Beh!!!

That's Italian for b------t! 

Have you ever stood in line, arrived in front only to be told that you were in the wrong line? Then redirected to another line, so you could be told which line you really belonged in? Who hasn't? Then you have met bureaucracy. The world of small minded individuals hired simply because they can't do anything else. This not a USA individually dominated field, Rome was here first and their claim pre-empts that of Washington.

By trying to make my trip to Rome easier-do the paperwork first, I almost cancelled it. My reply from the consulate informed me that I don't make sufficient income to be a viable long term visitor...unlike the thousands of "pan-handlers, musicians, pick-pockets and merchants" that dot the landscape in every city of Italy. I had forgotten our previous visit to the consulate in Boston and the joy with which we entered the building, the despair with which we left and the total feeling of unconcern that the hired guns showed us poor riff-raff trying to invade their nation. 

It is the people of Rome that make me so sad to even be writing this rant. I have never felt so accepted by so many so quickly or easily. So on to plan B...you should always have at least one plan B! Small minded, cold hearted petty despots will NOT spoil my visit or change my love for my Roman family. 

See you soon, as soon as I can!