Roma - in the "hood"....

Often one needs to take time and check out the ..."lay of the land"...in the neighborhood.....so that is what I decided to do once I hit Roma.  I have been here several other times so I thought first I would enjoy just walking around and discovering......

So off I go.....this is my hotel...the Hotel Medici...

..but quickly one learns there are many hotels in the area....and often several in the same building...

I found that my hotel was near the British Embassy....

as well as the French.....

It is the quaint little streets that make the area for me....and all the little shops....

where you can fine flowers....

...or that pumpkin for halloween....already decorated....

I ventured off on one of the side streets to find a market containing mostly fruits/vegetables and flowers.....

then a few stalls with clothing and leather goods....

..check out this pumpkin....they sell it by the slice?

off again....only to find a group of 7 female police officers....ummm something must be up...

and a solidier passing time with a woman on the street.....

The main streets are always crowded with cars, buses and intersections are a pedestrian nightmare...crossing a street is a challenge...believe me.

The solution for many people in Italy continues to be the motor bike....men and women both hop on the bike and wind their way thru the traffic.  And parking the bike....they line up everywhere...

Finally...I encounter the ever present vendor on the street...cooking or selling his/her wares....this one is cooking hazelnuts....they look really good....but, no not for me....I head to the gelato shop...(daily)!!!

Okay....tomorrow....the highlights of Rome.......Caesar will be proud!!