Men and Boys

I'd been to Rome twice before; once as a student with a backpack and nowhere to stay and then many years later on some corporate beano which was outrageous for its extravagance. Here was a chance to get to see a bit of the place somewhere in between. Of course, it's a capital city and you're just a tourist. And the the city apparatus seems huge for someone from a small provincial town: the mass of governmental offices with CCTV and guards standing talking, leaning against cars behind their reflective shades. And black Mercedes cars everywhere. The carabinieri and their buildings and the polizei. And monumental churches squatting on every block.
But it didn't take long. Day 2 and a walk to Monti and just a wonderful cellar bar restaurant for lunch. And then onwards! Avanti Popolo!!