So, the hostel we're staying in doesn't allow you to upload pictures via USB (or use CDs, for that matter), so this entry will be short and without pictures. Alas! Should we find a phone / internet booth today, I'll try to get a few uploaded.

Anyway, Rome is an interesting city. The annoying thing about Rome is the horde of Indian and Bangladeshi street hawkers. So, Karen and I left the hotel yesterday after getting everything set up. Within three blocks, only three blocks of the hostel, we were accosted by four men trying to sell us umbrellas. After the fourth, I told Karen that I was tempted to just purchase an umbrella so that they stopped bothering us (not that this worked, mind you). In hindsight, that is likely their strategy.

So, we reached a plaza with a cathedral located nearby. Another street seller came up and asked if we wanted an umbrella. I caved, since I thought it might not be a bad idea to have an umbrella, and asked him how much. He told me five euros, I waved him away and said. No. He asked how much I would be willing to pay. I thought a moment, and said two euros. He got this sorry expression on his face, and said "I cannot sell it for that much". He suggested four. So, I suggested three. He said no again, so I shrugged and walked away. Honestly, I didn't really care. So, he followed us across the plaza, yelling "Friend! Friend!". Finally, we stopped, and he sold the umbrella to me for three euro.

When we were inside the church listening to the Easter service, I began to have misgivings. I mean, if he was willing to sell it for that much, i could've gotten a better deal. However, by the time we left, it was pouring. So, my regret faded away, as we definitely needed an umbrella for the rest of the day.

We had lunch at some italian place, then headed back to the hostel so Karen could get into some dry clothes (the umbrella kept her shirt dry, but not her skirt). We then walked down to the Colosseum and the old Forum. We were advised by a man at the hostel that you can get a combined ticket for both at the Forum, and skip the huge line at the Colosseum. It was kinda late in the day, though, so we only had time for the Forum. Hopefully I can post some pics of that... Anyway, we got drenched -again-. No umbrella could've prevented that, with the amount of rain falling.

We went back to the hostel and Karen napped for a bit (and changed into her last dry pair of pants). When she woke up, we went out to dinner (i'll describe this later, in a post with pictures). After that, we headed out to the trevi fountains. And were accosted by -more- street sellers. This time they walked up to Karen with Roses saying "Here! A gift for you! Not selling, it is a gift!". We both kept saying "no", but the man refused to leave until about the seventh "no". The next guy who came (a minute later) left a bit quicker, but I probably sounded a bit more annoyed at the start.

Anyway, so that's how things are at the moment. Today we're going back to the Colosseum, and then wherever.