typing on an american keyboard for the first time in about 3 months. i'd become quite proficient at my french typing-- now i'm slow again.
rome is rocking. there are more americans here than anywhere else i've been. most italians speak in english to us even when we try our terrible italian. the only time that hasn't happened was in this little cafe way off the beaten path today where we bought sandwiches. we're pretty sure we've been ripped off a few times and B felt someone's fingers in his jeans pocket yesterday on the crowded subway -- so he reached in, grabbed the fingers and bent them back, hard. no one yelled out in pain, so there you go. luckily there was nothing in his pocket anyway but oy.
we're pleasantly tired and grumble occasionally at each other but tasted some of the best gelato in our lives this afternoon. i had a scoop of pear and a scoop of honey with fresh cream on top; B had two kinds made with dessert wine. we decided after three bites that we're going back tomorrow. some of the other flavors were: plum, cinnamon ginger, pomegranite- spelled wrong, i know-- chocolate we're positive is made with actual chocolate and not cocoa powder, dried fig hazelnut. can't wait.
our shared apartment is huge and echoey and the oven doesn't work, but our neighbors are nice. everything--- and i mean EVERYTHING-- will be closed sat and sun for xmas and the day after-- so we're going to hit the grocery store and make an xmas feast with our apartment mates. we may even walk up to the vatican to see the huge manger they were setting up yesterday. it's a big day for jesus this weekend and this is one big catholic town. kind of cool. i was here at easter and now xmas. rad.
did i mention how fantastic the cappucinos are? italy is the only place i drink coffee...