I wanted to use #Christmas as my first tag but I couldn’t capitalize it so I used it in this opening sentence instead. While venturing in and around Rome the past three weeks, along with all of the other photos I’ve been sharing with you, I’ve been taking random shots of the Christmas festivities and decorations we’re surrounded by along the way—I’ve taken quite a few. But those of you who have been following me know it’s not like me to simply post pictures. And then I got it—a gift to be enjoyed by all.

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

When traveling outside of your familiar territory, all prices are allways subject to change—when? Always. Depending what part of a country you’re in, whether or not it’s touristy or the keep your doors locked part of town, prices vary. Take Italy, for example. The difference in a quart of almond milk from a market in the center of Rome compared to the cost of the same milk on the outskirts of Potenza can vary €2 (about $2.25). I’m blessed to have a full head of hair but that doesn’t mean I was prepared to pay the most I’ve ever paid in my #life for a hairs cut that was over in less than 10 minutes. ‘Wait, what? Did you say 13 or 33?’

Another example. You can enjoy yourself at a comfortable hookah lounge outside the majority of your popular tourist destinations for under 10 bucks whereas the same hookah with the same flavors in a popular city center can be as much as six (6X) times that—there’s a solution. For the most part, #travel mode means you’re on vacation and, while on vacation, you’re in vacation mode. That’s to be expected but you can remain in vacation mode and still save money at the same time, here’s how.

Rather than saying “do you have time for a hairs cut?” Say “how much to cut my hairs?” Sounds simple, right? I’m still learning how to do that—it’s not as easy as it sounds.

Rather than saying “to the airport, please.” Say “how much for a ride to the airport?” I know, it sounds simple but when you’re in vacation mode, you’re not thinking simple.

Rather than saying “can I have two pieces of truffle, please?” Say, “how much is the truffle?” Then you won’t have to control your gag reflexes when they ring up your tiny little, itty-bitty, about the size of a sugar cube chocolate bites when they say “that’ll be 37 euro.” :cough: ‘Uhm, you uh.. is there a uh.. ATM around here?’

Rather than saying “table for two, please” before ordering two cups of coffee, served in a cup the size of a shot-glass with a handle the size of a key ring, that come to find out are €8 ($9.00) EACH, use this one—it works every time. “Can I see a menu, please?” One more.

When the waiter says “sparkling or distilled” in response to your ‘I’ll just have a glass of water, please,’ you waited too long—you should’ve asked to see the menu.

Thanks, @idig! That #steem you fired over yesterday was just the right amount inspiration I needed to put this one together. I wanted to return the Christmas spirit but didn’t want to leave anyone out. Here’s those pictures I was telling you about way back when I said whatever I said about how it’s not like me to just post pictures and did what I’m more accustom to doing—thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb, Wars!!

Merry Christmas, #steemit!

_{Alarm clock in Rome on Christmas morning. Images - iPhone 8+}

Christmas Eve