as  your Roman Expat Expert.  

My insight to planning your trip to Rome!

HOW IT GOES DOWN:

Rome the eternal city is known for a lot of things and you can hit most of them in a weekend tops.  Yes I know this seems unbelievable but unlike other areas in Italy – Rome is a walking city that is WALKABLE (given that you have no health conditions already).  Ladies the cobbles are real so keep your stilettos at home. Comfortable sneakers and wedges are a must.  As soon as you get a nice tourist map you will see that all of the city highlights are near each other and if you are walking you might stumble upon some Roman history on your own.  After being here for a year there is no such time as non-tourist season here so feel free to blend in.  Most Italians in the city center are very excited to practice their English (but a good ciao and grazie will only help you).  The city center is considered Piazza Venezia near all the main tourist sites and the big train station - Termini Statonize, I would say any where in this area is good a place to start.

TRANSPORTATION:

Plane: When flying into Rome look up the different shuttle bus options.  Rome does not have its on airport so they closest two that should consider are Leonardo da Vinci – Fiumincino (FCO)  this one is for mainly international flights from other continents and the other (small and ghetto ) one is Ciampino (CIA) this airport is where most of the ryanair/easyjet flights fly into.  If you have a choice there is no better one as far as convenience they are both FAR from anything. Shuttle options are the way that I reach both airports with two different companies. 

SIT Bus shuttle (www.sitbusshuttle.it) makes 4 stops 1. Via Marsala Termini Station – near the city center 2. Piazza Cavour – Near Vatican area 3. Airport Fiumincino (this is YOUR STOP) 4. Fiumincino City (you have gone too far).  The first shuttle leaves the city at 5 am and the latest is at 20:30 (8:30 pm) and first one from the airport is 8:00 am and last is 23:45 (11:45 pm).  Unlike a lot of things that I found in Rome I think the are very reliable and efficient so I stick with them it cost 8 € for a one way you can buy the ticket on the bus you pick it up at the end of the terminals past Terminal 3 it actually has the SIT logo on it.  They also have a shuttle to the CIA airport but I have used SIT for this one.  Make sure you look for the small SIT sign if you pick up the bus at Cavour on the left street opposite the construction (which will probably still be going on forever lol).

ATRAL www.atral-lazio.com I am not going to lie to you I have never been on the website.  An I do see myself as a good traveler and I went on a leap of faith using this one on my first trip out of Rome to CIA airport.  I lived near the Metro line A which you take to the last stop in ANAGNINA direction and at GATE 1 as soon as you come up the escalator walk to GATE 1 there is a schedule right out side Gate with the times.  I usually just plan ahead and get here in advance.  This shuttle is 1.20 €. When I return I usually take whatever shuttle is going directly into the center for cheap.  The most I have paid was 4.00 € to Termini Station for this airport and then I would take a cab from there or a local city bus.

Taxi from the airports: WARNING!!!!!: Only take the WHITE CABS that actually say Taxi on top and most of them have taxi number on the side.  Be sure to tell them where you are going before you enter the cab and have them confirm 40 € again 40 € that is the flat rate from the airports especially FCO that has been set in place by law from the city if they say 41 put your stuff in another TAXI. Do not let them use the METER.  These are all the tricks that do to try to get you once you are in the taxi, so be aware. CIA is a little tricky since there is less cabs there then supply and demand kicks in (but choose wisely).

I have no experience with taking the Train from the airport. Unless you are staying somewhere along one of the Regional lines that stops closer then maybe its worth looking into. If not then stick to the taxi or shuttle bus.

Train:

METRO: When getting around Rome its good to know the underground/subway/ METRO system most of the stops are placed near places of interest for tourist. You will know the system in an hour if you are use to train systems.  There are only 2 Metro lines:  METRO line A which is near important sites like the Vatican and the Vatican Museum, Piazza di Spanga, and Trevi Fountain.  The Metro starts at 6 am and typically stops at 12:00 midnight.  However, Line A currently stops running at 9 pm from Sun – Friday so only on Saturday it runs until 12. METRO line B, which is near the Coliseum, Piazza Veneica and Termini.  You can only switch trains underground at Termini. 

