Decided To Go Back To Rome - The Mouth Of Truth & Disney Store Failure / Italian Food In The Rain
Going Back To Rome
Transcript
0:03
Today's adventure begins as the
0:03
recording of this Monday, December 1st,
0:07
2025.
0:10
I'm in Naples, Italy, but I'm checking
0:12
out of my hotel where I'm standing
0:15
out on the lai here on the little
0:18
balcony, if you will.
0:21
I'm heading to the train station and
0:22
going back to Rome. Yes, all roads lead
0:27
to Rome, they say. I think that might be
0:28
the catchphrase.
0:31
And I'm going back to Rome, Italy.
0:40
See where the day leads. Just checking
0:40
out here in the lobby. They got a nice
0:41
little
0:44
Christmas decoration manger scene right
0:46
here
0:52
underneath the chandelier. Beautiful
0:52
chandelier.
0:54
Really like this hotel.
0:56
Alfred Hitchcock stayed here when he
0:59
visited Italy. Fun fact.
1:01
>> Goodbye, Excelsior.
1:38
All right, making it to the train
1:38
station.
1:45
Always taken back by traffic here and
1:45
the amount,
1:47
not only the amount of cars, but the
1:48
amount of taxis.
1:57
took one of these into my hotel
1:57
and I just took another taxi back over
1:59
here. Look at the taxi waiting area.
2:02
Wild.
2:10
Got a little time about 45 minutes until
2:10
my train's supposed to depart. Final
2:12
destination is in Milan,
2:15
but it's going to be stopping in Rome.
2:18
11:35
2:20
AV
2:22
9982 is the train number over on the
2:25
right. I have not got
2:28
I have not have I don't have the spot
2:29
for the train where it's going to be
2:31
loading at the Trying to think of the
2:34
the word for that. Not the plat Yeah,
2:36
the platform. Platform is the word I'm
2:37
looking for. Think I'm going to get some
2:39
coffee first. Ticket was purchased from
2:42
machine here. You end up putting the the
2:45
final destination and where you're going
2:46
into here and then you put the card in
2:48
and it spits the chicken out and then
2:50
you get your right there going to Rome
2:54
and it just works out appropriately
2:56
right next to you I get myself a little
2:58
Starbucks right over here. So you
3:00
purchase a ticket here and get yourself
3:03
a little pipe hot caffeinated beverage
3:04
right next to it. And I'm going to hold
3:06
off on any any sort of mugs or anything.
3:10
I've already got a lot of mugs as it is.
3:12
Plus, they're kind of heavy to travel
3:13
with.
3:20
>> Even though the the the Roma one, the
3:20
Rome one is very appealing.
3:23
And here's Naples, Napoli.
3:27
Let's see if there's anything on here.
3:29
They have Pompei on here. They have the
3:31
Roman columns. They have Pompei. It's
3:34
kind of on the outskirts, but yeah.
3:38
Yes. I'm getting strawberries. I drink a
3:39
lot of a lot of hometown or home country
3:43
coffees, but also get some Starbucks.
3:46
Also, one big thing I'm noticing here in
3:48
Italy are these.
3:51
Look at the size. It's like a dessert
3:53
kind of cake thing, but look at this
3:54
compared to my hand. It's massive.
3:57
Massive. They also have donuts at
4:01
Starbucks here.
4:04
Fresh sugar-free vanilla latte for Aden.
4:08
Look at that. That's one way to do it.
4:30
Welcome everyone.
4:30
Adam the Woo here to the first day of
4:33
the last month
4:35
of 20125.
4:37
December is here.
4:40
Christmas is right around the corner.
4:41
Well, 25 days from right now. I'm still
4:46
overseas.
4:47
I'm still in Italy. I'm inviting you to
4:51
join me,
4:53
shall you? Oh, there's a Christmas tree
4:58
again. First day of the last month,
5:02
2025,
5:04
December. It is Christmas month kicking
5:08
up. What happens now is everyone just
5:10
waits here to look at their board to see
5:13
what platform they need to be, including
5:14
me. kind of curious what all these old
5:17
numbers and colors are here. Also, I was
5:20
confused at first when the clock up here
5:24
obviously above where it has the time
5:26
piece. I was wondering why it said
5:29
January 12th, 2025. I went back in time
5:32
and in fact here like in the US they
5:36
start off with the date with the day and
5:39
then they go month and then they go
5:40
year. So 11225 is technically the first
5:45
day of the last month of 2025 as I
5:49
stated and
5:51
the train number has showed up for which
5:55
gate or platform I should say
5:58
I need to go to. So I am heading over to
6:02
platform
6:04
23.
6:09
I showed the Barbie store when I
6:09
arrived.
6:11
showing the Barbie store when I'm
6:12
leaving.
6:15
Also, there's a good chance I might go
6:16
by the Disney Store in Rome when I get
6:20
there. They have their own designated
6:22
Disney store.
6:24
Maybe I could get a Mickey Mouse shirt
6:26
that says Rome on it. Be pretty cool.
6:28
Interested in checking that out.
6:34
This is my gate. Well, this is my
6:34
platform, I should say.
6:41
partying at 11:35.
6:41
Got about
6:43
14 minutes,
6:46
give or take. Highspeed train.
6:49
Moving right along.
6:51
Make my way. I'm noticing now that
6:54
evidently they all have the brooms.
7:03
The hustle and bustle of the train
7:03
station in Italy. All right, the doors
7:06
are opening.
7:08
Perfect timing for me to walk over here.
7:11
I'm sitting in compartment
7:14
number four.
7:19
Also, one thing I've noticed, a lot of
7:19
people smoke here at the seat section I
7:21
have. I'm actually going to be sitting
7:23
directly at someone facing me. They
7:25
haven't boarded yet, but there's going
7:26
to be someone looking directly making
7:28
eye contact with me. Got my bag up over
7:30
my head.
7:31
>> Attention please. here.
7:34
>> Backpack, suitcase above me, and my over
7:38
the shoulder fanny pack in front of me.
7:41
What I do is I put this over the
7:42
shoulder. Got my wallet in here,
7:43
passport in here, phone, etc. And then I
7:46
put this around. I got my hoodie and I
7:48
zip it up. It's kind of warm in here, so
7:51
taking it off. Whenever I'm walking
7:53
around Italy, I always have this in a
7:55
little hidden spot on my torso.
8:06
Milano. Welcome on board 99 82 from
8:06
Napoli to Milan.
8:10
The train will stop in.
8:23
Please be reminded that smoking is
8:23
prohibited.
9:25
dear? Passengers, we would like to
9:25
inform you that our checking operations
9:27
will begin shortly. Please have your
9:29
ticket code or QR code ready. We remind
9:33
you that train manager
10:21
I've arrived.
10:21
>> Back in row. Back in row. I'm back.
11:00
Yeah, definitely good to be back in Rome
11:00
for a little bit.
11:07
I don't know what it is. Rome is very
11:07
hectic obviously, but I feel a little
11:10
more comfortable here than I did in
11:12
Naples. Didn't really love Naples that
11:13
much. Didn't really to be honest, I
11:15
didn't really even like Naples all that
11:17
much. Pompei, which was like a 30-minute
11:21
bus tour from Naples, wasn't too bad.
11:23
And I ate at the first ever pizza
11:24
parlor, which was amazing. Little
11:26
historical Italian food spot,
11:30
but it was just a little too intense for
11:32
me in Naples. I don't know, something
11:35
about it. put a super in enable. This is
11:38
just my own personal opinion.
12:18
passing the staircase. I'm walking to
12:18
the hotel and past the staircase. Check
12:20
it out. There's little nice little
12:23
painting on top of that roof for the
12:25
staircase that leads down into these
12:27
quaint little sections of Rome.
12:42
>> All right, I have checked into my room.
12:42
Nice little kind of a tiny little
12:43
accommodations, but nice nonetheless.
12:45
Got a big window here. I'll check out
12:47
the view momentarily.
12:49
And there's even a little refrigerator,
12:53
desk,
12:54
and whatnot over there.
12:57
Nice little bed. Got my stuff over in
12:59
the corner. Got some slippers.
13:01
These are the accommodations
13:08
and a nice shower over there in the
13:08
corner. Yeah, quaint
13:12
and nice. Even a bottle of wine that I
13:14
won't drink cuz I don't really drink
13:16
wine. But yeah,
13:19
there it is. Just my accommodations for
13:23
next couple evenings. Yeah, very nice
13:25
view here. Got a little restaurant
13:29
down below. Kind of peeking out the
13:31
window. I like the fact that the window
13:32
opens. Get some nice fresh air. Very,
13:35
very nice.
13:38
And across the way, I'm not sure what
13:39
they're doing over here, but over here
13:41
in this corner, they have some like
13:42
firefighter training or something going
13:44
on down below.
13:51
Yeah, very cute. Very cute spot. I like
13:51
it. I like this little courtyard around
13:52
over here just outside the window here.
13:57
There's no leaning tower there, but
13:59
still nonetheless pretty good. All
14:00
right, coming down from my hotel room
14:02
and you kind of go out this way.
14:05
Actually, a couple couple of different
14:08
artistic
14:10
sculptures. Yeah. Take a look at this
14:13
huge wooden door with lock and key to
14:15
even get in to go to the elevator to go
14:17
up to my room. This is the ground floor
14:18
view of my room, which is right up
14:22
there.
14:23
There's
14:43
the Roman forum down there at what's
14:43
left of it.
15:38
Since the last time I was in this area,
15:38
I rewatched National Ampoon's European
15:40
Vacation. And of course, obviously when
15:42
I was in Rome before, I was mentioning
15:45
some of the spots, but didn't realize
15:46
when I was here last time that these
15:49
steps right here till I rewatched it
15:51
when Ellen is in the car, the guys grab
15:54
her and they're in the car and Clark is
15:56
chasing them on the bicycle. He rides
15:58
the bike right down these these stairs,
16:02
these kind of thin angled stairs, passes
16:07
this sculpture right here, turns this
16:09
way, and rides off. There you go.
16:16
You know, I'm going to mention European
16:16
vacation. Come on. It's a classic Chevy
16:19
Chase. Come on. Also,
16:22
this might look like the Coliseum, but
16:23
not the Coliseum, which is off in the
16:25
distance. The reason I came back to
16:27
Rome, there's a couple things I didn't
16:29
get to do last time I was here that I
16:31
want to try to knock off the list while
16:33
I'm here now.
16:36
>> That is not the coliseum, though. Even
16:37
though I thought it was at one
16:39
particular point a few days ago when I
16:41
was here, I made the mistake that
16:43
thinking that that was. I got like
16:45
directions confused. One of the spots
16:48
that was closed last time I was here,
16:50
got there too late, is the mouth of
16:51
truth. I'm going to put my hand in that
16:53
sewer drake that's on the side of the
16:55
wall. See
17:10
where that big tower is? Is where I'm
17:10
heading. Right in the middle of the
17:11
street.
17:26
This is like the best walking city ever.
17:26
I mean, you just so many cool
17:30
ruins just everywhere.
17:34
I really do enjoy Rome.
17:43
I mean, look at this. What? Look at
17:43
this.
17:45
Amazing. Amazing.
18:20
Looks like they got a production, a TV
18:20
or movie or a commercial, some sort of
18:24
production taking place. They have the
18:25
craft services out, makeup, hair
18:27
artists. You got the little
18:31
whatever you call green rooms or whoever
18:32
for the celebrities here. Cinematography
18:35
and TV van over there. That's fun.
18:38
They're filming something right here
18:40
next to the Mouth of Truth building.
18:43
All right. Right here at the end of this
18:44
corridor is the Mouth of Truth. From
18:48
what I was hearing, it was like an old
18:49
super great that they put up on the
18:50
wall. Became very, very famous. It was
18:52
used in Roman holiday.
18:59
Classic film
18:59
filmed in Rome.
19:02
Put my hand in there. Looks like she did
19:03
in the movie.
19:05
As the legend goes, if you are a liar,
19:08
you put your hand in this, it will bite
19:10
your hand off according to legends. I
19:12
wonder how many hands have been consumed
19:15
by this thing. So, I believe she used
19:17
her right hand and went in.
19:25
Wonder if Henry Rollins has ever been
19:25
here cuz he's had that song about being
19:27
alive. We're Pinocchio. My magnet I got
19:29
have Pinocchio. My hand is unscathed.
19:33
So, I'm good to go. This thing is very
19:35
heavy duty. Look at this.
19:38
I can see it being a sewer grape. I went
19:40
inside the basilica that's attached to
19:42
the Mouth of Truth. And then you go in,
19:44
you leave a little donation to go into
19:46
the bottom of the basilica where they
19:48
have the crypt of Adrien right here.
19:51
Crypt of Adrien was completely dug
19:53
inside a large core of tough blocks were
19:55
identified with the podium of Ara
19:57
Maximum Hercules in the forum barium by
20:02
recent studies. That's a that's a
20:03
mouthful. All right, I made it a little
20:06
lower now. Inside deeper into the crypt
20:09
itself, here's a little bit more
20:11
information. There's also these little
20:13
little areas here, cubby holes, or maybe
20:16
they had like busts or sculptures or
20:18
something. I'm not really sure. But this
20:21
says the small and charming underground
20:24
crypt was created by Pope Adrien the
20:27
first back in 772
20:30
to 795.
20:42
>> It's right there.
20:42
The crypt must be behind it
20:45
>> perhaps. Or maybe over there's the
20:46
crypt.
20:53
>> I'm looking for the crypt. I guess that
20:53
would be the crypt.
20:55
Is that the crypt? Or maybe it's behind
20:57
there. All right. So, evidently the
20:59
crypt is the podium itself.
21:02
I also went on to read that there's a
21:04
secret tunnel that goes farther into the
21:07
underground of the basilica. You can see
21:09
it behind the crypt. My interpretation
21:12
is the crypt is in fact a podium like a
21:15
church preaching podium, but I could be
21:18
wrong. All right. This is showing what
21:20
it looks like with the the pillars here
21:23
leading down to the crypt and the the
21:24
secret hallway or the secret passageway.
21:27
They're calling this a colarium which is
21:30
like the little cubby hole area I was
21:31
talking about. And then there's of
21:33
different translations of different
21:35
languages for Adrien or Hadrien's crypt
21:39
right over here. Consisted of a large
21:41
hall with six columns, three on each
21:43
side and ends of small apps, the altar
21:46
of which is dug like a small well and a
21:50
Roman cypus. It held the relics of Star
21:55
Cella.
21:56
The columns, the capitals of which are
21:58
an art of ravina, have no base and are
22:01
deeply thrust
22:03
into the floor.
22:09
Okay,
22:09
there it is.
22:12
The crypts of Hrien.
22:16
Oh, wait. Now there's this down here.
22:22
Okay.
22:22
All right. and then go back up into the
22:25
basilica itself.
22:27
Right around this corner is up into the
22:31
basilica right there. Look. And here's
22:33
the upper portion of the little
22:35
basilica. A little cute little basilica.
22:37
The thing I realized is the other night
22:39
when I walked past here and the basilica
22:41
church was closed, I could have just
22:43
peaked in the metal grate here on this
22:45
end and saw the mouth of truth, but I
22:49
wouldn't have been able to stick my hand
22:50
inside there.
22:53
Unless you have really long arms. Didn't
22:56
realize it was that close till I went in
22:58
there. Also, I'm ordering an Uber going
23:01
up towards the Trevy Fountain again,
23:02
which is where the Disney Store is. My
23:04
Uber's over on the other side of the
23:05
road over there. Just waiting here
23:07
patiently.
23:33
I'm almost sure.
23:33
Well, it's not one of the mopeds. It's
23:35
behind the moped. Oh, yes. Right here.
23:38
Let's put the blinker on. That's That's
23:39
my Uber. Going to the Disney store. This
23:42
was not my Uber, but I got dropped off.
23:44
And this is a classic car alert. How
23:49
cool is this? It's like making them out
23:52
of
23:59
She like makes it out of sand. It's like
23:59
sand castles.
24:02
That is neat.
24:05
Kitty cats. Couple little doggies here.
24:10
>> She like makes it right in front of
24:11
everybody.
24:13
That's pretty fun.
24:16
Little sand castle cats.
24:22
There it is, the Disney Store in Rome.
24:22
And there's the man himself, Mickey
24:25
Mouse in his Roman attire.
24:29
Got the front entrance here. Also, take
24:32
a look over here. You got Stitch making
24:34
some faces at everyone as they walk by.
24:38
Disney Store and Rump. All right,
24:39
stepping inside. See how this differs
24:41
from any other particular Disney store
24:44
as I wander through. Maybe they have
24:47
some
24:48
Roman-esque type of merchandise. That'd
24:51
be kind of fun. Be kind of fun if they
24:54
had some some Roman themed Disney
24:58
merchandise through here.
