Roma
So it is 11;59 on my last night in Rome so I guess it is appropriate that I sit herein the hotel lobby (free internet!!) and finnish off the trip blog. I am sad to leave and even sadder to pack (hence my preference to sitting the hotel lobby at midnight) but I also miss my family and friends back home and look foward to my very own bed and my very own shower... oh and my kingdom for a washing machine!!!!!!!!!
Rome is an amazing place. It is a perfect way to end this epic journey as it is the perfect blend of many of the things that make Italy so special. The history is staggering, the people are warm, the weather has been great (except for yesterday when I think I ran out of sweat), the food is, well it's Italian so what could be better? The size of the city is impressive but still very manageble once you get your bearings. And it has so much to offer in every little corner and piazza that many many trips would be needed to feel like you really have experienced Rome (let's hope that whole coin in the trevi fountain thing works... pics to come).
We spent our first night in Rome having dinner with Tony and Meagan, an australian couple who were staying in out hotel in Venice. We ran into them by chance in Florence and made plans to have dinner in Rome. Sure that happens every day, right? We ate at a very local place recommended by Fabio, a guy we met on the train to Florence. He also recommended the place in Florence where we met the french and glendalian folks. He even called to make reservations for us. Nice huh?
Rome is an amazing place. It is a perfect way to end this epic journey as it is the perfect blend of many of the things that make Italy so special. The history is staggering, the people are warm, the weather has been great (except for yesterday when I think I ran out of sweat), the food is, well it's Italian so what could be better? The size of the city is impressive but still very manageble once you get your bearings. And it has so much to offer in every little corner and piazza that many many trips would be needed to feel like you really have experienced Rome (let's hope that whole coin in the trevi fountain thing works... pics to come).
We spent our first night in Rome having dinner with Tony and Meagan, an australian couple who were staying in out hotel in Venice. We ran into them by chance in Florence and made plans to have dinner in Rome. Sure that happens every day, right? We ate at a very local place recommended by Fabio, a guy we met on the train to Florence. He also recommended the place in Florence where we met the french and glendalian folks. He even called to make reservations for us. Nice huh?
The restaurant, called Osteria La Gensola in the Piazza of the same name looks like it has been a local
favorite forever and we were the only americans in the place. The rest of the diners were seemingly upscale fancily dressed Romans. The staff was great and Mario (80 if he's a day) was a delightful host, even if he did try to get a little frisky with both Carolyn and me... maybe because he tried to get a little frisky with Carolyn and me. I tried fried baby artichokes for the first time... they call the dish Jewish style. Don't ask me why. If you know me at all then you know that getting me to try a new vegetable is a task of national significance, but I am going to jump in, what better way than a vegetable that is fried, right? Well the news i
s good. While you probably won't see my digging my teeth into any grown up artichokes anytime soon, if you have a plate of baby fried artichokes, jewish style, I'm in.
Unfortunately Carolyn had to cut her trip a few days short and went back to Montreal on the 24th so I have been left on my own for the rest of the journey. Luckily I still had a few tricks up my sleeve so I have not been lonely at all.
One morning I met Tony and Meagan in the morning for a 4 hour tour of the vatican museums and St. Peters. So interesting and v
ery very long. I then made my way back to the hotel via a combination of a city tour bus and my own 2 feet. That night I met my niece Nicole and her mom and stepdad for a great dinner not far from the spanish steps (my hood).
The next day I slept in and then visited the Forum, Colloseum, Piazza Navona and Pantheon and was able to wander around and get good and lost a few times ( in a good way). I eventually got back to the hotel to rest for a bit before I ventured out for dinner all by myself. I found a little cafe near the hotel on the other side of the spanish steps (which I never want to accend again unless I am being carried) and had spaghetti carbonara for the 38th time. Oh and then I had a bit of a date. Did I not mention that the concierge asked me out for a drink that morning? Well I'll skip the details (my mom could be reading this ;) but there was wine and conversation and it was a fun and unexpected evening. If you really want more info you will have to get it in person.
That brings us to today. I again slept in, because I CAN. Meagan and Tony called about meeting for lunch so we met at the Piazza Venecia (I know this means nothing most of you, but indulge me... it makes me feel like such a traveler as opposed to tourist that I actually can get myself around Rome now without a map ...for the most part.) As we walked toward the Campo del Fiori (tee hee tee hee) I suddenly stop in my tracks because something about this one corner looked really familar. And then I realized that we were standing across the street from the very cafe where Carolyn and I had lunch (my first spaghetti carbonara of the trip) on our very first bleary eyed day in Rome. What are the odds? So we stopped and I had my last spaghetti carbonara of the trip (and possibly for the conceivable future...ugh!) It was pure serendipity.
We then made out way to the Campo Del Fiori where this guy Bruno was burned alive a few hundred years ago. Nice huh? Now there is a bronze sculpture of him to mark the festive occasion. We got there just in time see the farmers market closing up and the who campo was littered with fruits and vegetables from the dozens of stands all around. This is were I parted company with Tony and Meagan (but hopefully I will find myself in brisbane one day or they in LA where we can meet again).
At 3pm I met Sean, an american who went to Rome about 4 years ago to finnish his PHD dissertation and never left. Sean is also an architect and a tour guide and we h
ad a lovely few hours wandering through the jewish ghetto and looking at some of the most beautiful renaissance palazzos, fountains and secret gardens in Rome. I also had my first Granita (whipped creme and sweet frozen expresso.. yow! good stuff). I then wandered my way back from the Pantheon and took the long way home. I have spent the last few hours lingering at the Spanish steps. It is saturday night and everyone in Rome seems to be out and about. The steps are crawling with hundreds upon hundreds of tourists and even a few locals. This is the best people watching in Rome.
And as if the city knew that it was my last night, out of nowhere a huge bavarian dance troup and orchestra shows up at the fountain in front of the steps and puts on a festive show for everyone... well I still think it was just for me to send me off in style, but whatever.
This blog has just been the tippy tip of the iceburg of this trip. There are so many more stories about the people we have met (just the trains alone is a full dinner's worth of conversation) and the places we have experienced.
I leave you with this.. if you have ever wanted to travel... DO IT! Seeing the rest of the world and meeting people from everywhere leaves you with an understanding of how alike we all are and how small this planet really is. I think as time goes by the small inconveniences and frustrations that go with any trip will fade (they mostly already have) but the memories will last a lifetime.
Arrividerchi!!!
favorite forever and we were the only americans in the place. The rest of the diners were seemingly upscale fancily dressed Romans. The staff was great and Mario (80 if he's a day) was a delightful host, even if he did try to get a little frisky with both Carolyn and me... maybe because he tried to get a little frisky with Carolyn and me. I tried fried baby artichokes for the first time... they call the dish Jewish style. Don't ask me why. If you know me at all then you know that getting me to try a new vegetable is a task of national significance, but I am going to jump in, what better way than a vegetable that is fried, right? Well the news i
s good. While you probably won't see my digging my teeth into any grown up artichokes anytime soon, if you have a plate of baby fried artichokes, jewish style, I'm in.Unfortunately Carolyn had to cut her trip a few days short and went back to Montreal on the 24th so I have been left on my own for the rest of the journey. Luckily I still had a few tricks up my sleeve so I have not been lonely at all.
One morning I met Tony and Meagan in the morning for a 4 hour tour of the vatican museums and St. Peters. So interesting and v
ery very long. I then made my way back to the hotel via a combination of a city tour bus and my own 2 feet. That night I met my niece Nicole and her mom and stepdad for a great dinner not far from the spanish steps (my hood).The next day I slept in and then visited the Forum, Colloseum, Piazza Navona and Pantheon and was able to wander around and get good and lost a few times ( in a good way). I eventually got back to the hotel to rest for a bit before I ventured out for dinner all by myself. I found a little cafe near the hotel on the other side of the spanish steps (which I never want to accend again unless I am being carried) and had spaghetti carbonara for the 38th time. Oh and then I had a bit of a date. Did I not mention that the concierge asked me out for a drink that morning? Well I'll skip the details (my mom could be reading this ;) but there was wine and conversation and it was a fun and unexpected evening. If you really want more info you will have to get it in person.
That brings us to today. I again slept in, because I CAN. Meagan and Tony called about meeting for lunch so we met at the Piazza Venecia (I know this means nothing most of you, but indulge me... it makes me feel like such a traveler as opposed to tourist that I actually can get myself around Rome now without a map ...for the most part.) As we walked toward the Campo del Fiori (tee hee tee hee) I suddenly stop in my tracks because something about this one corner looked really familar. And then I realized that we were standing across the street from the very cafe where Carolyn and I had lunch (my first spaghetti carbonara of the trip) on our very first bleary eyed day in Rome. What are the odds? So we stopped and I had my last spaghetti carbonara of the trip (and possibly for the conceivable future...ugh!) It was pure serendipity.
We then made out way to the Campo Del Fiori where this guy Bruno was burned alive a few hundred years ago. Nice huh? Now there is a bronze sculpture of him to mark the festive occasion. We got there just in time see the farmers market closing up and the who campo was littered with fruits and vegetables from the dozens of stands all around. This is were I parted company with Tony and Meagan (but hopefully I will find myself in brisbane one day or they in LA where we can meet again).
At 3pm I met Sean, an american who went to Rome about 4 years ago to finnish his PHD dissertation and never left. Sean is also an architect and a tour guide and we h
ad a lovely few hours wandering through the jewish ghetto and looking at some of the most beautiful renaissance palazzos, fountains and secret gardens in Rome. I also had my first Granita (whipped creme and sweet frozen expresso.. yow! good stuff). I then wandered my way back from the Pantheon and took the long way home. I have spent the last few hours lingering at the Spanish steps. It is saturday night and everyone in Rome seems to be out and about. The steps are crawling with hundreds upon hundreds of tourists and even a few locals. This is the best people watching in Rome.And as if the city knew that it was my last night, out of nowhere a huge bavarian dance troup and orchestra shows up at the fountain in front of the steps and puts on a festive show for everyone... well I still think it was just for me to send me off in style, but whatever.
This blog has just been the tippy tip of the iceburg of this trip. There are so many more stories about the people we have met (just the trains alone is a full dinner's worth of conversation) and the places we have experienced.
I leave you with this.. if you have ever wanted to travel... DO IT! Seeing the rest of the world and meeting people from everywhere leaves you with an understanding of how alike we all are and how small this planet really is. I think as time goes by the small inconveniences and frustrations that go with any trip will fade (they mostly already have) but the memories will last a lifetime.
Arrividerchi!!!
posted by LAGirl at 3:00 PM
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