I returned back to Rome and stayed again with Gun and Roberta. Roberta was quite busy with her job; she worked as an art restorer and she was also studying at the same time. She was doing a class in illustration and was doing a lot of drawing when she was not working. One night, Gun and I went a live music venue called Init. We went to check out some bands and hang out. There was some American band playing that night; there was a good vibe in the space; there was a Dj Tina Valentina playing 45's of punk rock and garage music. It was a decent size and could hold a few people and then some. I would go back the next night to meet Alessandro Cassella there. There was a Italian mod band called the Victorians playing that night and Ale was involved putting the night on. The only thing was the power went out during the gig. They could not get the power restored; the evening was cut short Ale is the publisher of Giaguaro magazine and he puts on a lounge music festival usually every year.
The next day I went to meet Ale at his office/apartment and have a chat. I was curious to talk to him about the music scene in Rome. I was kind of surprised to hear that is not really much of a live music scene in Rome. People are not really into live music like they would be in London in comparison. It is hard work to be on the music scene in Rome. I would return later return to Rome for the Giaguaro festival that summer. I also met up a friend, who I knew from London, Alex Zinzi. Alex was also a DJ; he had been living outside Rome in a town Spoleto for a few years; Alex and I met up with his friend Chiara in a cocktail bar. Alex and I also talked about the music scene; he was saying things like Ale was. People are more interested in going out for a meal than live music. Later that night, Alex and I went for stroll through Rome and walked through some really picturesque streets. I think we walked through the Trastevere area in Rome. There must be so many stories in this place; it is reflected in the buildings. If you are in Rome go for a walk in this neighbourhood and enjoy. It would have been about 1 AM now and it was quite mild. Alex and I were joined by a friend of his and we walked around looking in the shop windows selling antiques.
Over the last few days of my trip the weather was finally starting to get back to normal and getting quite warm after the shock of the cold spell that happened at the beginning of my journey. I had spent about ten days traveling by train and plane and visiting friends and having all in all a pretty good time. And I got to practice my Italian; no arguments or melodrama this time. Perhaps on my next trip.