October 4th (date typo in last posts)—post Pantheon

#1 One of many, many, many fountains

#2 I took a picture in front of the church near this fountain for a reason unknown at this time. I think it was “important” at the time but obviously not that important that I can’t remember it.

#3 We headed next for the Trevi Fountain but I really wanted to see the river so we walked a few blocks out of the way for an easier yet less direct route. There was a lot of graffiti on the bank walls but it didn’t really detract from the scene. Being abroad has changed my opinion about graffiti within the city. I used to have the mentality that all graffiti was bad because it was a sign of gangs and dumb kids, but in Europe the graffiti taggers are not part of gangs as we know them in the US. I think that is why I can look at the tags and see something besides the claiming of gang area.

#4 Trevi Fountain

I was starting to run out of contact solution so Teddy and I often stopped in pharmacies to see if I could find some. You would not believe how difficult this task was… While searching in a small market, we bought some yogurt which we ate while at the Trevi Fountain. I didn’t toss a coin behind my back into the fountain to ensure my return to Rome and neither did Teddy because we’ll be back. There is no question.

#5 Sinking Boat Fountain

At the foot of the Spanish Steps lies the Sinking Boat Fountain. It is powered by aqueducts like the Trevi fountain. I saw someone wash their face with the water and another person drink from it. I’m not quite sure I’d do that. These fountains are not like the fountains in Paris and Budapest that are intended to be drunk from. Rome had drinking spouts too but I didn’t read anything about the decorative pool fountains being drinkable.

#6/7 Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps and the Sinking Boat Fountain are in the Piazza di Spagna. At the top of the Spanish Steps there is another obelisk (surprise!) but this obelisk is a copy—not an original—-a bad copy at that b/c it has hieroglyphic typos.

#9 One last picture before taking the metro back to our tent.

For dinner that night we visited the supermarket across the street from our hostel complex. We bought apples, the only fruit Teddy actually likes (wierd, I know), bread, peanut butter, rotisserie chicken, and of course wine from the Lazio (Rome) area. I drank the wine from my Prague coffee mug and Teddy drank from his Texas shot glass.

After showers, some internet time, and planning our next day we hit the sack by 12, or maybe 1am. We woke up the next day around 9, which means I slept 9 hours instead of the normal 6. Its amazing what lack of internet does for my sleep.