Getting a little more adjusted to the time difference. I think I woke up at 9:30 this morning. It had been pouring rain when we went to sleep and was still pouring in the morning. After a light breakfast of an egg and fruit, we decided to go to the colosseum, thinking there would be fewer tourists on such a wet day. Again onto the 910 bus to Stazione Termini. After a brief detour to the ticket office to reserve a tour for Pompeii for later in the week, we found the metro. It took a bit of questioning to get ourselves on the track going the correct direction, but we made it. Two stops later on the blue line toward Laurentine, and we were at the "Colesseo." We were right about the crowds: we got in with no waiting. The colosseum is as impressive as I've been told. Even without the marble coverings and with obvious deterioration, it is beautiful. It seems much more elegant than it's history of bloody games and death would imply.
From the top level I spied a restaurant across the street. We'd thoroughly explored every level and were soaked to the skin, despite our raincoats and umbrellas, so we made that our next stop: Bar Reatorante Martini at Piazza del Colosseo 3. We had an antipasti followed by homemade ravioli in a butter and sage sauce for Tenar, and gnocchi in a 4-cheese sauce for me. Absolutely divine. Small bottle of wine for me, a Sprite for Tenar. For desert it was cheesecake for Tenar and dark chocolate for me. I asked if there was access to WiFi in the neighborhood and they gave me the password to theirs (how nice), so be both were able to get caught up on our blogs. We had been sitting there for quite sometime, so I asked if it was okay. The waiter said we could stay until 1 am if we liked, then brought me a lemomcella after dinner apertif and Tenar a handful of candies, compliments of the house. I love Italy! We did only stay a few hours and left at 7:30 before the heavy dinner crowd came in.
Back to the metro, then to the 910 bus and home to our little Paroili neighborhood. We were cold, we were wet, and we had had such a fun day!
Italians are welcoming and kind then? I always imagined it would be so. I have seen pictures of the colosseum (another building I studied in art history), and it is indeed beautiful. How amazing to have been inside. Are you enjoying the plentiful pastas? Maybe you can learn to make some authentic recipes from Italy once you return to the states!
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