Interesting Tips about Rome

Here are some facts and asides I am picking up about Rome:

1. Frommers: He warns you about the Rome traffic, always be on your guard.  "The hectic crush of urban Rome is considerably less during August, when many Romans leave town for vacation."  He also says "never ride the trains when the Romans are going to or from work, or you'll be smashed flatter than fettuccine." AND: "Rome has four daily rush hours: to work (8-9am), to home for lunch (1pm), back to work (3:30pm), and to home in the evening (6-7pm)."  Also, always be on the alert for pickpockets...
   
   
   
2. Time Magazine: In finding the perfect souvenir, he recommends buying a rosary and then taking it to a papal appearance to have it blessed when the pope blesses the crowd.  "Technically, you may get blessings only for items that would help you with your faith (no T-shirts, or designer scarves or bottles of olive oil), but according to a Jesuit friend of mine, the one exception to the rule is for Jesuits, who often hold up bottles of single-malt scotch or top-shelf vodka. They claim that such libations greatly assist their prayer and mission."
   
   
   
3.  The Time Magazine article also has some tips in Need to Know.  For instance, rent a motorino to get around and don't order cappuccinos after noon.
   
   
   
4. Frommers: "April to June and late September to October are the best months for traveling in Italy -- temperatures are usually mild and the crowds aren't quite so intense...From late October to Easter, most attractions go on shorter winter hours or are closed for renovation. Many hotels and restaurants take a month or two off between November and February..."
   
   
   
5.  Lonely Planet: April to June and September-October are the high season rates for hotels.