It is currently 1.00 € each way.  There is some sort of visitors pass that I have never purchased that might worth looking into (but this is not London) you should be above ground most of your time here.  Purchase at machine or teller if your stop has one. Metro line C is under construction for many years and has no scheduled date of actually running anytime soon.

            TRAIN - EURORAIL: If you plan on visiting other areas of Italy during your stay use TrainItalia website.  There is an English option to change the language.  You will find all schedule and prices for all cities in Italy here.  You can purchase tickets online, at ticket booth or teller.  You catch the trains and purchase tickets at Termini Station. Make sure you look up your cities name in Italian since on the board with the arrivals and departures for the track numbers will NOT be in English.

Autobus:  ATAC (like the MTA from NYC of ROME) they have a website if you want to look it for time schedules but they are often not correct.  The bus works on an honor system. It is the same ticket from the metro at a cost of 1 € which you purchase on the bus.  If a police officer stops you on the bus be sure that he will hand you a 50 € fine or make you pay it immediately (my friend was taken to an atm). The buses run 24/7 and after midnight they turn to a different number usually with the letter N in front of it, representing it’s the night bus and stops are more local and they don’t run the same route. 

Taxi:

• Taxis are ran on meters they don’t take more than 4 typically unless you called for a special cab to fit everyone.  They typically start around 2.80 € during the day and I have seen any where from 5.50 € to 7.10 € during different times of the night.  Always ask if the number seem to high about the price (this is where your little Italian comes into play).  The like to add on prices person so this is a warning for that.  You main catch taxis at taxi stands, I have flag them down before too but this is not the typical protocol.

FOOD:

• Italians eat LATE.  Do not be fooled if a place is completely empty at 8pm. Lol  They are on their way. Breakfast don’t really exist here, there is just coffee and croissant. You order breakfast from the BAR.  These places usually have alcohol as well but these bars are for a different kind of shot typically EXPRESSO. 
• DON’T eat any PIZZA place.  Most places in the center near everything in most countries are typically just traps.  Rome is famous for this, since most people are here for pizza there are pizzerias everywhere.  A lot of them are frozen pizza that you can get better in US’s supermarket.
• PIZZA rule: There are 2 types of Pizza, there is traditional pizza from Naples that we all know that is round and then there is Roman Pizza which is square and is cut and weighted.  Two places I will tell you about for both types are Dar Poeta (great round pizza in Rome) in the area known as Trastevere and Pizzarium  (very exciting toppings and dough for square pizza) near the Cipro Metro Stop Line A.
• Just going to note a few other places to eat in Rome.  This is Italy so most good places might not have websites or phones and may be on a cobble stone street in between nowhere. Please know in advance a lot of what you eat or think is traditional Italian food in America is not Italian food in Italy.  For instance chicken alfredo I have only seen on 1 menu and chicken parmagiana is not here so don’t ask and if you see it on a menu that might be a good sign that this place is a tourist trap. 
• Pasague  - Open late (close at 2 am, great wine menu, great for appetizers, love the food (small food menu) Love the owner.  BTW: They opened a new place that is bigger and around the corner with a different name same menu . Near the Vatican closer to Metro stop for Vatican
• Mamà’s – Very modern décor, free wifi, great food, love the bruschetta here and the seafood. Near the Vatican closer to Castle San Angelo
• Old Bear – close to Piazza Navona and the bridge ( recent find love the trimbolle its their  eggplant parmagina)
• List to be continued (don’t know the names of everywhere) …
• Vistit an open market if you have never seen one.  Trionfale is big and covered (so a more modern day version than the one in the movies.  Get wine straight for the barrel or bottled, great cheese, and other snacks if you are here for a short stay.  If you have a kitchen then you won’t need to find the supermarket after find fresh everything here. Near two metro stops CIPRO and OTTAVIANO. Can be difficult to stop if you are since its covered but its in between the block not on the main Metro street so be sure to go early. I believe it closes at 2:00pm and closed on Sunday.

