cecelia
Nov 26, 03, 4:03 pm
It was very sad seeing the huge piles of flowers and notes left at the Victor Emmanuel monument to remember and honor the 19 Italian soldiers killed in Iraq. Their caskets were laid out at the monument until the day of the funeral.
The flight left MSP late because of circuit board problems and they put us on another plane. It was a packed flight but the FAs kept their senses of humor despite dealing with things that would have really ticked me off.
My husband and I have been to Rome separately a few times and this was our first trip together. What made this trip special was the apartment in the south end of Trastevere near the train station.
Just outside our building was a farmers market where we bought fresh seafood, pastas, bread, cheeses, meat, fruits, vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, flowers every day but Sunday. One day I was making pasta and sent my husband down to buy a chunk of parmesan. It was so nice being able to eat when and what we wanted. The hardworking people who were out there at 5 am setting up 6 days a week greatly impressed us. They were happy, friendly and nice to us despite our poor Italian.
We carried sandwiches/fruit/water in our backpack and had picnics in scenic, ancient locations. My favorite Italian sandwich bread is kind of a big puffy, crusted bun that's hollow inside. Fill it with bufalo cheese, artichokes, red peppers, ham, whatever's on hand, and the moisture from the cheese soaks into the bread and takes away the dryness.
My husband wanted pizza and the apt had no oven so we went to a neighborhood place that was very good and reasonable--Pepito's. We had pizza with sausage and mushrooms, huge salad with tuna, corn, arugula and bread, fried mixed plate of baccala, zuchini flowers and suppli, liter of wine-$21 E.
While sightseeing we had pizza al taglio a couple times when we saw places with a high turnover.
Our neighborhood is famous for the Sunday Pt Portuense flea market and I was out there before 7 am. People were still setting up and it was a sight. Running down the street for about a mile and off every side street and square, traffic blocked off. Vendors hawking everything imaginable, except fruits and vegetables.
When we returned to the apartment at the end of the day, we were shocked to see the clean up. The garbage collectors were hosing down the streets and scooping up all the junk that had been left behind into the big trucks. This was a major clean up and takes place each week.
Besides the normal tourist sights, we visited Ostia Antica which was much more than I expected. Should have gone there much sooner--what a place! Anyone arriving by train to visit Ostia Antica I suggest going to the Museum entrance first to familiarize yourself with the history and layout. The paper guide sold at the entrance near the train station is extremely poor and there are some better guidebooks in the museum at the other end. We ran out of time but there is also a very nice castle within easy walking distance that's worth a look. If you don't take a lunch, there is a brand, new deli/bar near the museum building.
Thanks to another FTer, Antonio, resident of Rome, who suggested visiting the Oppio Antica, Appian Way, ancient road, on Sunday. This is the day it's closed to most vehicular traffic and one of the best Catacombs, St. Callisto, is open. You must get there before 11:30 to get in on the last English speaking tour before the 2-3 hour lunch break. For once we had great timing and spent a perfect day out there. If you choose to look for an restaurant or bar in an ancient setting or rent bikes to ride over the cobblestones, it's all there. You can also see the ancient aquaducts or just ride the busses all around when you tire.
I would also like to thank those who posted about Food Village at the AMS airport.
Feel free to move this to appropriate forum.
[This message has been edited by cecelia (edited Nov 26, 2003).]
The flight left MSP late because of circuit board problems and they put us on another plane. It was a packed flight but the FAs kept their senses of humor despite dealing with things that would have really ticked me off.
My husband and I have been to Rome separately a few times and this was our first trip together. What made this trip special was the apartment in the south end of Trastevere near the train station.
Just outside our building was a farmers market where we bought fresh seafood, pastas, bread, cheeses, meat, fruits, vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, flowers every day but Sunday. One day I was making pasta and sent my husband down to buy a chunk of parmesan. It was so nice being able to eat when and what we wanted. The hardworking people who were out there at 5 am setting up 6 days a week greatly impressed us. They were happy, friendly and nice to us despite our poor Italian.
We carried sandwiches/fruit/water in our backpack and had picnics in scenic, ancient locations. My favorite Italian sandwich bread is kind of a big puffy, crusted bun that's hollow inside. Fill it with bufalo cheese, artichokes, red peppers, ham, whatever's on hand, and the moisture from the cheese soaks into the bread and takes away the dryness.
My husband wanted pizza and the apt had no oven so we went to a neighborhood place that was very good and reasonable--Pepito's. We had pizza with sausage and mushrooms, huge salad with tuna, corn, arugula and bread, fried mixed plate of baccala, zuchini flowers and suppli, liter of wine-$21 E.
While sightseeing we had pizza al taglio a couple times when we saw places with a high turnover.
Our neighborhood is famous for the Sunday Pt Portuense flea market and I was out there before 7 am. People were still setting up and it was a sight. Running down the street for about a mile and off every side street and square, traffic blocked off. Vendors hawking everything imaginable, except fruits and vegetables.
When we returned to the apartment at the end of the day, we were shocked to see the clean up. The garbage collectors were hosing down the streets and scooping up all the junk that had been left behind into the big trucks. This was a major clean up and takes place each week.
Besides the normal tourist sights, we visited Ostia Antica which was much more than I expected. Should have gone there much sooner--what a place! Anyone arriving by train to visit Ostia Antica I suggest going to the Museum entrance first to familiarize yourself with the history and layout. The paper guide sold at the entrance near the train station is extremely poor and there are some better guidebooks in the museum at the other end. We ran out of time but there is also a very nice castle within easy walking distance that's worth a look. If you don't take a lunch, there is a brand, new deli/bar near the museum building.
Thanks to another FTer, Antonio, resident of Rome, who suggested visiting the Oppio Antica, Appian Way, ancient road, on Sunday. This is the day it's closed to most vehicular traffic and one of the best Catacombs, St. Callisto, is open. You must get there before 11:30 to get in on the last English speaking tour before the 2-3 hour lunch break. For once we had great timing and spent a perfect day out there. If you choose to look for an restaurant or bar in an ancient setting or rent bikes to ride over the cobblestones, it's all there. You can also see the ancient aquaducts or just ride the busses all around when you tire.
I would also like to thank those who posted about Food Village at the AMS airport.
Feel free to move this to appropriate forum.
[This message has been edited by cecelia (edited Nov 26, 2003).]