Unfortunately, some roads lead out again...

On our last night in Rome I discovered why it is that I've heeded my father's (yes, and mother's) warning and have been faithfully keeping my valuables in my money belt this whole trip. Just as I was thinking to myself about how Lauren and I hadn't witnessed any pickpocketers this trip (despite several warnings) and had been quite lucky, some Italian lady on the sidewalk behind us hollered and we turned around to witness her slapping some kid and shouting at him, only to discover she had foiled some kid's attempt at pickpocketing Lauren. Stupid kid. Anyways, Lauren didn't have any valuables in that bit of her purse and she had actually felt something and was about to look, but we were both surprised at how quickly these things can happen and how young the kids start their chosen career. So, as silly as it may seem sometime, it really doesn't hurt to sport the trendy 2006 model of the belt! The kid would have gotten away with zippo (save maybe a bit of used kleenex) if he had dipped his grimey fingers into my bag!

We had a lovely trip back from Florence. We didn't make any friends on the way home, but I cried over a Dickens novel for much of the trip (who knew it would be so sad!) We've explored the Trastavere area this evening and had dinner at a lovely place at Piazza Novena (or whatever it's called...tourist fatique is beginning to set in!)

Actually, I felt very proud of myself this evening when I realized that I had a bit of a conversation with a man in Italian without even thinking about it. It was very small, but at least my intial reaction wasn't English!

We're attempting a hostel again for our last night, although we both wonder if we're getting too old for them. Despite having to wait for 40 mins for our room to be ready (at 3:00 pm) today it seems OK. And we're on the 4th floor, so hopefully the loud obnoxious music coming from the bar on the ground floor won't keep us up too late. Gosh, we really are old. Or maybe just really tired. Or maybe both.

At any rate, just as all roads lead to Rome, sadly, there are a few that lead out of it too, and I'm afraid I'll be on one of them. It's been great though! Pictures will be up when I've returned and have my ducks in a row enough to get them on!