ENTERTAINMENT:

• Campo Di Fiore – Tourist like it here its close to the center and you can find people from anywhere here.  It’s a circle of pubs and local clubs.  Everyone just end up drunk and very friendly.  Avoid Drunken Ship – every study abroad American is here (19 yr and this is their 1^st time drinking).  If you do make over here early enjoy Apperativo at Sloppy Sams (they are a little better)
• Trastevere – This is a site to see. It almost look like the quad of a college campus of people just standing around and drinking after a football game. No music but real SOCIAL NETWORKING offine.  This area has tourist but it’s more or less like the Italian version of Campo Di Fiore more young Italians come and hang here.  They are close to each other just across the Tiber River. You can walk here from Campo.  Be sure to wear comfortable shoes.  Our favorite place here is D-Gee Bar great music, good-looking people (some tourist), great-drinks (make sure you order a THREESOME).
• Testaccio – This is further out but this is where the clubs are located within Rome.  Its like a village of different music and themes so if you are ready to go out this where you need to be.  This area close after 4am (I believe, never stayed pass this time).  Thursday nights at Alkab or Ahkalb is Hip-Hip and Rap and Top 20 stuff.  Its good to see the mix of people in Rome here singing every word but don’t know English and which

SURVIVAL WORDS

Ciao – Hi and Bye

Grazie – Thank You

Prego – Your welcome

Escuzi – Excuse you

Tu Parle Inglese? – Do you speak English?

Io no parlo italiano – I do not speak Italian

Per Favore – Please

Dove un bango?  – Where is a bathroom?

A Week in ESPANA!!! Part 1 Sevilla

Hola Chicas!


Ok so one cannot live in Europe and travel to London, Paris, and Rome without hitting SPAIN! Yes it has taken all these months to finally make but I did make it and had a great week there.  I had a break between quarters at my school so I decided to travel long before I even purchased tickets to Spain.  But something great happened, my cousin and fellow blogger Maya accept a great opportunity to teach English in Spain. This is a win win for me and her! lol She moved to Sevilla, Spain the beginning of October right after returning home from our time together in Morocco.  Two of my best friends study abroad in Spain during undergrad so it was great to be able to get a taste of their experience.

Sevilla! 
The home of Bullfighting, Flamenco Dancing, Sangria and Paella! Who wouldn't love this place.  Sevilla is considered to be very Spanish, to me this meant nothing since I didn't understand the difference of other places in Spain but I will get into that later with Barcelona.  As soon as I arrive as every typical European airport there is no customs, no check, no nothing  (guess they are on break with the Italians lol).  I find the shuttle bus that has a schedule outside the airport this was very easy to find and navigate by myself.  I needed to kick in my 3 years of high school Spanish classes and that 1 yr relationship with the Puerto Rican boyfriend I had back in college to help a little.  Made it to the main square, Padro San Sebastian where all the trams and bus run to connect to the bus to my cousin's flat.  Sevilla is a small charming city.  There are lot of the same characteristics that I see in Florence, Italy that I loved about Sevilla.  There is less tourist here I am pretty sure due to the time that I visited and that it is pretty South of Spain not close to other major Spanish  'touristy' places like Madrid.  Well if you don't by now I love learning the history of the area that am visiting and being exposed to the culture differences that makes that place that am vising unique.  My cousin and I did the Hop On Hop Off tour which was really good since I am able to see all the areas in 2 hours and knew where I needed to come back to do a little shooting.  Then before she went off to work we had good lunch with a little Flamenco Dancing performance. See below.  It was great.  Didn't know what to expect.  Loved every minute of the passionate music and the dancer.  This is a must see if in Spain.  Later after walking around I did a free tour of an area called the Triana.  This is where a lot of the gypsies lived and worked and the home of FLAMENCO!  It was interesting to hear the story of Moors and the rich mix from Morocco in Spain and it was evident all over the with architecture and symbols and symbols I noticed from my recent trip in to Marrakech.  I enjoyed my long walks around the city.  One of my favorite places there was Plaza de Espana loved the building and felt very connect to the architecture and the colors and essence of the flamboyant culture that you hear about when you think of Spain.

