Rome Sept 23rd 2009

I am totally pleased!
I have walked a small marathon today, I didn't eat any sweets, AND I've found a wifi internet site two streets down from where I'll be living.

I took a night train for the first time in my life, completely omitting the fact that I'd be sleeping to the sound of metal scrunching feet below me and be rocked to sleep by the wobble of the train. I almost laughed outloud when I got to 'my room'. There were two other ladies there too---and I thought---one of us has got to go---but then I looked UP and saw a bed wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy up there. The two women sharing this small cabin with me were over 60 years old and I thought it would be ludicrous to send one of them up there. So I offered to switch a very prime bed for the nest up top. Let me tell you I didn't bother drinking too much water for fear that I'd be having to get up and go down the miniature ladder in the dark. So I climbed up there and settled and the train took off---nicely at first---slowly---and gently. And then it stopped and I thought my stomach was going to become part of my brain. And then there were the many corners and in the dark I could trace out exactly what path we were taking by how I felt. We must of gone down underground too because my ears were killing me at one point and I thought, this feels like going over the malahat.
Anyways, I managed to sleep and woke up to hot coffee and a wee breakfast in the train. Washing up in this cubicle felt like getting ready in a barbie doll house, everything looks real but is shrunk to fit inside this minute setting---interesting.
I met an American man getting off the train who had no idea where to go or where he would stay. Upon hearing me talking in english to my roomate he figured I was the safe one to follow, so I made sure I didn't let him down. Aviva and I discovered tourist info centers to be most helpful, that's where I was heading anyways. I left my neighbor in good hands.
Poor guy, I think I scared him. He said he wanted to see Rome before he died. He then said he had one week left. I said, one week left to live? (I knew what he meant!) but it got him laughing and he looked a bit less worried.

I wanted a list of monastaries and I got one. On foot I went in search of my good sisters offering shelter to those in need (oh don't worry---you don't get in for free). I finally arrived and was shown to my room---so far I'm alone but there is room for one more. So I'll be staying with the Sisters until I leave on the 28th.
I scoped out the roof top garden and I was so taken away with the view! There is a complete panaramic view of the ENTIRE city! Claude will be proud to hear that I have been taking note of my landmarks to figure out where things are on the map and where I am within the city when looking up. I saw many figures jutting out to the skies and wondered what they were. Sarah gave me a fabulous little easy to use book on ROme before I went and I've found many of those sights---Thanks Sarah---I love it! Claude taugt me well, I made a mental map of where I needed to go and traced my path. I am the navigator now so I have to do things without wasting too much time.
So I picked two places to see and hit a good local spot for lunch and I got five times what I asked for. I saw a few churches and found some big ticket items by walking my way around town. The streets are pretty well labelled and I only walked down the wrong sense a couple of times (I tell you my sense of direction is backwards so I always double check).
Anyhooooooo---It's 7:30pm and my bartender is whistling to all of the tunes (off key) but he's happy and it makes this place feel familiar (it will be familiar to me by the end of it because this is where I'll be coming to tap into the invisible gold---wifi).

Thanks Claude and Mommmaaaaaa for your lovely messages---I read them and always get a bit teary.

I should eat. And go to the roof top garden for a delight of lights.

Thank you for all of the well wishes---I realize there are invisible good wishes coming to me from various parts of Victoria and Alberta---I appreciate it.

Dd