Although, due to policy changes, there are fewer musicians these days, Rome continues to have a very vibrant street music culture. Every now and again, I come across some a musician playing an uncommon instrument, e.g. didgeridoo or (in this case) the hang drum.
Alessio playing the Hang drum on the streets of Vatican City. (Image by D. Blake)
Take a moment to listen to this wonderful instrument being played by Alessio, a young musician I came across while hanging out in Vatican City.
Travel and fibromyalgia–from everything I heard and knew before I moved to Italy, travelling was something that I probably wouldn’t be doing a lot of because of the potential negative impact it could have on my body.
Still, I decided to do it. 😉
In these videos, I talk about my decision to move to Italy, how I prepared and what I have experienced while living in Rome and dealing with my fibromyalgia symptoms.
Thank you for watching! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me! 🙂
Until Tomorrow?
D.
Part 1: Why I did it | How I did it.
Part 2: What I Learned | What I suggest.
It took 4 years, but finally I found out where there is a real second-hand store in Rome…and it happens to be in my backyard. 😉
Before I left the US, I was pretty much hooked on spending part of my weekend in the local Goodwill or Salvation Army. I have a thing for anything vintage and I am ridiculously cheap frugal, so shopping second-hand leaves me in bliss.
When I first moved to Rome, the “vintage” stores here left me thinking Oh, Hell No!
Seriously, the prices were (still are) enough to induce cardiac arrest.
Luckily, my friend Sammy introduced me to Ex-Novo on Saturday. Although the prices are still considerably high in my book, they are still significantly lower than the vintage stores that you will find in Rome’s historic center.
So, if you’re in Rome, or planning to travel here, and love vintage, check out Ex-Novo in the San Paolo Basilica area. It’s just a few steps from the metro.
Via Corinto 12, Rome
(San Paolo Basilica Metro)
Join my friend Gabrielle Di Bari and I as we check out Universo Vegano, located near Campo de’ Fiori in Rome for the first time. 🙂
A quick tutorials on how to use the ticket machines in the metropolitana (subway station) in Rome…and what to do if you can’t. 🙂
Happy Sunday!
Alexandria Maloney, JCU graduate and Founder of the Women’s Leadership Initiative. (Image from LinkedIn. Click to visit her profile.
Really wonderful video put together by Alexandria Maloney to address the issues that young Black students may encounter when studying overseas, particularly in Italy. Please, take time out to watch & share. 🙂
Until Tomorrow,D.
Staff at Astri s.r.l. Click image to visit their website.
When I first began living in Rome, I had brought with me enough supplies to last me for one whole year–that’s right. I stocked up! The thing was that…I didn’t return to the US until two years later. So, I had to figure out where to get hair and makeup products…and at a reasonable cost (a.k.a. cheap). 😉
I have to give a massive hug to my friend Alexandria Maloney for telling me where to go when I was desperately searching for products! 🙂
New Cover Art for YouTube. Click to Visit Vlog: Rome Off the Beaten Path.
I have a newfound respect for vloggers…actually, for anyone who films and edits anything. Yes, indeedy, I do. Windows Movie Maker and YouTube Video Manager have occupied my soul for the past 72 hours. Although filming is fun, to be frank, it takes a whole lot of balls to pick up a camera, head outside and record yourself. 😉
Below is a playlist of videos on Garbatella, a neighbourhood that was developed just before the rise of Fascism and was later taken over by the Fascists who relocated people (many communists) they evicted from the historic center.
I welcome you to watch, and hope you will like them. Feel free to offer suggestions. Places you’d like to see, subjects you’d like discussed, etc.
Also…
Thank You So Very Much For Being There Even When I am Not Here!
I’ve decided to begin a YouTube channel. 😉 It’s something that I’ve been wanting to do for some time, and now I’ve finally taken this first step.
I hope to share with you the lessons I’ve learned living with fibromyalgia, and also living abroad as a woman of color. I look forward to your feedback and to answering questions that you may have.
Now, you have a voice to with the face! 😀
Image Found via GIS
Rome, Italy, October 23, 2014
Dear Nature,
I am writing to you, because…well, I know you’ve been struggling for some time now. I know that your relationship with (some) people has caused you to feel a bit unsettled…and really, you’re not to blame for the condition your in.
However, just for this moment, I wondered if you could consider Susan Powter’s advice from in the 1990s, and simply Stop the Insanity.
I think the 30° drop in temperature in the course of 24 hours may be somewhat of an overreaction. Really, there was no need to go from 78°F to 46°F without real warning.
Of course, I may be wrong about this. I am just thinking that we could solve this with a little group therapy. What do you think?
Your loving inhabitant,
D
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