Parla Inglese?

I have two major difficulties when navigating Rome. 

First, unlike Germany or France, the language barrier is a serious issue in Italy. Very few people speak English, and my lack of Italian is making life difficult at restaurants, in museums, on buses, and in life in general. If you visit Rome without learning Italian, your inability to speak the language will drive you and everyone around you absolutely crazy. (Especially if, like me, you are not staying in a tourist area.) 

The second problem is that at home, I am directionally challenged and I rely on Google Maps to tell me where to go. But I don't have data on my phone here. And Lonely Planet: Rome doesn't quite cover the residential area where I live.

Fortunately, I have made great strides today, thanks to Feltrinelli—the Italian equivalent of Barnes & Noble. 

Cue Angels Singing

Feltrinelli sells books, CDs, video games, notebooks, puzzles, etc. Fortunately, the store also sells foreign language dictionaries and maps. I picked up a pocket dictionary, an Italian phrase book, and two maps of Rome—a smaller one to consult on the go, and a more detailed one to use in case I really get lost. Now I am free to explore to my heart's content, because I will be able to figure out how to get home! 

I got this.

I looked at the books on Italian for foreigners, but several of them were written entirely in Italian—not ideal—and the rest weren't quite what I wanted. Still, today was a great success. Just being able to find a restaurant and translate the menu will justify these purchases!