Rome Day 1 and Phone Number

[vinceconaway]

My phone number here is 011 39 346 062 1028 in case you're interested, or
in case of an emergency.

Wow, I'm actually here. It's surprising that it doesn't feel unreal or
odd to be here, just very familiar and welcoming to be back. I met some
hostel mates and spent about two hours last night after arriving
reassembling the dulcimer and its stand (I take the strings and bridges
off to get it on a plane) and then I was off!

I had a very serious walk around the city hitting some of my favorite
spots (except the Pantheon, which I can never bloody find without a map)
and in general doing a pretty good job of remembering where everything is
(with the exception of the hidden Pantheon, of course). I checked out
some of the reputedly best busking (ie street performing) spots and I
think I'll give it a go tonight after doing some more scouting this
afternoon. I had a really great conversation with a busker in the Campo
del Fiori where he told me not only the best spots (complete with a
discussion about what works for him versus what might work for me because
of the differing natures of our performances) but also the best days and
times. When you see a guy hanging out in a piazza looking impatient at
one of the ubiquitous Native American chant street performances who is
wearing white face makeup and bright red lipstick and carrying a suitcase
the odds are good you've found a busker :)

I think I'm in much better shape than I was last year - the walk I took
last night would have crippled me in the past.

This morning I headed out to buy a phone because I'm really uncomfortable
about spending four months abroad with no way of being contacted. I found
a clerk who spoke English and then proceeded to speak almost entirely
Italian to him (but it was handy to be able to toss in phrases like
"prepaid plan" and "text messaging"). I feel like I'm getting a grip on
the language and that all of my studying is starting to gel together.
Last winter I could do words, this summer I could do phrases, now I'm up
to sentences but paragraphs still elude me. As the tarot reader in
Jackson square told me, though, "you don't need to be able to have deep
philosophical discussions with people, express that through your music".

Ciao!