One Tribal Bird Man

With only days left, I keep thinking about all of the things I'm going to miss when I go home. One of those is "Carlo Menta," a restaurant in Trastevere that I've been to multiple times for delicious, inexpensive dinner (splitting a Pizza Margherita between 3 people, pasta, dessert, and Coca-Cola for 12.50 euro...yum.). Another is Baccanale, a panini stand just off Campo de' Fiori where I go almost every day for lunch. I've frequented it since the beginning of the semester, so the girl who works there recognizes me and always gives me an extra friendly smile and a happy "Ciao!" when I go up to order. It makes my day every time.

And then there are the different atmospheres of the places I walk through often: local Trastevere, artistic Piazza Navona, the busy market of Campo de' Fiori during the day, and the variety of street performers that magically transform it at night. Fire dancers, musicians, and--a few nights ago--One Tribal Bird Man. 

Three of us were strolling leisurely back to studio after dinner at Carlo Menta, in absolutely no rush because we had absolutely no desire to go back to work. We took some back streets to get to Campo from Ponte Sisto, and on our way, we passed the Bird Man, with his variety of instruments, pipes, pig, and spider. Back at the Place du Georges Pompidou in Paris, I didn't think street performances could get any stranger. This one topped all of the ones I'd seen this trip. He had a dancing spider! Actually, the Bird Man reminded me a lot of Bert from Mary Poppins: so many instruments and gadgets, controlled by every body part he could possibly spare.

One Tribal Bird Man

The idea of going home--of going back to the United States--just seems weirder and weirder. I really can't believe in two weeks I'll be using currency that is all the same color and size. That coffee will be subpar, cappuccini won't exist, and what does will cost way more than one euro, even in US dollars. It's also weird to think that I won't be able to walk everywhere--in fact, anywhere, since I live in the suburbs. And people will move so much faster...

Everywhere--every second--in Rome is a cultural experience. I'm going to miss it terribly.