Lots to see and do!

(NOTE: I'm having some problems loading pictures; not sure why! So, what I'd like to put up is: Obelisk in EUR (Fascist carving, NOT Egyptian!); More of the area's architecture; Stained glass window in museum -- not sure what it is, but very colorful! Beautiful day at Circus Maximus. Interested spectator.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Ciao!

When last we were together, we had been to the wonderful reception at our hotel, La Residenza. Harp – prosecco – hors d’oeuvres (or their Italian equivalent) – and visited with Pat and Joe from Naples, Florida (via NY). From there, we headed out to dinner. Walked down to Piazza Barberini and from there to the Trevi Fountain (one of your photos from last night).

Have to say, it is an AMAZING difference in just general population count between coming in November and the summer months! Last time, (a year ago May) this place was CRAWLING with tourists, making museums, monuments and even the bus and metro systems difficult to navigate. Not sure if it is the upcoming holiday, the economy, the season or a combination of the three, but Rome is SO much nicer with fewer people!

Wandered from Trevi Fountain past the Pantheon, and ended up in a small restaurant called L’Arcano on Via dei Pastini. Just lovely; (and SOOOOOO wonderful with NO SMOKING!) – I had the special of the day – bruschetta with olive oil, followed by a nice-sized portion of Ravioli stuffed with meat and then with roast chicken and peppers – all for 15 Euros! GREAT; just wonderful! R ordered avocado with a sort of thousand island dressing, followed by sea bass and potatoes. Of course, the ENTIRE fish came to the table, and was deftly boned and served by the wait staff. (Thankfully!) Had a nice bottle of house red – a Chianti Classico this time; just excellent, and very reasonably priced! Did some walking and found a gelateria – but they also had Magnum Classic bars ------ Katy, thought of you! It was WONDERFUL! (To anyone unfamiliar with this VERY bad habit of mine – the Magnum Classic is a vanilla ice cream bar covered in wonderful dark chocolate – YUM – and obviously I’d even take that over authentic gelato!!)

Caught a bus back to the Via Veneto and walked UP the stairway back to the Hotel. By the time the photos and blog was posted, I was collapsing … Think log, and you’ll have something similar to me last night! Slept from 11:30 p.m. to almost 8 a.m.! Obviously my sleep bank is WAY overdrawn!

Woke to another lovely Roman day! Had breakfast at the hotel – which I think must have one of the very best buffets in town! They provide lots of hot items – scrambled eggs, grilled mushrooms and egg plant, bacon – as well as a very varied cold buffet – juices of all kinds, fresh and dried fruit, cheeses, meats, and desserts, too! Can definitely keep one going until lunch time!

Departed the hotel at 9-ish for the Metro and EUR. Have never been there before – but we were looking for the paleologic museum. The EUR area – a southwest suburb, was designed and built by Mussolini in the 30’s and early 40’s – very Fascist architecture – lots of marble, huge blocks of it – big columns – apparently the idea was to evoke an image of strength. Not particularly attractive, but interesting. The museum – Museo Preistorico ed Etnografico Luici Pigorini – was free, fortunately, as it wasn’t really what we expected. (Think we were hoping for something like the National Prehistoric Museum in St. Germaine-en-Laye.) OK; lovely stained glass window, but the presentation wasn’t much.

From there, we bused back to the Baths of Caracalla and found the bus to the Domine Quo Vadis Church on the Via Appia Antica! Our first visit on the road we plan to follow to Brindisi. Interesting, small church – but while I contemplated a visit to the catacombs, found that I continue to shirk – so back to town and off the bus at the Circus Maximus. Such a beautiful day, and what a wonderful view of the Circus – so hard to believe how old this ground is, and what has happened over the years!

From there, we headed to the Bocca della Verita – (Mouth of Truth) – see old Gregory Peck/Audrey Hepburn movie. I think this was originally a drainage or manhole cover! Obviously a very famous one! Walked along the Tevere, and caught a bus back toward the Tritone area. Hopped off for a quick visit to the Pantheon (my favorite building anywhere in the world!). By this time, it was LUNCH … so…found a lovely café right on the Pantheon’s square, called Café Day and Night. Sat outside (and was reminded that there is PLENTY of cigarette smoke there; will eat inside after this!!) and had a lovely lunch of Bresaola (yes, folks, we’re back in bresaola-land yet again!! For anyone who doesn’t know, it’s very thinly sliced, air-dried beef – YUM!) with arugula and parmesan and tomatoes. (Also olives, but I gave all of mine to R.) Lovely lunch, with a half-pitcher of good red wine. Then hopped on our favorite bus – the 116 – it’s a VERY tiny, possibly 10 person, electric bus, which runs on some of the streets that humans can barely fit on! Great albeit VERY jarring fun! Took that back up the Via Veneto to our hotel. R (who apparently didn’t sleep very well last night, but “log” here had no idea!) is really sound asleep – think I may set the alarm; don’t want to sleep too long!

So! That’s it for now! Ciao!!
m