Ruminations

This post is really for the benefit of people who care about my project, since I haven't gotten around to any sightseeing since my last (and first) batch of photos on facebook. Researching is serious business!

Did a crap top of research today. My head is spinning with Ancient Roman property law. Now if only I can find some Medieval property law at the Biblioteca. However, I'm going to Florence in a few weeks and maybe I can find some stuff in that library or the Medici library. Except I think I'll run into the same problem with the Medicis as I did with the Archivio di Stato... too much renaissance, not enough Medieval. That's the problem with Italy, they've got the Roman Empire, and then they've got the Renaissance. Their Medieval records on law are not as plentiful as France or England's.

Went to a little panini shop for lunch, but the sandwich was monstrous. Also, had gelato, of course. The water here is ridiculously expensive, but I guess that's what you get for living in a tourist trap. In fact, everything here is ridiculously expensive... and I thought Rand was a rip-off. I'm blowing through my budget on pasta and gelato... (not a bad way to spend all your money, if you're in Rome).

Going to Florence with the parents in a few weeks (it's pretty sad that they're going to be vacationing in Florence while I spend a day in the Florence library...) and then Venice, then back to Rome for a week to wrap up what research is needed. If only the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenza's book search wasn't so difficult to navigate.

Anyway... back to stuffing my face with pasta and reading Latin.

Side note: It's really difficult to stick to my Italian only plan when everyone here insists on speaking English to me once they realize how poor my Italian is. I'm getting really good at ordering food and asking where the bathroom is though.

"Sono sozia" -I'm full

"Prendo un cappucino"-I'll have a cappucino.

"Non riesco a dormire"-I can't sleep (b/c I've been drinking too much damn coffee).

-Lisa