After spending 5 weeks in Italy and traveling all over the country, I think that I'm entitled to give you, prospective travelers and students, a guide to doing Rome with some tips that i think would have been helpful to know before the trip. So here it is, coming to you from a gal whose heart has been taken captive by the beauty and oppertunity of Italy.
- The first thing you should know is the language. Duh. I know absolutely no Italian, which made things difficult for me to get around in the rural parts of Italy. In large cities like Rome and Florence people are more familiar with English but it helps if you have a basic understanding of what is being said. If you don't know Italian, like myself, then don't get discuouraged. Barnes and Noble sells plenty of books that give you the scoop on basic Italian phrases. I took one called "Italian for Dummies". It made me less of a dummy.
- exchange your currency BEFORE you arrive in the country. In Italy they use the Euro's and in comparison the dollar is highly deflated. If you try to exchange dollars for Euros, the companies that do this charge a very high exchange rate. The best option is to order euros from your local bank before hand so you get the most for your money.
- Bring cash, because no one accepts debit or credit cards. They will look at you as if you're the dumbest person on the planet if you offer to pay with a card.
- Pack light. I had the biggest problem with this because i overestimated how much i would need for my stay. While I was there i bought a lot so this created a huge problem on the way back. I had to pay $250 for my heavy luggage to be transported back to the states, and needless to say my parents nor their wallets were happy after that one. Moral of the story: pack less than what you think you will need, because you can always buy items if you end up truly needing them.
- Not sure if any of you have seen pictures of italians, or know what the culture is like, but the majority of them are very fashionable. Daily attire would include something like a skirt and blouse, or even a sundress accompanied with a fedora. These people do not live in Norts and oversized t-shirts like us college students do. They actually look presentable when going out in public, thus meaning pack simple items that are versatile and can be easily dressed-up.
- Please do your feet a favor and bring comfortable shoes! Cobblestone is everywhere, especially in Rome, which makes walking 15 miles a day even harder than just walking 15 miles a day. Many of the men and women wear Birkenstocks because they aren't terribly unfashionable and they give you the support that is needed. I bought myself a pair in Rome, so i can vouch for that.
- Depending on your living conditions; eat in. My roommates and i saved so much money by cooking every night, because eating out that often was just too expensive. The local markets have most things that you will need for good prices. Look up some recipes on Pintrest and you're all set.
- If you are a picky eater, then bring american snacks in your bag from home. It is impossible to find food that we are accustomed to, which can be either a beautiful or horrible experience. The majority of the items on the menus and in supermarkets are meat, cheese, nutella, bread, and pasta. This is no exaggeration. Luckily towards the middle of our trip found a small jar of peanut butter so we were able to make PB&J's when we started to feel a little homesick.
- Bring your own water bottle. Filling up a plastic water bottle is your best bet when it comes to having a beverage. The water is very expensive and drinks (even sodas) are never included in your meals. Something the majority of us students did was refill our bottles on the streets with fountain water. Yes, it sounds iffy, but Rome is actually famous for it. Its purified water that pours on to the streets from a faucet, and they can be found on nearly every corner.
- Im sure you all want to know where the best places to eat are and although it was hard to narrow down this is what i came up with. For gelato: Old Bridge or Fridgederia
For Pizza: Pizzeria Nerone
For pasta: Grazia e Graziella
For cannolis: Sicilian Bakery
Also don't miss out on small treats like Suppli and the famous Italian wine (which is pretty much good anywhere). - See the coliseum after dark. Its pretty when lit up and its not as busy. Win-win.
- Visit the Trevi fountain at 2am. Things are interesting at this time of night.
- Those of you who are of legal drinking age, and even those who are just looking for a lively night life; G-Bar in Trastevere has drink specials every night and the Drunken Ship (Campo de Fiori) is where most study abroad students spend their weekend nights.
- Students: Take advantage of your free weekends. The most rewarding experiences i made abroad were on my free weekends.
- If you want a quick get away to escape from city life, Santa Marinella is an adorable, local beach town that is only a 15 minute train ride from the Trastevere train station.
- Buy leather. Tons of leather.
- Take pictures to document everything. In 20 years you will be thankful you did.
- Make a point to immerse yourself in the culture. Make friends. Get acquainted. Learn the language and how their society works.
- Public transportation is dreadful. So, walk as much as possible or learn to be pacient while being squished between two smelly strangers.
- Dont forget to look up. Italy is so much more than just what you see on the ground.