#8 - Being nice pays

You know what I like? Some great customer service...and we have found a few places that have had just that. They are the cutest little cafes on the corners or alongside the streets with delicious food and the cutest people working there. Good employees and a great atmosphere...they are just so friendly! 


The first cafe is very close to us...literally, just around the corner, and we have gone there almost every day for breakfast!

The inside is very modern, clean, and sleek. I want one of these at home!

You have the option to stand at the bar or sit in these cute tables (and pay an extra .30 euros).

The outside banner reads "New Management,"
and we can't decide if that is the name,
or if they just got new management...

The guys there put a special touch on our cappuccinos each day.

This is Logan's spider web design on his cappuccino.
It's a little more manly than the hearts on ours.

Isn't that the cutest thing?!

This precious man is one of two that have waited on us each day.
They are so friendly and know English well enough to have witty conversations
with us as they make our drinks and serve our food. They are learning more
English words as we learn more Italian words.

The pastries all look delicious and the way it's set up is just great.
It's a popular place with a lot of "regulars."

And this...this is my favorite part. YUM.
It's chocolate inside of a sweet and flaky chocolate chip pastry.
I think it's called cornetto cioccolato, but I like to call it DELICIOUS.

#7 - Patience is "key"

We are having constant problems getting into our residence.

The key will work one day and the next, it takes forever and you have to hold it a certain way or sing a certain song...it is really strange and annoying.

It's little things that try your patience on trips like this, especially at the beginning, because we all want the experience NOW and we want things to happen NOW...and then we have to wait forever just to get into our rooms. I am definitely learning to be patient and not rush things - to just take in the experience...it gives me something to blog about later! ;-)

Patience is key...see what I did there?

#3 - Don't get distracted and miss important things

Are you afraid of missing important moments during your flying experience?

The following are lists of things I may or may not have done, but I have compiled them for your entertainment using photos taken with my Blackberry's camera phone along my trip to Rome.

Don't miss your flight. While you are waiting to board, do NOT:

continuously take pictures of other people boarding flights (while missing the chance to board yourself)

call others over to look at the old MS-DOS-like ATM interface

walk around making smart-alack comments about the names of shops and restaurants in the airport - ex: Tailwind

ride the moving sidewalk, sit on the moving sidewalk, or surf on the moving sidewalk

dine in a restaurant with great food when you obviously do not have time to spare

make a game out of "How long can I wait to get on the metro before the doors close?"

wait until the last minute to exchange currency

attempt quickly to learn another language strictly by reading signs along the airport hallways

Don't miss the important instructions once aboard the aircraft. 

While the announcements are being made, do NOT:

compare illustrations on the safety brochure to illustrations on the 90s show "The Magic School Bus"

take pictures of scenery out the aircraft window

read/shop the SkyMiles magazine

listen to the cries of an extremely bothered infant

Don't miss your luggage at the baggage claim. 

While the baggage is being released onto the conveyor belt, do NOT:

attempt to read names on other people's baggage to see who they are or where they have flown

watch one bag revolve around until someone picks it up

count how many people are wearing blue

Briana

--

Intro to "Doit."

My Rome trip - it's in 3 days, considering it's past midnight already! I can't believe it's so close! I can't even express how excited, nervous...and unprepared I am!

I am readily awaiting the flights and sights - and the cheesiness that I will impart on you with sayings like flights and sights - throughout the duration of this trip.

I will be blogging about my travels from the US to Italy (and back) and the things I experience and learn along the way. I will include pictures or videos from my trip and hopefully be able to tell some entertaining stories - I'm sure I will have some stories...!

Each post will be a "life lesson," some serious and some silly and comical - because we all know that laughter is vital to a well-lived life.

Here's your part: I want you to give me something interesting, fun, or random to do each day!
We can call it "Doit." You must include "doit" in your comment.

Here's an example of what you can post on this blog:
"Take a picture with a stranger at the airport. Doit."

Yes, that says "Doit." Initially, this started out as "Do it." but I left out the space. I was about to erase it, but then I pronounced it...and I liked "doit" quite a lot. When you comment, you must - in your mind (or out loud...it's more fun) - say "doit."

I can't wait to see what my challenges are...I will choose one each day! I have to admit, I'm a little scared. But, you know, life is - for me - one giant collection of awkward moments. You are helping me build my collection, and I must learn to embrace that. ;-)

And here I go...

Getting ready to publish...

Love you guys! Buonanotte! - Briana

--

"Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have." - Jackson Brown