VATICAN CORNER
Things not to do when visiting The Vatican / Rome (continued)
6. When visiting, don’t take your eye off your bag, do not carry large sums of money, and be sure to hide your money and credit cards from pickpockets, who are frequently women and children. Like any big cities, Rome and the Vatican (within) have their share of thieves. One of the most common tricks in Rome is to pretend to help a tourist in order to get their money. If you accept this help they will either ask for money or take it from you. Vatican statistics for the year 2010 reported about 1,300 crimes of pickpocketing / purse-snatching. Dividing that number by the number of people living in the Vatican, the crimes per capita is about 1.5, the highest rate in the world! But that statistic doesn’t take into account the 18 million visitors. About 90 percent of these crimes go unpunished, since thieves can run for the border only a few yards away in Italy. During the day Rome’s Termini train station is filled with commuters and is relatively safe, but at night it will be occupied by undesirables and be quite unsafe. Always be aware of your surroundings.
7. Don’t wear high heels, flip-flops, sandals or inappropriate footwear. Walking is the best way to see the sights and follow the tourist paths, but the terrain is not necessarily flat since Rome was built on 7 hills. Much of the historic center of Rome has now been converted to pedestrians except for a few main thoroughfares, but the cobbled streets are heel catching. The Vatican and Rome’s religious buildings do not restrict flip-flops, but Italians think they are only for the beach or the pool. Wearing sandals can get your feet super dirty and the really hard streets put a lot of pressure on your feet and ankles after a while. Instead, wear comfortable walking shoes such as sneakers or other shoes with a thicker sole.
8. Don’t eat near major tourist sights if you want authentic Roman food. Rome is like any big city that receives millions of visitors a year. It has a lot of mediocre, overprices, inauthentic restaurants, especially in the central historic area where tourists tend to hang out. Restaurants with views of the Vatican will be a lot more expensive than those that are not in the direct vicinity. If you see a menu translated into multiple languages, take the hint that the restaurant caters mainly to tourists. A good idea is to ask around and get restaurant suggestions from the locals. You can also check on-line recommendations by Francesca Fabi, a genuine Roman gourmet. The cost of a short cab ride or bus ride away from the tourist areas can be made up by the lower price at an authentic restaurant, and you’ll eat better. At any great restaurant, there will be a long line for seating. Meantime in Rome is taken slowly, and great importance is given to enjoying the meal, appreciating the time with family and friends, and even making sure you properly digest your food. It is therefore a good idea to come hungry and to expect multiple courses and prepare to savor and relax. It is unlikely that the restaurant will try to rush you from your table. You are supposed to linger there and finish everything, so enjoy a longer than usual meal, doing as the Romans do. To be continued …
Sources: Rome. Info, landloper.com, blondvoyage.com, revealedrome.com, millenniumhotels.com, destinationtips.com