Another summers day, has come and gone away- in Paris and Rome (and Milano)

Hello friendly readers! The post vacation tiredness has finally worn off in one of the worst experiences with jet lag that I have ever experienced in my life. I was going to work and trying to run my life normally- which is generally the best way to get over a long haul flight (try to keep to the local hours as much as possible)- but I was still falling asleep as soon as I got home from work around 8.

Anyway, two days into the return to the office, I got an excellent email. This email, which I repeat, was excellent, was an invite to attend my company’s 2 week Financial Lines University in Paris! It’s a great opportunity, because outside the obvious “awesome factor” being in Paris, you get to mingle with colleagues from all over the world as well as some pretty important heads in the European offices. I did something similar in New York about 3 years ago, which was interesting but overshadowed by the hour of commuting I had to do at the end of the day- and so while my colleagues were going out and getting to know each other- I was riding the Long Island Rail Road with 50 somethings.

In other news, there are some people studying abroad in Rome next semester I hear! Rome is what started my insanity for Italy so here are a few quasi-native suggestions:
DO take the number 8 tram up to the Gianicolense and have a pizza at C’era Una Volta- its fantastic.
DON’T EVER think it’s a good idea to eat in a restaurant IN the following Piazzas: Navona, Del Popolo, di Spagna. You can go a block away and eat beautiful beautiful food- but eating in the piazza means you’ll pay too much and it will NOT be good.
DO experiment with Roman dishes in Trastevere (which is the Roman’s Rome)- Carbonara, Amatriciana, Cacio e Pepe. For seconds- anything with veal- can’t go wrong!
DON’T look the Giordano Bruno statue in Campo dei Fiori in the eyes if still in school- local legend has it you will never graduate if you do!
DO go to the Drunken Ship- its an American institution
DON’T only go to the Drunken Ship- you’re in Rome- meet some Italians!
DO catch the sunset at Piazza Garibaldi- or the sunrise if you’re just getting home.
DO spend all night out when the Notte Bianca comes to town- and DON’T get frustrated by the crowds.
DO try to go for dinner in Ariccia and drink Romanello (spelling may be off)... and look for the singer who asks for a glass of wine instead of money...but first learn the words to the folk song La Società di Magnaccioni...

Alright folks- time to underwrite…

Any other Roman suggestions???