Today was the first time we were allowed to venture off on our own in Italy. In the morning my roommates and I took a walk around our hotel to get ourselves better acquainted with the area and took some photos. Then after our long day touring the American University of Rome, the Coliseum, and the Forum I had my first sit down meal in Italy. We dined at Pizzeria Ai Marmi, and it was an experience. Since I worked at a restaurant in America, I know all about how fast paced they are and how they want you in and out. In Italy, they seem to avoid a wait-list by merely adding more tables to the restaurant which looks like it would add chaos to the kitchen, but we are in Italy, and they can probably handle it. It took the waiter a while to greet the table, and we ordered immediately after he greeted us. We ordered a fried rice ball with mozzarella inside which was incredible. While we were eating our appetizer beggars kept coming up to our table and were asking for food and money also no staff at the restaurant seemed to care how uncomfortable they made us. Right before we got our pizza, a street performer who was ready to go with a top hat and a bird proceeded to shove knives in his mouth while we all tried to look away. I remembered Matteo (our tour guide) telling us how those people want us to see their “show” and then ask for money for watching their performance which is why we tried to look away. After the shenanigans at dinner, we finally got our pizza Margherita which was delicious, probably some of the best pizza I’ve ever had. Update: today’s daily gelato flavor was Mango-Strawberry, and it hit the spot. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s blog while we head off to Vatican City.