When in Rome

For .68 Euro and with a name like that I was scared, turned out to be pretty good


I woke up very early for my flight, 6:45. I haven’t been up that early in a while and there certainly wasn’t anyone else up from my room at the hostel. I was proud of myself for waking up that early and then I remembered that when I worked I had to wake up that early every day. After I packed my things and headed down to check out I ran into some drunk people coming home for the night and others who were still around drinking.

To get to my hotel in Rome I needed to walk to the metro, take the metro to the bus station, take a bus to the airport, take a flight to Rome, get on a bus in Rome to the metro, ride the metro and then walk from the metro to my hostel. I don’t do anything easy, but I do save money. I flew on an ultra budget airline called Ryan Air. My ticket including taxes was 69 Eur. You have to pay 10 Euro to check a bag, but I haven’t checked a bag anywhere I have been. They also have a 1 bag limit, meaning I would have to put my backpack in my carryon bag, but I knew I had enough room. I thought the maximum weight allowed for the carryon was 14KG but when I got to the airport I found out it was 10KG. I again stated my protest that I am skinny and as such should be able to carry a heavier bag, but they were still not buying it. I started taking things out of my bag and was able to get it down to the 10KG max. I threw my snacks, shower gel, sunscreen and a small shirt to make my bag light enough, I also stuck some stuff in my pockets.

When I got to the gate I got in line because seats are not assigned and a window seat near one of the exits was what I was looking for. A window seat on the right side of the plane to be specific, as I like to tilt my head that way when I sleep. As I went to board the plane a RyanAir official came over and asked me to put my bag in a steel box to show that it would fit their dimensions. I knew that it wouldn’t fit in the box, they make the box really small, but I know it would fit in the overhead. I again explained this to the guy, but he showed me on my ticket where it said that the bag must meet certain size requirements and if it doesn’t I have to pay 30 Euro. I don’t even know if the steel box they have is to the requirements, I suppose we are just to take their word that they are being honest. I argued some more but to no avail and ended up paying the 30 Euro to check my bag at the gate. I have already checked in for my flight to Germany next week without checking any bags for that flight so I will have to call them and see if I can get a bag added for 10 Euro instead of the 30 they charge at the airport.

Once we boarded the plane an announcement came over the intercom that the plan was going to be delayed and we ended up waiting about an hour for some broken part to be fixed. I didn’t really know how long we waited because I just put my head back and went to sleep and woke up just before landing in Rome. The views of the Italian coastline and the Mediterranean were beautiful.

While waiting for my bag, that was now checked, it started to rain. I haven’t seen rain in a really long time. The last time I think I was in Nepal in early July.

Tomorrow I’m going to explore Rome and I guess I will finally get to see what all that “when in Rome” talk is about.


Delicious dinner for under 3 Euro

Italian street

Thanks airport

Murphy Beds in a hostel