When in Rome

I had the singular good fortune to spend 4 years in Rome as part of my education. It changed everything! Most especially, it changed how I view life. I love Italians! They have wonderful food, wonderful music, and a real joy for living. They also have some really annoying habits - but that's a different story.

At the time, I was a cleric, and used to walk around with a semi-formal clerical garb. We didn't wear collars then, but we did wear simple black or grey shirts, and we were easily identifiable. Hey, Rome is full of aspiring theologians.

Two of us had gone out for dinner. Our house was located near Via Merulana, a couple of blocks from Santa Maria Maggiore. It's a beautiful, broad avenue, full of shops and restaurants. When we finally made our way home, the door was locked! We did not have a key - we were only students! We tried throwing stones at the window of a compatriot - but he did not respond. The way buildings in Rome are set up, almost all of the sleeping rooms are on the inside of the square - the rear of the building. It's too noisy on the outside, with all of the traffic. There was no way to get in.

Resigned to our fate, we walked back up the Via Merulana toward Santa Maria Maggiore. Just a bit north of our favorite restaurant - one which gave a 10% discount to clerics - there was this small hotel. We walked in and asked, in our finest Italian, "How much for a room?" The clerk responded, "For how long?". I answered, "Just one night."

He gave us a key, we paid cash, and we went up the stairs.

After washing up a bit, we both crawled under the covers. As I was lying there, I could hear footsteps on the stairs. Every couple of minutes, it seemed, someone went up or down the stairs. OH! it's that kind of hotel! I turned to my buddy and said, Donaldo, do you know what that clerk thinks we are doing in here?! And we have the room for the whole night!

I am sure we did not improve the reputation of clerics in Rome that evening.