Roma

Our trip to Roma began with us almost missing our shuttle to the airport. What a way to start the day! At Beauvais we were quite entertained while we waited for our flight. There was a guy dressed as Spiderman….the whole outfit. The Chef says he must have lost a bet J There was also a girl dropping condoms out of her pocket onto the floor. She must have enjoyed Paris J Our flight boarded on the tarmac. I felt like an old timey movie star! I wanted to turn at the top of the stairs and wave to my adoring fans, then I remembered I have no adoring fans….

When we got off the plane in Rome, I admit it, I cried just a little. It has been a dream of mine for over 25 years to go to Italy. I was finally there!!! We grabbed a cab to our apartment. The apartment itself was very nice. The area it was in? Questionable. Ok, if it wasn’t in the Roman ghetto, it was right on the edge. We also had over a half mile hike to the metro. With a 2 year old, that gets old quick! The owner of the apartment met us there and showed us the place and told us where the necessities were in the neighborhood were. There was a church next door so we heard church bells all the time. I fell in love with the sound.

Once we got settled in we all took a short nap. We were us so early and still fighting a touch of jet lag so instead of going out for dinner, The Chef went across the street and grabbed pizza for dinner. It was incredible!! So, so good. He also picked up a bottle of 2007 Riserva Vino Nobile Di Montelpulciano. YUM! So wonderful. There was also a small wrapped box. It looked like a birthday present the way it was wrapped. It was pastries. A nice finish to a long day of travel.

We got up early the next day and headed to the Coloseum, Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum.  It was pretty cool to see The Girl frolicking in the ruins. She also had her first gelato. The Roman Forum is very impressive. I would love to spend a day just going through everything but with The Girl, it was a short visit. Guess that gives us an excuse to go back J

Our second full day was spent exploring the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Spanish Steps area. Beautiful!! This is where I found the Italy I had imagined in my head. Wonderful piazzas, great little shops and restaurants and beautiful buildings. The Trevi Fountain was more impressive than I thought it would be. The Girl threw her cento in and then wanted to climb in after it.

After seeing the sights we decided to sit down and have a nice lunch. We ordered a very nice bottle of Muller Thurgau. We started with a beautiful caprese appetizer and a salumi plate. One of the salami on the plate was filled with lardo……yum, yum, yum!!! I’m telling you, if I lived there I would be big as a house!

The Chef had a lovely gnocchi.

 I had ravioli stuffed with cheese and spinach. So fresh!

                                          After an espresso we took The Girl to get gelato.

She, of course, dropped hers about 5 seconds after getting it. It’s ok, mama really didn’t need hers after the lunch I just had J We had such a good day!

The next day it was time to see the Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica. The Vatican and Sistine are so overwhelming!! There was just no way my mind could take it all in. Priceless works of art everywhere you turn. I had to stop and remind myself to find David at the Sistine Chapel. Incredible. The Girl slept through most of the Vatican and The Chef had to carry her, stroller and all up and down many, many, many steps. He is such a good daddy!

St Peter’s is AMAZING!!! The statues, gold, alter and everything else combined…..there are no words. Pictures do not even scratch the surface of its beauty.

Our last day in Roma was spent going to Piazza de Repubblica. There is a fountain there called Fountain of the Naiads.  Those of you who know your history know that a Naiad is a fresh water nymph. The Girl’s name is along the same lines so we HAD to take her there while we were in Roma. There is a beautiful, old church there as well. Afterward we walked back to the Trevi Fountain area to do a little shopping. It was The Chef’s birthday J As we were waiting to cross the street a girl on a scooter came up onto the sidewalk to park. In her haste to get up there she dumped the bike over almost onto The Girl’s stroller!! It bumped both the stroller and me over and almost into the street. Thank goodness nobody was hurt! We had a very nice lunch at a little café that was almost like a cave. It was good food and good wine, a perfect meal J The Chef found a bottle of 50 year old balsamic vinegar for his birthday present J He was quite happy.

We enjoyed our time in Roma but it was time to head to Pergola. We are spending a week in a 13^th century town in the countryside of Le Marche and are very excited!