The time with my cousin was great as well. Seeing her with the friends, she have made so far, and in her element with the culture she love was great.  So proud of her for moving out her, I am know I am crazy for doing what I did but its good to see that some people are as crazy as me. lol.  Seeing here speak fluently made me want to take my Italian serious.  She getting her groove in her new Euro life quickly and was able to do a few things together.  We had our Paella at the Festival of the Nations, this was a market place in the middle of a park that was currently the hit of the town while I was there (lucky me) and highlighting different places with large Spanish decent being represented.  They were selling food, dancing, selling their local drinks it was great to experience.  Although the many Spanish people are near and far from Spain they come in a large variety of shapes, colors, and sizes because of their different heritage being so intertwined with many people from native land (indigenous), the Spaniards, and Africans  but the language, food, and music whether you are talking to some from Mexico, Colombia, or Madrid is what connects them and that was beautiful to see.

Next stop BARCELONA!! 

Here are some pics of us:

 Festival of the Nations!

 Cuban Bar trying do a little Salsa!

 OLAY!!! at Plaza de Espana

 Flamenco Dancer

Day trip to Capri, Italy - September 2011

Day Trip to Capri

This is my second time to Capri this time is with the girls Whoop Whoop! And we didn’t do much touring of the island but we saw all of the island at once.  Rented a boat it was great!

A group of friends and I cruised around the island all day.  It was great.  So one of my friends was like an expert in trips to Capri so she knew exactly where she wanted to get the boat from and the things she wanted to do before we went cruising around.  We packed a bag of sandwiches, wine, beer, and cheeses or the essentials.  We first made a stop up to the top of the island where she believed was the best gelato.  I would have to concur it was pretty dam good.  I got some crazy mix flavor of strawberry and something else don’t remember but it was good.  That was all the time we spent on land the rest was all in the Sea.  The waves were a little rocky but the further we went out the better it was.  The sea was so clear we finally docked and everyone but me jumped straight into the sea.  Guess I didn’t get the memo that there is no beach here (or traditional beach with sand), there is a rock beach with beautiful, crystal clear water.  We parked amongst the yachts (as I dream one day that will be me and next time swimming too lol).  It was all about R&R in the sun and with the girls that day, which made it a great trip.  Capri is a very expensive island tailoring its stores and things to do for more affluent tourist.  The retail stores are all high end boutiques and I even found some very exclusive Jimmy Choo’s there, don’t worry I didn’t buy anything but was very tempted to max my card out.  Then I realize that I rather fly to another country on vacation (priorities). 

See pics below:

This is how the day ended lol ...

 Arriving on the island of Capri

 Popping Bottles on our boat!

Almost forgot about NAPOLI!!

So in order to get to Capri you got to catch the ferry from Naples.  Really quickly I will tell you why you don’t need to spend much time there.  Or at least these pics will show you:

 Yes this is true what you see THE STREETS OF NAPLES ARE A LANDFILL!!!!!! Please call the EPA NOW!

 Had to get out!!

However, as in Eat, Pray, Love Not before you have the PIZZA!!! Yes Naples is the home of the ROUND pizza as we know today.  There is 2 different types of pizza in Italy and Rome is the home of the best SQUARE pizza.  So yes this pizza made the stop worth it. Then get to the train as soon as you can.

Here goes the PIZZA

Ciao Bellas!!