25:01
What is that? A lot of oversized
25:03
stitches.
25:06
Lot of stuffed plushes over here.
25:14
Jungle book. Oh, even even some Hello
25:14
Kitty in here.
25:16
as well. Wasn't expecting to see that in
25:18
the Disney store.
25:21
Even Barbie stuff in the Disney store.
25:23
I'm thinking maybe this is a a mashup of
25:26
Disney and other stuff. All right. I
25:28
don't know if this is the Disney store I
25:30
was thinking of because does have some
25:32
Roman themes but
25:39
saw some photos online and there was
25:39
some sculptures like carved sculptures
25:42
Roman statueesque
25:44
goofy and other things but I'm not
25:46
seeing that any of that in here. I'm not
25:48
seeing any of that in here. So maybe
25:50
maybe there's more than one
26:01
There's Wednesday.
26:01
>> And then over here you got Elvis,
26:03
>> Freddy Mercury, Rocky, Rambo.
26:10
>> I feel like maybe they got rid of some
26:10
of the theming in here cuz that
26:12
obviously
26:14
feels like they may have changed it more
26:15
from Disney to just a big Toy Story.
26:28
All right, my thoughts are correct
26:28
because it used to have a sign up above
26:31
the door that said the Disney Store.
26:33
Same address 165.
26:41
And they've even got rid of Mickey in
26:41
there, his Roman garb. So, originally I
26:44
thought it was a Roman Mickey, but
26:46
really it's a sorcerer Mickey in the
26:47
window. And you kind of continue to pan.
26:50
Some more carvings there. Chip and Dale.
26:53
Mickey,
26:56
Donald and his Roman attire.
26:59
Yeah. Dang. So, that was a bummer.
27:01
That's a fail. Whatever.
27:04
Maybe it could have been. They're not
27:06
allowed to call it the Disney Store
27:07
here. Who knows? They have vague Disney
27:10
stuff inside. You can see where you say
27:13
the Disney Store there.
27:15
Wonder what they did with all the
27:16
Romanesque carvings again. Yeah, there's
27:19
just sorcerer Mickey over here. No more
27:22
Roman Mickey. I got all excited when I
27:24
first walked in thinking it was going to
27:25
be Roman Mickey, but it is not.
27:29
Same address though.
27:32
When you look it up, it says Disney
27:34
Store permanently closed. Uh, obviously
27:36
another toy store has taken over even
27:39
though they still have a lot of Disney
27:40
stuff left. They used to have like a
27:42
goofy Roman pillar col uh column right
27:45
there. I was hoping to get a Rome a Rome
27:49
Disney pen for my collection, but that's
27:51
not going to happen. Yeah, but you can
27:52
still see the original theming that was
27:54
in here. Maybe Disney pulled out of this
27:57
location.
27:59
I went to the London Disney store and it
28:00
was really really cool and themed around
28:03
London stuff. But the day I was in
28:04
there, they were all out of they were
28:05
all they had a lot of Disney pens, but
28:07
they were all out of the they were all
28:09
out of the London pens.
28:21
This is kind of like a knockoff store
28:21
now. Knockoff toy store.
28:23
>> Yeah, it's just a prank that Stitch
28:25
pulled.
28:26
>> Stitch pulled another prank.
28:44
>> This is really neat. I thought it was a
28:44
subway station, but in fact, it is a
28:47
repurposed subway entrance.
28:51
Says DAL 1974,
28:56
Liberia,
28:58
Mount Ciserone.
29:00
So, it's a library or a bookstore. One
29:02
of the two.
29:04
>> They looked like they had some kind of
29:06
vintagey books over here. I was noticing
29:08
as I walked up close. Yeah. Take a look
29:10
at this this old computer book here. All
29:13
these old advanced computer books. Yeah,
29:16
it is in fact an entire old subway area
29:19
repurposed into a bookstore.
29:30
Not in not going out of the subway.
29:30
Coming up out of a bookstore. It's 4
29:32
o'clock.
29:57
>> Ah, yes. Another tree down here at the
29:57
end of this little indoor corridor.
30:05
Very nice. Very nice.
30:05
Oh, yeah. I'm over by the courtyard.
30:07
Well, I was in the close vicinity, so I
30:09
walked back by the Trevy Fountain again.
