Rome. Day 1

November 24, 2014
Rome, Italy

I actually surprise myself with how comfortable I am riding through a large city. The hardest part is knowing where I should be going. Google Maps is a godsend, but in Italy it doesn't have a bike option. If I put in auto, it takes me to the nearest highway and if I put in walker, it takes me up steps and one-way streets the wrong way. Adds to the challenge for sure. And that was today because I had to use walking instructions. There I was pedaling past the Vatican on a 4 lane road, my side, and thinking this is feeding into a highway, I think. Trying to read the myriad of signs and my phone...and not get wiped out by all the cars coming in every direction. (I almost did get backed over first thing this morning...my greatest fear is seeing backup lights coming my way!). So I noticed a bunch of cops standing on the sidewalk staring and I cycled over. "How do I cross the river?" Great machine you have there! A Dutch guy handed me a map...how sweet. I got the info but it took me to a bridge that came towards me not the way I needed. But I managed to figure it out. I have to pull over often and figure out where I am and where I need to go. Did a couple of loops when roads didn't do what I thought they did. Lots of one-ways in this city!

But around every corner was this




And this




And this



And this



And this



This city is built around these ancient ruins. They pepper the city. Everywhere I looked today was a ruin of some sort or another. Pretty amazing.

Found the hostel. Third floor walk-up. Blaze is under the stairs by the front door. All my gear is strewn about the room. This weekend there'll be 6 women in here, but for now it's just us 2. Got laundry fine first thing. It's been weeks since it's gone through a machine! A clean now:)

I asked the girl at the desk here where I could find Christmas presents. "But it's not the season yet!" she replied. I love it! Wish we'd wait awhile in the States. That's one reason I don't like to be stateside during the holidays. Too much stress.

So I'm booked in for 6 nights. Ahh. I've been chillin' all afternoon after biking 15 miles in chaos and walking for an hour or so doing errands. Sightseeing (and Christmas shopping:)) can wait until tomorrow.

Did have some good pizza around the corner today.




And I don't know if I've mentioned how much I admire European drivers for their ability to parallel park...but they can squeeze in some tight spots. Loved seeing this way to park too.


Livin' the life,

BagLady

Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman

Last Night Before Rome

November 23, 2014
La Storta, Italy

Where to start? Maybe I'll work backwards to cover the last few days. That'll be different:). Today I had to ride on a divided highway for about 5 miles. The good part was it had a wide shoulder. The bad part was that's where all the shit lands and I got a rear flat. Took me awhile to realize it. Ew! Not good for the tire. I was able to pull onto a side road to do the repair, thank goodness. It was easy to find:)


But not so easy to fix. I pulled the tube and patched it. Mounted it on the rim. Mounted it on the bike. Started pumping it up and it would only inflate so far. Dang pump! Don't break on me now. Again and again I try. I think the tube's not holding. Unmount everything again. There's a second hole next to the first. Use my last patch on it. Remount on the rim. Remount on the bike. Pump. Pump. Pump. Dang! Still not holding air. I give up. Replace the tube. I mount everything again. Remount everything again. I got it DOWN!! An hour later. We're off! I found a back roads route that was longer but a tad quieter, so the ride was fun. Lots of toots and pics of me. I make people smile. And that's fun. Since I knew I'd be on the outskirts of Rome tonight, I planned on a convent. Good thing. It's very congested in this area. Camping would not be an option.

Sweet convent. Lovely colors. Up on the hill away from the hubbub below.





Saw this saying on the wall here...how perfect for a place near the end.



Ok, now yesterday. I started the day at another "religious structure", Convento Cappuccini, and decided to see if I could find a bookstore for a replacement book. I wandered the streets of what felt like the oldest village I've wandered through. Can't really say why, but it felt amazing. And photos don't capture it.










Then when I stopped for coffee I asked the guy there about this back road I found that wound around but ended up where I wanted to be. No. Very steep. Take the main road to Rome. Buts it's a good road? Yes, but not for bike. Well, steep no longer worries me...that's my road! I can't handle biking on main roads with no shoulders and truck traffic. I'd rather deal with hills. And it was fun. Still no shoulder, but the cars are a bit slower. So that helps.

Met Florian, a French guy hurrying to get to Rome to meet up with a friend for the weekend. He's off to Istanbul (where I was suppose to be going but for visa limitations).


We both agreed that Italian road surfaces sucked for biking. I said I noticed it was only on my side of the road.



So challenging with 3 tracks to keep out of the holes.

(As I'm writing tonight I'm devouring everything that's left in my food pannier. I've eaten yogurt, leftover beans and rice from last night, leftover ham and bread from lunch today, potato chips, cookies, clementines, pomegranate from last night...and there's still tomato, cuke, pepper, onion, apple, orange, tuna...lots more to eat...I'll make antipasto!)





Livin' the life,

BagLady

Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman