What NOT to do in Rome

Here is a travel blog again, it's just  what I like to write about most. Before going to Greece this year I spent four days in the Italian Capital. I had already been there four years ago with school, so this time it was fun going without teachers and stroll around the city on our own. While there is a wide range of great activities to do there I thought I would just write down the things you should rather avoid.

1. Go there by bus.
   Going there the first time we took the bus from Graz, it took about 12 hours and was tiring since the driver had to take mandatory breaks and just unnecessary. Flying to Rome is very cheap and convenient. It only takes about an hour, you board, eat your muffin or whatever they serve you and then it's already time to get off again. I don't know the price but I for sure
   did not pay more than 100€ for a flight to Rome and back.
2. Go there in August.
   I personally didn't mind but if you are sensitive to heat you might wanna avoid the hot months of July and August. Especially around 14:00 it can get very hot and just walking becomes a strain. When I was there in May the weather was perfect, way better than in Austria but not too hot, still summer like.
3. Buy water bottles from the kiosk.
   I know those bottles consisting of 70% ice can be way too tempting when you are walking in the heat of the noon but they are completely overpriced so don't let them take you to the cleaners. Buy a water bottle at a grocery store in the morning and then refill it at one of the many fountains in the city. The water is of good quality and for free.
4. Buy goods from the bootleggers or accept flowers
   There are many people over town dealing with fake designer glasses, handbags, belts etc. Those people are always on the run and gone within a second when the carbinieri are insight. A friend of mine once bought a belt for 8€ and paid with a 20€ bill when the police came around the dealer ran off of course without giving him the change. Also don't accept any flowers gypsies offer you especially girls. They first try to make it look like a present but in the End they will run after you and demand money.
5. Stay at the Arenula hotel.
   Ok first of all something good: The location of this hotel was simply perfect. It was a three minutes walk from the Pantheon and you could walk most sights like the Vatican. Vittorio Emanuelle was just around the corner and from there you could walk down the boulevard along Forum Romanum to the Colosseum. But that's it. We booked five days before leaving and very cheap, so you can say I expected nothing but was still disappointed. The rooms were very very basic but that’s something I can live with. What I couldn't live with though were the traces the former guests left in the bathroom.. and with that I mean in the toilet. It was so disgusting we always used the shared bathroom in the hall although we had an own.
   The staff did not mind to clean it for our whole stay. Will not be returning!!
6. Eat somewhere around the Pantheon. The restaurants on this square are very pricey but if you look around you might find one with reasonable prices (there was one on the boulevard to the Colosseum that had a great view and ok prices for the city). You can find a lot of nice and affordable restaurants if you walk a little through the old town in the direction of the Vatican. I recommend the restaurant Sugo at Piazza Nicosia
7. Pay more than 30€ for the cab from the airport
   If your cab driver wants more than 30€ from you for taking you to your hotel from the airport don't pay it. Roman government introduced the rule that all rides from airports to the city cost 30€. I don't think there are many who do so but still better safe than sorry so don't be fooled and maybe even set the price before getting into the car.

Those are my don'ts for a stay in the eternal City I hoped it was informative and interesting!