Advertisement
Published: November 17th 2017
Edit Blog Post
No wrong turns heading to Rome though we did back track a bit to catch a fast train out of Firenze (Florence) to arrive in the city early afternoon. Our first rain of the vacation catches us leaving the station so we have to dodge puddles that threaten to grow into ponds. The driver assures us we are on the right bus, makes 2 stops, and then jumps off himself, signaling he would return soon. After 10 minutes, he does, then circles back to the bus station and starts our route again. Feeling just a little confused, but dry, we count the stops while learning the names of neighborhoods along our route, including the tourist mecca, the Roman Forum and Coliseum, on our way to the Trastevere neighborhood.
Anna Marie greets us outside our Air BnB apartment building, welcoming us to Rome, gesturing towards a neighborhood square in the shape of a triangle, where there will be a market in the morning, she assures us. The building is clean, the entry old and sturdy with an 8” thick door opening to an open-air courtyard lined with marble flooring and columns. Before going to our apartment, she first shows
us where the electrical breaker box is located so just in case the power blows, we will know how to turn it back on.
Our BnB is spacious with a newly refinished bedroom, 2 bathrooms, complete with washer that we look forward to figuring out, a tiny kitchen and somewhat worn living area furniture. The bed is glorious though and that forgives everything, including the power going out, everyday, at least once (usually twice). The best thing about it is the location though. We love all the activity of the Trastevere district. It really gets going around 10:00pm but people are pretty aware of their voices carrying since the weather clears so our windows stay open almost the whole time in Rome.
We find our amici at a nearby hotel; only 10 minutes walk from our place so we meet up for dinner not long after our arrival. Peter Fogg and Bill Ream are two of Peter’s oldest buds from his earliest college days at Dartmouth. Nancy (Pete’s wife) & Barb (Bill’s wife) complete our tourist assemblage. We wander a bit, finding a good viewpoint to visit then a bit more for dinner. They
are good friends all over again. It doesn’t take very long before the wine is poured, the pasta served and we’re all sharing stories of our first week in Italy. Later, of course, old college stories start coming out and we are thoroughly entertained!
Peter and I both have already seen the amazing Sistine Chapel and all the tourists there so we split in the morning and the four of them go off to the Vatican and St Peter’s while we wander the city, finding Bernini’s sculptures in various nooks and crannies. Tourist tip from the group: sign up for the early reservation at St Peter's to avoid lines and fully enjoy discovering Michelango's masterpiece along with other equally beautiful works of art. We also dropped by the Pantheon, the oldest still in use Roman building existing, enjoying meek Italian sunshine on a perfect fall day.
Our market square is full of vegetable vendors from the Lazio area outside Rome but no truffles are to be found. We do manage to stumble across two other markets and one offers free samples of the local delicacy, though from a jar in paste form.
Nancy & Pete go with the flow
Traveling with revered friends (old friends from Peter's earliest college days) means stories are an everyday (or every hour) occurrence. Peter Fogg has a memory of all their student antics but also of almost every book he has ever read and Nancy shares intricate detailed jewels from life experiences that keep us entertained. I find the vendor by nose, pungent earthy truffle aroma drawing us towards him. We imbibe but continue on our search for those fresh nuggets. Later that night, Stefano, Anna Campagna's Italian brother, invites us to "Experience" a food & wine tasting event for the hospitality industry in Rome so we elbowed our way inside and founds some delicious bites of cheeses, prosciutto, wine sorbet, beer & of course, delicious vino! Stefano, our de facto translator, seems to know everyone, many people shout "ciao Stefano" on their way by while he explains where the goodies are made, background on their family or secret ingredients if he knows. We are surprised to learn he is actually a dentist in daylight hours (and the people still like him :-) but also plays the saxophone at night in local clubs! What fun and good feelings are shared all around.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.219s; Tpl: 0.027s; cc: 7; qc: 48; dbt: 0.0506s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb