Ignoring signs

Rome: Beautiful city, Expensive city, the most CONFUSING city!!! Where do I start? First of all I am all alone at this point. I don't speak italian and my spanish is terrible. I feel a little misplaced and completely lost all the time. I'm doing my best to keep my chin up and staying positive. My problem is I think situations out and try and solve them before they even happen. I seem to come up with a scenario for everything. Except I assume the worst ending. The night I arrived I was walking on a dream. I dreamed about cobble stone roads, tall white rustic buildings with plants dripping over the tops, double shuttered windows and little italian restaurants that were softly lit with candle light. So here I am in real life. The little tiny art shops tucked away and the history that is exposed on every corner is absolutely stunning.
         People here move a lot slower and everything is really dragged out. Streets smell like pasta and I would have to say that every other window is filled with italian food. It's a beautiful city but it's every man for themselves. The laws here are bended and it sometimes feels like it is on the borderline of a third world country (in the bad areas). When you drive around there are no lanes, no speed limits and really no rules. People cut each other off, swear at each other and try to get somewhere as quickly as possible. Nine out of ten cars  are itty-bitty (smart cars). So cute! Which is probably the "smartest" idea because parking is impossible. I've noticed if your car doesn't have a ding, dent, scratch your probably one of the best drivers in Rome. I won't dare step foot behind the wheel otherwise I'm afraid all of you would be attending my funeral. Enough about that. The food! How amazing it is. Unfortunately I can't really read the menu's because I don't speak italian except for pasta and pizza. But if you love italian food.. you are in italian heaven. Let me explain to you how the italians work. People that work open at the strangest times and close down for lunch for about two hours everyday. I never believed it when I read about it in spanish history books, but it's true! How cool is that? They stay open later then London to say the least. But when it comes to the night life and going out, the italians know how to do it. (I think this is how they do it...) You start with dinner around 9 and go out around midnight and you can either bar hop or go to the best clubs around and dance till 5 in the morning. That's about time when the sky gets lighter and ready for the sun to come up. People either walk home or wait to grab breakfast (which is past, pizza or mozzarella cheese) then find their way home and sleep till 2 to 3 in the afternoon. Technically that would be on California time. Are you ready for a taste of Rome now? haha People here are definitely hustlers. I really haven't seen any gypsies tho. Probably because I'm too distracted by the beautiful city. People keep telling me to always have your belongings close to you. So I have my little purse right by me while I'm ready to see more of beautiful Rome!
             The only difficult thing is that the prices can be absurd even with the exchange rate working in our (americans) favor. You pay so much for so little. Transportation here is a nightmare for me. I really wish I spoke italian :( I'm sure you will have better luck then me trying to find your way around. I almost gave myself a premature heart attack when I got lost for the first time. I'm afraid If I return to the states no one is going to recognize me because I'll be aged from stress and too much night life (sarcasm). Let's hope for the best.
           This city is going to take a lot to understand. And I think I am going to have to really try my best to adapt to this beautiful culture. I hit a few ruff spots but I'm here right now still in paradise so that must mean I am doing something right, right?