Viva Rome!

Well I guess I am getting settled here. I went out to eat in my first real day in Rome. Nothing really fancy but something I have been longing to do for a while. I ate my first Roman pizza in a small pizza shop in Piazza Bologna. I had your typical Neapolitan pizza or the Margherita Pizza which is real simple pizza of tomato, basil and cheese. While many people may scoff at such an idea this is a typical Italian experience and you should really try this. The restaurant I ate at was called Pollo Dorro which I am not sure of the meaning.

Now the price of this mean was under 4 Euros so I guess I really made out. You see a pizza like this from a chef I know would cost close to double that amount of money. The prices of the meals in Rome do not have to be extraordinary.

One thing I am really regretting doing is not taking my camera along as I am sure many of you would probably like to see what I am talking about. I am going to have to make sure I bring my camera in the future.

Oh and one thing I am I am kind of proud of is getting a better feel for the traffic here. While I did almost get run over by a car I am actually kind of proud of that fact. I wear it like a badge of honor as I feel more like a local.

It is good to be back in the city again. Of course there was a bit of apprehension when I first arrived as I am not fluent in the language the locals are very accommodating and you should try to speak their language.

All in all I would say that today was a successful day. It does take time to get accustomed to a different culture. But in time you do start to get a feel for a place. After some time I am sure I will get more of a feel for this city as well. Only time will tell and I have plenty of it right now.

Well I have already made my offical announcement on my Venice, Italy website so i decided that I would make another announcement on my Rome, italy website.

It is official I am heading back to Rome, Italy for a month in April and will be gone until May. The reason for this trip is to get a stronger grasp of the Italian language and totally immerse myself in the italian culture. My first website on Venice, Italy was supposed to help me get there but as it turns out i believe that Rome is the better place to be to start out. In Rome you can get a stronger grasp of real Italian life as there are more places where real Italians hang out as opposed to Venice which is a beautiful city but sometimes a bit of a tourist trap.

I still love the city of Venice and I know I will be going back there as well. However, for this trip I am going to focus solely on the Roman experience and see how that is different from Venice, Italy.

The school I chose to visit is called Torredibabele and I firmly believe that they will do a great job in teaching me the fundamentals of the Italian language. For those that actually know me personally you know that Ialian is not the only language I am attempting to learn but it is really top on my list.

I think that I will have a great time in this city and am really looking forward to it. Who knows I might get some sponsorships for my blog network out of this whole experience. I am going to use this trip to really launch my  International Travel Writing career and see how far it can take me.

So there you have it a realization of a long term goal! It feels good to be actually accomplishing a goal instead of just talking about it all the time. I also have a travel writing website which I will also be posting to about how to get published as  a freelance travel writer for those that want to break into that field.  Hopefully you will find it useful.

Like many people when they are approaching retirement age there is a desire to relocate to someplace other then where you have been living your whole life. This is perfectly understandable as you want to spend your golden years exploring a new culture and land. But have you really sat down and considered the costs involved? For many this dream is to move to Rome, Italy for retirement. While this may certainly sound romantic you should always consider the practical as well.

Italy has an excellent health care system. It can perhaps said to be better then the United States in some cases. While this is a debatable point I am sure you will agree that Italy is one of the most modern western nations in Europe so there is really no need to fret or fear about the lack of proper health care.

Now when it comes to finding real estate the city of Rome can be one of the most expensive places in Italy. If you want to stay in the city the prices are extremely high and many American retirees can not afford to move there. However, just like America, Italy is experiencing problems in the real estate market. This is good news for bargain shoppers who want the best deal on the latest listings of Rome properties. But where can you find such good deals? Good question. And since the Universe abhors a vacuum someone has been thoughtful to produce a listing guide for foreclosed homes in Italy.

You can find this resource here.

The Termini station is one of the most popular ways to enter the city of Rome. Much of Europe is traveled by an efficient rail service that rivals the American rail service. The area around the Termini station however is usually not the most savory part of the city and precautions should be made when ever you travel alone at night. It is always best not to be outside at night as that is asking for trouble. This area is not really an historic center but can be a convenient place to stay when you are on a budget or want to just spend a night or two in the city.

Hotel Alex
Via Palestro, 35 – 00185
This hotel is unique in that it is the third floor of a great building near the station. All floors are served by an elevator so at least you do not have to climb up stairs after a full days walking around the city. This hotel is also equipped with flat screen satellite televisions is all of the rooms. You do not have to feel disconnected when you stay here.

Hotel Brasile
Via Palestro, 13 – 00185
A smaller three floored hotel that also has an elevator.  A quite and quaint hotel that is sure to charm most travelers.

Hotel Fiamma
Via Gaeta, 61 – 00185
This hotel offers a bar that is open to all of the guests and a full breakfast which is kind of unique for Italy.

Hotel Galles
Via del Castro Pretorio, 66 – 00185
Once a residence of the nobles this hotel has been transformed from its earlier days into a grand hotel. A point of reference for many of the local business travelers and locals this hotel is a bit of a landmark it would seem.

Many hotels in this part of town are well kept up and maintained. However the area is certainly not for the weak of heart. However the shopping deals you can get here are some of the best in Europe and if that is part of your trip then be sure to check out the above hotels.

The Vatican is not really part of Rome or Italy for that matter. It is a separated country in itself. For many Catholics this is the reason to visit Rome in the first place. Some come as a pilgrimage to Rome just for visiting the Vatican and the various sites surrounding it. However are there any cheap places to stay near the Vatican? With so many people visiting the prices for hotels would be expensive as there is a high demand. However there are a few gems you can stay in that will not only charm you but save you some money as well.

Hotel Arcangelo
Via Boezio, 15 – 00192
This hotel is in the center of the city and is one of the closest establishments to the Vatican. An old home built around the time of Umberto I this is now a modern hotel that has been updated with modern air conditioning and fire suppression. A very safe and quaint hotel to stay in.

Hotel Bramante
Vicolo delle Palline, 24/25 – 00193
This hotel was recently restored and opened again in 1999. This hotel offers some modern comforts such as satellite television and of course air conditioning as well as private bathrooms for each room.

Hotel Emmaus
Via delle Fornaci, 25 – 00165
Only 100 meters from Saint Peters square you will find this hotel to be very close to the Vatican. This hotel offers a small bar that is open to all the guests and a buffet breakfast for all guests.

Hotel Spring House
Via Mocenigo, 7 – 00192
Also only 100 meters away from the Vatican’s museums this is an ideal place to be close to the Vatican. Larger then some of the other hotels this hotel is 6 floors large with an elevator that should accommodate some disabled or elderly travelers.

You can stay near the Vatican without emptying your wallet. It is much better to enrich the soul by enjoying the art work that is near the Vatican then emptying your wallet. I would much rather keep the money I earn then lose it for frivolous luxuries.