When in...

So, here we are, a mile from Piazza Bologna, which is our main Metro B Line stop.  We are a 15 minute walk from Tiburtina train station, which is our main getaway for out of town experiences. Our VRBO apartment is 1,300 sq feet, with two BR and two BA.  This place is huge, considering we are in Europe.  

First thing we did... got an Italian smartphone chip.  Cost was 35E (screw you Verizon with your $10/day plan), which gives us 100 minutes of talk time and 4GB of data.  Way more than we will ever use.  How did we ever survive without smartphones?  It’s my map, my camera, my guide for walks and places to eat, my translator (thanks Google Translate) etc.  Invaluable...

Next thing we did... got a monthly pass for the Metro.  35E gets us unlimited use of bus and subway. No mucking around with tickets, just scan and go.

We followed our host’s advice and frequent our local caffe for morning coffee.  Usually a cappuccino, or a macchiato.  We’re regulars...

We have found 3 grocery stores within a 10 minute walk.  Groceries seem cheap here.  Our taxi driver said that this is a university district and the cost of living is much cheaper than the tourist areas of Rome.

Everyday, we have an agenda.  Today was the Piramide area.  Tomorrow we are going to walk the Appian Way, the ancient Roman highway.  We are normally back by 3pm, when we collapse, take showers, siestas, etc. 

Not much English is spoken here.  But we get by.  When the server points to the potatoes and says “ Molto Caldo,” I get the feeling he is warning me that the potatoes might be hot.  Sure enough, I was correct.

Bottom line... I’m one lucky son of a bitch.....

Just sayin...