30:15
Why not, right? This is just such an
30:15
impressive thing. Might as well walk by
30:17
it once again.
30:40
I'm looking for a nice little piaza
30:40
courtyard area. Grab a bite to eat with
30:43
a table with a nice little iconic view.
30:46
Kind of been doing this quite a few
30:48
nights. I would say 3/4 of the night
30:50
that I've been
30:52
getting meals,
30:54
finding a nice little courtyard to eat.
30:58
This is over near the area of Spanish
30:59
Step. There's a lot of Well, these are
31:02
all police fans.
31:16
Spanish over here. Did not bring my
31:16
umbrella. Didn't think I would need it.
31:18
left it at the hotel room.
31:28
>> Yes, this place here would be nice.
31:28
However, if it starts raining, there's
31:30
no cover. So, I might have to find
31:32
something a little more secluded and
31:34
covered. So, I'm going to veer off one
31:36
of these alleyways over here. This kind
31:39
of narrow street, find something out of
31:42
the elements that direction. this little
31:45
skinny street over here. It looks like
31:46
it has plenty of places to eat.
31:49
All right, I found a spot with a nice
31:51
little awning. Hopefully, it stops
31:53
raining by the time I'm done. They have
31:54
indoor seating, and I said about this
31:55
sit outside underneath the awning. They
31:57
said that's fine. So, this is the name
32:00
of the place right here. Tempo Perso,
32:03
established 1895.
32:07
Get myself a myself a meal. Got my
32:10
CocaCola here. kind of looking at this
32:12
squared spaghetti la misana with clams
32:18
and gara
32:21
or I get tonerelli with seafood thinking
32:24
maybe getting a soup of the day and
32:26
maybe some roasted potatoes
32:30
green lasagna with white ve
32:33
now when I arrived here I was told that
32:34
artichokes are very very popular in this
32:36
region
32:39
as are little mopeds that right by your
32:41
table. So, I decided to try the
32:44
artichokes. And they also brought this
32:45
little plate of bread right there. But
32:47
yeah, check out the artichokes. Looks uh
32:50
look at that. The fried artichokes. I've
32:53
heard that this is the best artich
32:55
chokes you'll ever have is in this
32:57
particular area of Rome or in Italy, I
32:59
should say. This is what is so cool. You
33:01
would think you wouldn't be able to walk
33:02
or drive down this alley, but taxis just
33:05
right here. Look. I mean, this that
33:08
close. So if you were sitting on that
33:09
side,
33:11
it's just
33:19
I mean if you were sitting on this side
33:19
just you just lean back a little bit.
33:20
You got a taxi right there. Yeah, this
33:22
is an active road
33:25
and people can walk down and restaurants
33:28
are set up outside.
33:57
Okay, my spaghetti with clams has
33:57
arrived over here. Little clams all
34:00
around the side of the spaghetti
34:01
platter. I think there might even be
34:03
some mushrooms in there. I can't tell.
34:04
Maybe not mushrooms. I think it's just
34:06
all clams with the little clam spaghetti
34:10
dish.
34:12
Very nice.
34:14
There's my There's my meal for the eve.
34:17
It's pretty good. Weather is out here.
34:19
Very nice. The rain feels really great.
34:21
Fresh air. Very nice. Very nice.
34:24
Underneath the underneath the awning so
34:27
I don't get wet. Perfect. People are
34:29
eating inside. I'm eating outside.
34:33
Really liking the look of the very wet
34:35
cobblestones.
34:36
Kind of adds to the ambiance a little
34:38
bit. Glad I found a bite to eat
34:41
underneath some awnings shield from the
34:44
inclement weather. It's not raining too
34:47
bad now. Just a very very light
34:48
sprinkle.
35:09
Rainy Rome.
35:09
Rainy
35:11
rainy Rome.
35:18
I like it though. It's not It's a light
35:18
drizzle. Drizzly rainy Rome. A Roman
35:22
drizzle,
35:24
>> if you will.
35:26
Again,
35:44
just ruins everywhere.
35:44
Old Roman ruins everywhere you walk.
35:47
Incredible.
36:11
Cobblestone streets. All right, up in my
36:11
room now. That's going to do it for
36:13
today. Thanks for watching. I am back in
36:15
Rome. And with that, the vlog is over.