rome: an espresso-based discovery through tired eyes

i got up this morning to the sound of scooters wailing outside my flat. checked the weather and it's barely 11 degrees here, feels like 10.81. crisp enough to make you shiver but not the kind of cold that bites. which is good because the *barista next door has been throwing ice into my espresso shots. says it's 'local custom'. man, i'm in rome and i'm getting served the arctic nordic brew.

last night someone told me at a sunset spot that "jealousy tastes better than gelato." i’m not sure if they meant the view of the colosseum or the envy of all these backpackers crowding piazza navona. probably both.

walking past a street artist who paints dog faces on tourists. one guy just handed him 20 euros and said, 'hey, make me look tough.' he didn’t. the painting? he ended up crying and hugging the artist. maybe that’s italy’s true export-emotional volatility.

tried hiking the spagna hill yesterday. someone warned me it’s a "love it or leave it" experience. i left it. also, the trail was infested with mosquitoes so bold. like, they were wearing little mosquito capes. jk? no, seriously.

found this

while crying into my latte. it shows the spot where i allegedly cried-no,

i just checked, and it’s 11:12 PM now. dark earlier than back home. the neighbors here? mostly old enough to know when you’re lying when you say you’re ‘fine.’ one of them banged a pot at 3 AM. not angry, just… informative. like a surprise alarm clock.

if you get bored rome, the nearest beach is a two-hour train ride. or maybe it’s 4. i’m not sure. cardinal rule here: never trust a roman’s answer about public transport without verifyin’ on atripadvisor*. i walked 15km once cos the bus schedule lied. again.

photos from today: nighttime rain, strangers judging my accent, and a cat wearing a tiny scarf. let me know if you believe that last one.

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