We found our way but were a long, long way from the station. After a while I stopped noticing the pain in my legs or the numbness of my arms under the straps. We just kept walking. We didn't talk. We didn't stop. Just kept walking. We must have crossed half of Naples.
My shirt was visibly soaked as we arrived at our destination (an hour later). I collapsed with the bags while Josh handled the tickets. The next train left in 10 minutes so we boarded straight away. The train pulled out of the station with just us two in a 6 person cabin. We reflected on Naples. We lamented our fate and cursed the city for our misfortune (better than blaming ourselves). I suggested we put the city behind us and look forward to Rome and meeting up with Josh´s friend Kate.
Two others joined our cabin over the two hour journey, but every one was chilled. I spent the time cooling down, resting my feet and refreshing my mind with Sufjan Stevens in my headphones. The journey went quickly. Roma Termini was just how we left 3 days earlier.
Our hostel was across the street from the station, only a 5 minute walk from the exit. We checked in and waited for Kate to arrive.
The outside and staircases leading up to the Pop Inn hostel were scruffy. But to be fair, the whole area is much the same. The inside was very nicely done up. There were bright red cushion lining the small common room in reception. Wikker seats and abstract art covered the walls and floor, while Amy Winehouse filled the air. We went into our room to freshen up.. Josh left for the bathroom. A moment later I heard a scream that sounded familiar. Kate and Josh had embraced happily. They hadn't seen each other in a long time and both glowed in each others presence. Kate gave me likewise a warm full hug and a big smile. We were all happy to see each other. Just being with people we knew was a relief.
We got cleaned up and set off exploring. I liked being a trio again and not a pair. On the way we ran into none other than cousin Gavin and Vanessa, who reached Roma a few hours before us. Such a strange coincidence, running into each other again. We said we should meet up in Roma. Near by we reached a large fountain. The main piece was a men squeezing a giant fish for water. More violent man-beast statues. It sat in the middle of a traffic circle and next to a large brown building.
From the outside the place was covered in dirty, old, brown bricks. It was drab and particularly boring. It was infact the basilica of vvvvvvvvvv. We stepped inside to find a magnificent vvvvvvvv style church. There was marble, granite and gold covering every wall of the enormous space. There were astrological calendars running along the floor. Frescos as far and the eye could see. Also, there was a wedding. The bride and wedding party of stylish Italian women stood near the entrance with the other guests. Around them flocked the dirty tourist masses, cameras flashing and guide books outstrectched. An odd contrast.
We walked further to find food or snacks. We found a cosy little gelateria in a backstreet. We stopped off for enormous cones of icecream. I had half raspberry and half melon. We picked up beer at a nearby store and drank it in the hostel common room. We lay on red cushions and chilled by the fan.
We freshened up at the hostel then set off to find pizza. Proved harder than we first thought. A few places told us ¨no pizza¨, so we tried the next one along. Luckily there were many to chose from and we found a decent place. Bit touristy but good margheritas. The wine I had with it (plus earlier beer) hit me.
We refound our first choice in restaurant after dinner. They were one of the places to refuse us pizza. But they did have amazing looking cannoli. So we got mini cannoli. Tasty, kind of cream cheese like.
We took the bus to Trastevere, the heart of nightlife, bars and good times in Rome. We walked by the river bank. The lights playing across the river sent shivers down my spine. The Tibre is a thousand times more beautiful at night than during the day. It shimmered.
It was a huge night time market area. There were outdoor bars and screens playing movies and stalls and food places. The lane was packed with young people and hip people and fashionable people.
We saw a shisha place so decided to sit down for some apple flavoured shisha.
It was a nice time. We went to catch a bus home at 1am, despite
A) not having any tickets or means to acquire said tickets (everywhere was closed)
B) the bus service ending at 12-30 (and not knowing where the night buses stopped)
Great.
We walked all the way to the typewriter building to find a free taxi to get back.
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