ROME

it is hot. people sweat here. it is just the way it is. through the side streets the air blows hot. through the main streets, the air blows hot with the occassional escaping airconditioned restaurant or shop briefly visiting your sweaty skin. the people are proud of their ancient city, their culture, tradition and language. it is a place i can well imagine living in, not rome, but italy. the landscape and weather is similar to the cape and the sea looks as beautiful as any mediterranean coast. when i return to rome midjuly i will find the ocean and plant myself in it. i have 2 more nights here and then move on to florence. i still need to see the ancient ruins of the kingdom rome has been, as well as michelangelo's sistine chapel in the vatican. right now though i am simply seeking 30 minutes of partially airconditioned internet cafe while the sun cooks the city. the buildings here are battered by the heat of summer and the damp of winter, making them a worn red or amber colour with shutters covering every window. sometimes you can catch a glimose of rooftop gardens with small palm tree type plants posing towards to sun. it is not clean here, but it is real. here the people live and they are genuinely nurtured by their families and passions. it doesnt have to be first world efficiency to make a place great. in fact, it reminds me a bit of africa's genuine nature in the way the people have more of a sense of community i comparison to any other city i have visited so far. despite being english and the reluctance of the italians to speak  my language, it is still blatantly obvious of the culture i am touching on. i am really looking forward to seeing the rural parts of italy as i move through the country on my way to florence on sunday. arrivederci!