Photo Essay: Streets of Monti

Here are some of my favorite

street scenes from the Monti neighborhood of Rome.

          

Street-art Madonna near Piazza Madonna dei Monti

Chinese lanterns on lower Via Cavour

It's Not All Dolce Vita

     From a tourist or expat point of view, every day can seem full of wonder in a place like Rome.  Like any major city, Rome has its share of problems.  Of particular concern is the lack of job opportunities (of course there is the global, economic crisis, but from what I have heard this issue predates the downturn) and the tendency of workers to receive a series of short term contracts (contracto a tempo indeterminato) which leaves them in an understandably 'precarious' situation - giving rise to the term precari which is defined by 1. the lack of a continuity in work and certainty about the future 2. the lack of an adequate salary in which you can count on to plan your life and your future.

     These conditions, as well as layoffs at specific companies, were what the marchers were protesting against outside our window last week on Via Cavour.

     Several protests, or manifestazioni, have there origin from the top of Via Cavour (near Termini train station) and then wind their way to the Capotoline - the center of the municipal government of Rome. This contingent was not as successful; being stopped by the Carabinieri before hitting the Fori Imperiali.

Rain & Optimism in Monti

     Just a quick post because it is raining and a bit gloomy in Rome so I thought I would dig up this photo I took weeks ago from a backstreet in Monti.  There happens to be quite a bit of graffitti in the neighborhood, but it tends to be on the artistic side because the neighborhood is...how do we say...a bit 'trendy'..(meaning, I love it!). I particularily liked this one because how can you go wrong in life with this philosophy? I want to giggle every time I think of it..

     And surely a tad more uplifting than this picture..'Pretend to be sane'.  Although it does have a very nice avant-guard quality to it...

Thank You Rome When You Say Thank You

I could have cheered when I saw these ads around town extolling the virtues of a more honest, more transparent, and more courteous Rome:

Thank you Rome when you say thank you.

More helpfulness & courtesy: it's good for you and good for your city.

Ok, there are a lot of things one can complain about while living in Rome - noise, pollution, public transport, etc..(really, I do like living here, but folks, it is a big city afterall..) ..but I can think of a lot worse places to live..and of course, si mangia bene (you eat well!). And, on the whole, you find helpful and honest people..but, ok, on the occasion that you do encounter less-than-hospitable service, or downright dishonesty, you will remember it. (I have a whole separate file of 'taxi stories' that would make you shudder..) Plus, it just happens to be my biggest pet peeve of living in Rome.

I'll only give one example, not to add more grist for the mill, only because it is totally hilarious and shows the subtle ways businesses can gouge tourists if they choose to..

My example has to do with price inflation at a restaurant, which this next ad addresses..

Who doesn't inflate prices, infates with pride.

Apply the right prices: it's good for you and for your city.

There are two more adverts that I have seen; one having to do with taxi drivers inflating their fares and the other with restaurants inserting hidden fees..Hence, my personal example of a late meal one evening near the Pantheon in which, upon receipt of the check, I had to ask the waiter what the line item: Marco - €2.00  meant..(??)  to which he responded with a wide grin:

"Oh, Marco? I'm Marco, but I don't cost anything!", and promptly crossed this confusing item off our bill.. Rome is a wonderful city, but unfortunately some of these stories will be kicking around for years to come. I'll report back on any noticeable affects of the 'niceness' campaign..but somewhat 'gruff' service & attitudes (being tactful here) seem to be a Roman staple.