I took it when I was young in Japan and I used it every day this past summer when I was living in Washington DC. So I am always happy to be able to take the metro. After volunteering, I ride the metro during rush hour. I almost never find a seat when I get on at the main station, Termini, and I am squeezed up against many other people. However, once we pass the stops that are near main tourist attractions, the metro clears out and I can sit in peace.
The bus, however, is a completely different story. Buses are known to be unreliable here in Rome. They often don't come on time or one bus may just not be running on a particular day. This can be very frustrating as I rely on the bus to get to volunteering on time. When the bus comes late, I arrive late, which means my students aren't able to start class on time! Further, the bus is often a very, very bumpy ride. Many of the roads here in Rome are paved with cobblestone. As you can imagine, the bus wobbles and sways the whole ride when it is driving on cobblestones. Although this can be uncomfortable, I always try to remember that I love Rome's streets with their sanpietrini (cobblestones) and the bumpy bus rides are the price I have to pay for this beautiful feature!
Here in Rome, our way of getting around is very connected to both the environment and the city culture. I mentioned above that Rome only has two metro lines. This is very surprising, as it is a major city. In comparison, Washington D.C. has six metro lines! In New York, there are 27! However, the minimal number of metro lines is directly linked to Rome's history. Rome is a historical city built like a lasagna.
