Rome, Italy. What's up?

Hey!

I'm new to the site and this is my first thread. I've travelled alot before and my next great adventure is Rome, Italy. What should I expect? Where's the best place to stay? What are some of your experiences there? I really want to know everything and also I don't like to be a tourist. I know that's what I am but when I'm in a new place I like to quickly adapt to the place I am staying and be able to be consistent and respectful to the way of the people there. What are some customs in Rome and what should I expect from the people there? Also if you know any useful Italian phrases that would be great!

Thanks so much for all or any help that you guys can give me!

Together with Cinque Terre, Florence and Venice, Rome is the heartland of the Italian tourist industry, so what you can expect is simple: a lot of people who are after your money.

You won't be in a position where knowing about customs is any good, except maybe these two:

• the traditional italian dinner consists of starters, then two medium-sized main courses served consecutively. The popular spots all adopted the more standard three-course approach nowadays, but in some places, if you order a primo and your date orders a secondo, they'll be served one after another. It is totally acceptable btw to just order a single main course, either pasta/pizza (traditional primos) or meat (traditional secondos, which come with preciously few side dishes).
• when you want to cross a street as a pedestrian, just do it. Cars will stop for you (most of the time): waiting on the sidewalk for them to let you pass voluntarily is the wrong approach

Italian phrases: see the ('my') Italian phrase book in the Travel Guide.