When In Rome

A free afternoon So we heeded advice. We strolled by the river; The streets did entice. We wandered down alleys In neighborhoods where Unexpectedly, ruins Cropped up here and there. To keep us from flagging, I turned to gelato. My spouse had espresso - He liked it a lotto. But when we were ready To hit the hotel, We vetoed a taxi, For back where we dwell... We travel by subway, By foot or by bus. It's quick and it's cheap, Which of course is a plus. Yet we're tourists and don't Know the routes, like at home But we figured - we'll ask. After all, when in Rome... So we purchased two tickets And made our way back By bus and by subway; The code we did crack... With the help of some locals, For at every station Were "Grazies"* and smiles, Which don't need a translation. *thank you in Italian