Foodtopia Moments

This afternoon we ate at the Anima e' Sapori (Soul and Taste) restaurant in Rome, just outside of Piazza Navona. For lunch, we had some Bruschetta, a mixed salad, spaghetti carbonara, and a pizza with buffalo mozzarella, zucchini, and anchovies.

When in Rome...

We left the condo in Campomarino this morning around 6:30, and arrived in Rome around 10:30. There was no traffic this morning, which is a change from what I normally encounter near Rome. Aggie and I checked into the hotel and wasted little time before heading out to see some things that we had yet to see in Rome.

We visited the Bocca della Verita (Mouth of Truth) made famous in the movie Roman Holiday. Then we ventured to the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica to see the new placement on Pope John Paul II’s tomb. He was recently moved from the catacombs underneath the basilica into the main church. We also ventured past the Coliseum, which we have both seen before just never together. We finished up our sightseeing at Piazza Navona where we ate lunch and had some gelato.

Tonight we are at the Hilton Rome Airport hotel. It is about a 4 star American hotel in a land of 2 star hotels. It is also connected right to the airport. Flight home is 10:10 tomorrow morning.

All Good Things…

All good things must come to an end. As such, my time in Europe this year is also coming to an end. It has been fun, and exhausting both physically and emotionally. Today I feel drained, but also anxious to get back to the States (first to see family and friends, and second I have Phillies tickets for August 18). Aggie and I are all packed except for a few electronics (like the laptop I am using). We need to shut off the water and power, unplug the fridge, and bring in the patio furniture and bike. The car is already up on blocks and that it the toughest part. This year we managed to do it without injury. However, thanks to the mechanic who worked on the breaks, I cannot remove the tire this year. It was a security measure, but our car gate is more secure this year, so we do not need to take the tire off.

Today is the big Italian holiday of Ferragosto. Everyone in the condos around me is eating outside like us. We had pasta, chicken, eggplant, and beets. It was delicious. It is customary to eat chicken this holiday. We made it to the beach this morning as I took one last dip in the Adriatic for this year.

Last night, Aggie and I were too tired to head into Termoli, so we stayed in Campomarino and went to see the latest circus that is visiting (the fifth this summer). Circus Arbell was pretty interesting. For seven Euros it was worth every penny. They had a bunch of acts including a jungle cat exhibition. As they were setting up the protective cage for the lions and tigers, the circus opened up their traveling zoo for only one Euro. We were able to go behind the scenes of a traveling circus to see the animals from the show.

Tomorrow morning around 6 a.m. we are leaving the beach for the hustle and bustle of Rome. Normally I am put off by all of the activity, but I think the cruise prepared me for a tourist trap city. Rome is nice, until you leave it and see nicer.

Foodtopia Moments

Our dinner tonight is sausage baked with veggies. I added zucchini, eggplant, red and yellow peppers, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, and garlic. Tossed with a little olive oil and salt, the stuff is amazing.

Have Car, Will Travel

For only the second time this summer I woke up in possession of a car that I could use. We wasted little time heading out to Torremaggiore, Italy, before 9 a.m. Our destination: the cemetery. We went to see the graves of family members who have passed on, as well as to see the memorial that I began working on before I returned to New Jersey last year. The ceramic photo on the memorial is now up, and the memorial is complete. The florist near the cemetery in Torremaggiore, however, was closed today.

Getting to Torremaggiore took me through some of the richest farmland in the world. The country roads that wind through the farm towns were pretty busy, especially for a Sunday. However, for a holiday weekend I expected more traffic. Tomorrow is the big Italian summer holiday of Ferragosto. As with everything here, there is a religious meaning to it. Around here, people just take a day off from work, head to the beach, and eat roasted chicken.

The car I have is the “soon to be in America” version of the Fiat 500. The Cinque Cento is a world famous classic car model that Fiat has been churning out for ages. They redesign it here and there, but recently went back to a classic look.

We have already begun the preparations for our departure. Since we returned to Campomarino yesterday evening, we have done about six loads of laundry (at more than two hours in the wash for each load), gardening (vines that keep growing back), sweeping, and we covered the couch. We still need to strip the bed, put the car on blocks, and bring in all of the patio furniture and bike. We can do all of that tomorrow.

Foodtopia Moments - Padna

In Padna, Slovenia, we tasted some of the local delicacies including fried anchovy with tomato, but the best to me was very simple: fresh picked figs for only one Euro. We also saw a loaf of bread shaped like a pig made by one of the villagers.

Foodtopia Moments - Murano

While visiting the Island of Murano near Venice, Aggie and I stopped for lunch. My appetizer was a dish of fresh sardines (as opposed to canned sardines) that were lightly fried, then marinated with olive oil and vinegar. They were then topped with a mixture of cooked onions, raisons, and pine nuts. It was delicious going down, but I had indigestion afterwards. We each had spaghetti carbonara and fried calamari for our dinner.