Random thoughts at Vittorio Emanuele

From 30/10/09

Found the Chinese district today-THAT was entertaining. Yes Roma has a Chinatown. I was just a surprised as you are. I think it's hilarious that the windows on the ground floors of these gorgeous Italian style buildings are covered in Chinese script. The air actually smells faintly of Chinese food. I realized that while sitting in a large open park. It's made me hungry. The stores in this area all look the same and I don't want to shop in any of them. They all look like the cheap nasty stores at the cheap nasty malls in little cheap nasty towns. Everything is white with florescent lighting. The signs are hand written. The products are shit and are being sold next door as well. I don't get it. Moving on.

The air is cool but the sun feels warm. I chose a bench in the sunlight because I refused to wear my boots today. Flipflops were calling my name seeing as how I will be retiring them soon. I'm a little chilly when a cloud passes but that's about it. I'm sticking by my choice.

I also purposefully chose a bench that was broken on one side when I took my place. I don't want anyone sitting next to me - and they will; they always do. Apparently the sleazy Italian men have a radar to track down girls who are alone. They then make it their life goal to...well, I don't know what their goal is but I'm not sticking around to find out. They annoy the hell out of me. I'm at the point that I might punch the next guy that leans in my personal space and delivers some cheap italian line that I don't actually understand but can figure out the gist of by his tone and facial expression. I wear sunglasses alot; that seems to make it better. I mean, don't get me wrong, what girl doesn't like a compliment? It's just different. It's not sweet or genuine or respectful. It's sleazy and the constant presence of it leaves a sense of violation. I don't know, maybe there are girls who enjoy it. (None that I know.) If I was here for something that involved their help then I would probably tolerate it more but honestly I'm here for so many other reasons and, for one of the first times in my life, genuinely just want to be left the hell alone.

It just takes a little planning ahead...today I am safe behind my book and sunglasses on my broken bench. Oh! And I recently learned that Italians thinks that Americans are the easiest girls to get into bed.

Not this time...move along creeper!