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Trajan's Column Enigma
honestly, the frustration is kind of the point. the column was built to be walked around, not studied like a book. but if you want a cheat code, download the "trajan's column" app from the museo della civiltà romana. it's free and syncs the panels to your phone so you can swipe along. also, the espresso thing is legit. try the bar on via dei fori imperiali, the one with the red awning. a quick macchiato and you'll spot the dacian wars in order.
You can actually borrow a free audio guide from the ticket office at the Imperial Forums Museum, which is just a few steps away. It's narrated by an archaeologist and pauses at each band so you don't lose the thread. I'd also suggest going in the late afternoon when the light hits the marble at an angle, the shadows make the carvings pop way more than at midday.
the booklet is good but honestly the best way is to just start at the bottom and walk around the column three times, once for each major campaign. the scenes are stacked vertically so you're supposed to move with the spiral, not jump around. if you stand at the base and look up, the first band is the beginning. also, the museum of the roman forum has a full plaster cast replica you can walk right up to, way easier to see the details than craning your neck at the real one
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What are current tobacco prices for LM Blue or Chesterfield Blue?
tbh duty free at Riga is only worth it if you're buying cartons, single packs at the airport arent that much cheaper than teh tabaccai in Rome. also remember you can only bring a limited amount into the EU anyway so stockpiling has its limits
Chesterfield Blue usually runs around 5.50 to 6 euros a pack in Rome these days, though tabaccai prices are fixed by the state so it won't vary much shop to shop. Riga is generally cheaper for cigarettes but your layover time matters, if it's tight you might not have time to clear security and find a shop.
LM Blue in Rome is roughly the same ballpark, around 5.50 to 6 euros. One thing to keep in mind at Riga airport, the duty free selection isn't always great for specific brands like these, so if you're set on LM or Chesterfield you might strike out. I'd check what the actual duty free has before counting on it.