THE SPANISH STEPS

After going to Trevi Fountain we walked with the group over to the famous Spanish Steps- OK I have to admit I'd never heard of them until I started reading Rick Steve's books about Rome-

and it was funny cause I asked Alexandre why they called them the "Spanish" steps and she hauled out a German travel book and read what it said about them- and in German they are also called the Spanish Steps- however, being a typical European, she's multilingual and she told me in Italian they don't refer to them as Spanish Steps at all- they have another whole different name.

I suppose its weird to dwell on such things when in Rome, cause 'when in Rome-' but if I was doing that I would be making out with Carol on every street corner like the Italian men I see everywhere with their girlfriends- or nearly running me down with Vespas or Smart Cars- or cutting in front of me- but I'm not bitter. Rome is thrilling, exciting and unlike anything I've ever experienced in my life- but it is absolutely EXHAUSTING physically and mentally. I think Carol and I will be REALLY ok with moving onto Florence next Monday- They say that Rome is actually very safe from serious crime (as compared to so many US cities)- however, with that said, I will add that at least once every 5 minutes or so walking around Rome something (or somebody) jumps out at you that you don't expect (a gypsy crawling on the ground with mangled limbs, someone trying to put a rose in your hand- and then charge you 5-10 euros for it because you touched it so you have to make sure to NEVER touch the roses, women with babies in your faces begging for money)- funny part is when you're here long enough, you begin to see the same ones, only they change kids they are hauling around from day to day- or they change the "gig" they are using to get money. Today there was a good one- some gypsy woman was walking around looking pathetic and pointing to a torn container of like sudafed- and then pointing to her nose trying to get the point across that she needs money for medicine to make her nose feel better. I've been hit up by panhandlers in the US before many many times in the city- but you usually see them coming, or you move so that you avoid them. But in Rome- with streets and alleys sometimes only 6 feet wide- they are IN your face before you know it-

with that said, here's the Spanish Steps! :)