roma roam
Trastevere
La Piazza Campo de'Fiori
Various limoncello flavors at La Piazza Campo de'Fiori
The cacio e pepe at Trattoria i Vascellari
The Tiber RIver
Love locks on the Tiber
Last night on my way into Rome I learned a few things during my airport transfer from Rome Shuttle Limousine (which was great). First, a green turn arrow here means next to nothing and neither do pedestrians. Second, there are funk radio stations in Italy. FUNK! Third, there are over 5 million people in the Eternal City. And lastly, my driver taught me “oh mio dio!” or “oh my god!” I wonder if all the Italian cool kids abbreviate with OMD?
This morning I woke up and enjoyed my free hostel breakfast of delicious caffè and various pastries while I planned out my day. I didn’t want to see any of the sites Laura and I want to see together so I chose a leisurely visit to La Piazza Campo de'Fiori and the charming district of Trastevere. A quick and easy bus from Termini got me to a stop near the piazza. I strolled the maze of surrounding streets and ogled some gorgeous shoes before finding the market. I bought some sweet fragole organiche (organic strawberries) and currants for €5 (all in Italian!) then walked the rest of the way into Trastevere.
After crossing the Tiber into Trastevere I found the Almost Corner Bookstore I was looking for and purchased a collection of Goldini plays then sought out lunch. I didn’t settle until I found a place that had more Italians than tourists and also had the cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper) dish I have been dying to try. Trattoria i Vascellari did not fail me on either account, so very delicious! Perfect al dente pasta and much more than enough food for €8 just be sure you want the bread they will bring you otherwise it’s an additional charge (and so is the water).
After lunch I explored more of Trastevere’s windy alley-streets, enjoyed some music in one of the piazzas, and noticed lots of love locks on the other bridges I crossed over the Tiber, similar to what folks do in Paris. The storm started to come in so I made for the nearest bus stop, and asked a nice Italian couple in broken Italian how to get back to Termini Station, they directed me to linea cento setanta (bus 170) and I made it back to the hostel just as the first few drops of rain and cracks of thunder started.
