The Cali Girl meets the New York Guy

Today I took a little adventure around Rome tracing back my family history! I had always heard stories of my Grandma Jane and my grandpa, who we call Papa, living Rome way back when, but I never knew much about it until I got older and especially since being here! I've exchanged a few emails here and there with both of them getting suggestions of things to see and do here, which they should be happy to hear I've checked just about everything on the lists! And today I did the final deed; I went to the American Embassy where they met and worked back in the 1960s!

Papa had told me many times that he had worked there, but it wasn't until my dad had mentioned it and then Grandma Jane emailed me telling me the story that I knew she also worked there! So that's how the story goes; the Cali girl moves all the way to Rome to meet the guy from Rochester, New York.

I took the metro to a street away from the embassy and walked the rest of the way. It was very easy to find. I've really learned how to navigate my way around the city on my own, which I love! Papa was right, it is an expensive street! I looked at some of the cafe menus on my stroll and noticed the higher-than-normal prices. And then I finally found the American Embassy! I took a few pictures, but was quickly stopped by the security standing outside. I was going to pull they, "Hey! MY grandparents worked here, I can do what I want!" card but I decided to play nice and cross the street instead and sneakily take a few more.

Seeing that it was quicker trip than first planned I decided to take a little walk, until I bumped into what looked like a heaven-on-earth to my eyes... An ENGLISH BOOK STORE! I've been waiting for this day to come! I miss relaxing and reading, and I figure in Spain only having one class I'll have lots of free time to lay arond in the sun so might as wel get a book to enjoy too! So I spent an hour looking around (it took me a while to find the English section.. Even after my A on my second Italian test I'm still not up to par for navigating my way through an entire book store of Italian!). I have class so I was unable to stop for a cappicino or a glass of vino like Papa had suggested, but I figure a book will do!