Our flights were easy and our first stop after checking in to Hotel Residenza Farnese, was to stop for a nice latte at Cafe Farnese, across the piazza. Then four the next five hours, we walked around central Rome. It was busy around the Pantheon and Piazza Navonna when we stopped for lunch. We had a nice carbonara and amatriciana.
After lunch, we hit my three favorite shops, Furla, Luisa Spagnoli and Valambert. We threw a coin into the Trevi fountain for our friend, Tony. It was hot so we stopped later for a cold drink, wandered our way through shops down Via Gubbonari before heading back to the hotel for a nap and shower.
Saturday's dinner was at Da Sergio, just a couple blocks from our hotel. We had a very enjoyable meal. We began with a plate of melon and prosciutto, then shared a plate of spaghetti cacio e pepe, our best EVER!. Brad had a veal chop, and I had grilled lamb. We drank a bottle of Pinot Grigio.
It's hard to explain how, when you have settled in to your first day in Italy, a peaceful, happy feeling settles in, that you are SO happy to be here, and feel like you are HOME! We are at that happy place!
After dinner, we walked around the neighborhood for a while, before settling into seats at a bar in the Campo dei Fiori. I began with my after dinner coffee, then water, and eventually a glass of prosecco. Brad just drank wine.
We really have perfected the art of "hanging out" in a piazza. There is so much to see and hear: Friends meeting, singles cruising, or strutting their stuff, couples kissing, "entrepreneurs" selling everything from roses to stuffed animals. Two hours can go by in the blink of an eye. Some of our best conversations, moments and ideas have been born in a piazza! A little after midnight, we headed to bed for a truly buona notte.
Comments (7)
Your smile says it all! You are in heaven. I can feel the summer night. It is truly another home for you.
Enjoy your days and thanks for posting.
Posted by Barb Cabot | June 29, 2009 6:46 AM
Posted on June 29, 2009 06:46
You both look SO happy! The beginning of a wonderful visit to Bella Italia. Enjoy!
Posted by nancyhol | June 29, 2009 9:20 AM
Posted on June 29, 2009 09:20
Oh Palma, it sounds as if you and Brad are already having a wonderful time. Good for you. It's got to be so wonderful to visit a foreign location enough times that you are comfortable right from the beginning. Wishing you lots more wonderful days.
Posted by Cindy Ruth | June 29, 2009 9:50 AM
Posted on June 29, 2009 09:50
Oh Palma, I am so happy for you! Sounds wonderful! I LOVE the piazza myself, and I really wish we had something like that here in DC...
Posted by Chiocciola | June 29, 2009 1:40 PM
Posted on June 29, 2009 13:40
Love the way you describe the meals. You seem to enjoy them as much as the wonderful scenery.
Jo
Posted by Jo | June 29, 2009 2:09 PM
Posted on June 29, 2009 14:09
Sigh...oh to be in Rome right now, I'm just a little green! :) Sounds like a heavenly first night...
(Love your header photo, by the way.)
Posted by Anne | June 29, 2009 6:02 PM
Posted on June 29, 2009 18:02
I have read your blog from the very beginning. I shall live vicariously thru you and your Italy trips and your shopping for ceramics. We traveled Italy once in 2000 for 3 weeks and would love to go back. I simply love your blog and you wouldn't believe how many of your recipes I have tried and/or copied. Have a wonderful trip and keep up the blogging.
Posted by Mary Ann | June 29, 2009 6:04 PM
Posted on June 29, 2009 18:04