One of the conditions of my WordPress Least Prolific Blogger (Overseas) award is that I’m only allowed to blog twice a year. So here is my bi-annual update.
Unbelievably, we leave Italy in just over a week. Three years have flown by and, despite all my bitching about Italian drivers, Italian shoppers, Italian rudeness, Italian lack of awareness, mossies, unbearably hot weather, bland food, graffiti, rubbish strewn across the streets…etc etc, I’m going to miss Rome more than I ever thought possible.
I’m going to miss:
The hot weather (I finally got used to it just as we’re leaving!)
Cheap prosecco. Cheap wine. Cheap beer.
Perfect cappuccinos served in a proper sized cup, rather than a bucket.
My apartment, which is bigger and nicer than any house I’ve ever lived in. We’ve actually played tennis in the living room. It’s ten minutes away from the centre of Rome but it looks towards the mountains on one side and over a nature reserve on the other.
Walking through Rome whenever I like and being surrounded by history and beautiful sights.
But most of all, I’m going to miss the wonderful friends we made here. Both Italian and other nationalities have been so welcoming, generous and sociable. I’m not overly emotional but there will be tears when I say goodbye to everyone. I’m half-inclined to tell everyone I leave a week later so I can just sneak off and not have any blubbering farewells (red and blotchy is not a good look on me).
I won’t miss:
Conversations like the one HWW had in his canteen at work a few weeks ago –
HWW: Tre caffè (three coffees)
Lady behind counter: Eh?
HWW: TRE CAFFÈ
Lady behind counter: EH?
HWW (very slowly and loudly): TRE CAFFÈ
Lady behind counter (getting very flustered): SCUSI SIGNORE, NON PARLO INGLESE… (EXCUSE ME SIR, I DON’T SPEAK ENGLISH…)
Yeah, maybe it is time to go home 🙂
BARBED WORDS 