Roman Holiday
April 27, 2008 12:50 pm Rome
The weather is perfect. Sunny and warm. Blue skies, but of course no blue sea. Waaaa. We sit in the shade of a small unknown side street and write on our postcards while we wait for nourishment to arrive.
We've spent the day so far meandering across the city, finally landing in S. Ignazio di Loyola where we heard a choir of boy angels rehearsing for a concert. A stroke of sheer luck. Their voices rose and fell all around us, pure and clear.
We've visited more churches than we can keep track of. Each offers something slightly different to see and most have only a few visitors inside. The outside can be dull and grey, but the insides are impossibly ornate. Every surface gilded with gold, life-like statues of the saints springing to life behind every marble column, and splashy frescoes creating optical illusions on the domed ceilings. At each church we sit in polished pews and marvel at the lavish decor.
Later, we reached the Trevi Fountain where we giggled like school girls, tossed coins over our shoulders, and snapped photos of ourselves. Some cliches are meant to be enjoyed.
April 27, 2008 3:52 pm Sunday at Giolitti's eating Rome's best gelato (!)
Sat on the Spanish Steps to absorb more Roman ambiance, although with all the tourists it's doubtful we accomplished much other than to see the splendid pink azaleas overflowing from every container. Lovely. Still, there are plenty of places in this ancient city to lose oneself on narrow streets and become absorbed in SEEING. Especially in the early morning and at night Rome opens wide and offers itself up to hours of aimless strolling. Next, we headed directly to the Tiber and Via Umberto bridge where sister lay atop the bridge to rest for a spell.
The river is a glassy green and slow moving. Small bands of ducks float around. Sea gulls cackle overhead laughing at our self-timer photo tricks. With 3 guidebooks, 5 maps, and a good pair of KEENS a lot of Rome can be seen. A good day of wandering.
hot ricotta cake fresh from the oven anyone?
just stumbled here, love your blog..the photos are heavenly and that ricotta cake has me drooling at 5 a.m.! did you get the recipe by chance?! You should make postcards of your images...etsy them!
Posted by: Toni | Friday, June 06, 2008 at 03:18 AM
move over sister - I'm going for a lie down head to head - SIGH SIGH SIGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...............
oh deary me - PLEASE TAKE ME WITH YOU - next time...
PLEASE Mary Ann
I will carry the luggage...
xox - eb.
Posted by: eb | Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 06:59 PM
once again, stunning photos~
Posted by: donna | Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 05:50 PM
Piu,piu,piu!!! And, thanks for your concern about my fires. They never got to us and are nearly all mopped up as of today. My blue mood was instigated by the fact that they were coming from the same place they came 4 years ago when they burned through our property. Anyway, I love these posts. I find myself thinking about them, wondering what you will share with us next.
Posted by: Laura Miller | Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 05:14 PM
I know that you love teaching the "horsies", but I'm thinking that if the TRAVEL CHANNEL people aren't blind or idiots, they'll hire you to be the next Rick Steves....ew, no, make that Tony Bourdain (yeeah).
Now I know why Michaelangelo's DAVID had such a great Butt....THE STAIRS! It's like living in a town made of ancient Stair Masters!
Dispatch onward, my Darling!
Lisa H.
Posted by: Lisa Hoffman | Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Rome is the best city in the world! Thanks for taking me back for a moment. Isn't it like a dream? Loving all the photos from your spring adventure.
Posted by: One Love Photo | Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 12:32 AM
Besides making me crazy with envy for your fantastic Roman Holiday, do you have any idea how hungry you are making me??????
Posted by: Michele | Friday, May 16, 2008 at 05:57 PM
There is a local channel here in Cornville that shows the current houses for sale and when I need a good laugh I watch it. Back to back house after house, living room, bedrooms, kitchen, basement, garage...you can wander through each house while hearing it's "features". The thing is they really could show the same house over and over and no one would notice. They ALL have brown reclyners, flat screen tv's over the fireplace (which I find hilarious), faux wood paneling in the basement, pool tables, bar stools and beige carpet, beige walls, beige furntire and if the people were shown most likely they would be wearing beige clothes. Yes I live in Beige Land and THAT is why the photo with the orange chairs and tableclothes reminds me how the other half lives.
Posted by: Randi | Friday, May 16, 2008 at 07:39 AM
Okay, I think I need to live there! I don't know if I can convince hubby, 2kids,mom, dog and cat but I really need to live there!!! More, more, more! I love your travel journals! This is how I got hooked on your blog...when you spent so much time in Mexico! You need to go into travel writing (huh? Well it's 6:30 in the am) But you do! karen b....
Posted by: karen benson | Friday, May 16, 2008 at 06:35 AM
I agree, don't want this vacation to end...the last image with the sunsetting light...Mmmmmm
Posted by: stephanie | Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 06:38 PM
I have been enjoying your Italian adventure so much, I agree with others that we should drag it out for months. I have never seen anything so beautiful, and the food...!
Posted by: Gwen Delmore | Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 11:03 PM
ricotta cake?!
gelato?!
I didn't think about THAT! I thought my Maui Cookies were fab, but yum, those look good.
Love the postcard writing at the cafe. Love the trevi fountain. Thanks for these great photos. Perfect to dream by.
Posted by: Chris | Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 09:49 PM
step away from MY gelato!!! yum!
Posted by: Tyn | Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 09:32 PM
Rome, that beautiful gelato, the fabulous ricotta cake - oh, I think these are my favorite pictures of all. Let's just stay in Italy, 'kay? I can't get those wonderful desserts here in my little town. :-(
Posted by: Judy Wise | Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 08:14 PM
Another great entry! I was surprised you didn't have at least ONE cat photo.... I saw lots of kitties when I was there, but they were congregating in the Ruins, and you may not have done THAT cliche this time,( or maybe not yet ?).
Thank you for sharing your trip! (So sorry, but I licked your Gelato when you weren't looking).
Posted by: Erin Glee | Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 07:59 PM
Great pics and journaling. Love the the deserts. Yum.....
Posted by: Sandy | Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 07:49 PM
sigh...beautiful MA..I don't want 'our' vacation to end! Drag these posts out for 2 more months for us. :)
Posted by: Julie Prichard | Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 06:43 PM
Oh how I wish I had brought my pair of Keens to Rome with me. Though we had the most fun thru my twisted ankle mishaps...emjoy!~
Posted by: Michelle Johnson | Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 06:27 PM