Dining in Rome: GO HOME!!

So just a very brief rant on eating in Rome. I can't attest much to the rest of Italy, but eating in Rome is a total scam. The go-Go-GO attitude and culture of the city has produced a style of eating that does not really lend itself to inexpensive, seated dining. Most of the cheaper places to eat in Rome are at small snack bars, pizzerias, and then the cafe/bar (they don't distinguish between the 2 really). The least expensive way to go is to order at the bar and either eat it standing up or take it with you. I think this really best represents the coffee/breakfast culture in Italy. From what I understand, the workin' folks get up in the morning, buy their 0.80Euro espresso from the shop, maybe a croissant or something sweet to go with it, drink it at the bar and get the hell out. We read somewhere that ordering a cappuccino after 11AM is considered in poor taste. Most of the pizzerias work this way as well. If they have tables, they won't have chairs, and there is a general pressure to get the hell out of there since the spaces are so small. If you sit at these cafés, they will charge you a sitting fee (usually 1.50 Euro/person), and everything on the menu is more expensive. When Sean and I ordered 2 cappuccinos at a famous Rome café, we paid I think 2.50Euro for both drinks together... pretty nice by American standards. The next day, we wanted to get off our feet and sit down at a café with the same order (2 cappuccinos), but it cost us 8Euro! Even the food carts, normally a cheap alternative in most major American cities, are a complete rip-off! I got a hotdog, Sean got a slice of pizza (without cheese), and split a bottle of Coke... 14Euro!! We didn't do it again. Luckily, the campground's restaurant and pizzeria aren't that bad, and we've just been hitting grocery stores whenever humanly possible. But anyway, if you're planning on coming to Rome, either just budget a lot for food, eat tons of 'za, or just hit the grocery store. Chris Morse signing off.

"The above rant is somewhat mitigated by a serving of gelato every day, which Chris Morse can eat in Europe, for some reason."