Roma - Day 1

Ah, Roma...

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Giorgio's parents, Francesca and Sergio, pick the three of us up at the airport, and we all cram our bags in and squish together like sardines. I have about 10 mini-heart attacks on the way to the hotel as we dodge accident after accident.

We arrive at our hotel about 9 am and immediately decide to take naps since we have a night tour of the city from 8pm to 10pm. We slept until 12 and decided we were ready to go see the city. About 2pm, Giorgio came to pick us up and we set out into the city to see the Catacombs of San Callisto, however when we arrive, we sadly discover that it is closed until February 24. Ah, but the beauty of Rome is there are several catacombs throughout the city and luckily, we turn out of the gates of San Callisto and VOILA! There is the Catacomb of San Sebastiano.

The Catacombs are outside city walls due to ancient Roman laws that prohibited burials within the sacred pomerium(city boundary). There are 65 known catacombs in Roma but only a few are open for public viewing. The San Sebastiano Catacombs are more intimate and better-preserved then the San Callisto Catacombs. The typical Roman practice of layering architecture and faith is fascinating.

Then we went to the Basilica di San Clemente, which was beautiful. I wanted to come to this specific church since it shares the name of my home town and because they call it the "lasagna of churches." It is said to be the best place to learn about the city of Roma's archaeological evolution. This church had several layers to it (hence the lasagna..) and you descend from the most recent to medieval and paleo-Christian layers, to the lowest where the adherents of the ancient cult of Mithras met and performed grisly rituals in the long, rectangular mithraeum.

Unfortunately, neither of these places allowed photos to be taken within, but I have found some online that will give you an idea.

Next, Giorgio brought us over to his parents house for dinner. Francesca made us lasagna (how fitting!) and then served proschetto and mozzerella. His family owns a farm out in the countryside and makes their own wine, so of course, I had a taste. I'm not sure what they called it but it was good! We were then served a dolci, and I cannot exactly say what it is, but from my understanding - flour rolled up and cut into tiny balls small enough to look like peas, then fried and somehow mixed with honey and formed into a circle. It was different, not bad, not fantastic.

Then we departed to the Piazza di Repubblica where we met up for our night tour. The city is incredible at night. We drove around and saw the Colosseum and Roman Forum which gave off a majestic glow, walked through the Piazza Navona and saw the three fountains by Bernini, the Fontana del Moro, Fontana di Nettuno and of course the fantastic Fountain of Four Rivers - which unfortunately was under repairs and partially boarded up. We drove by several other places which names I have forgotten, but one of my most enjoyed was passing by the Castel Sant' Angelo and into Piazza San Pietro to view the Vatican city, enjoying the lights of Saint Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.

My favorite, we took a walk to the Trevi Fountain - which is the most celebrated fountain in Roma - and it is spectacular.

Thousands of gallons of water per minute thunder to the awaiting blue pool at the base. PS... this thing is HUGE! Built in 1732 to 1762 by Nicola Salvi. It is hidden in a Piazza which we wandered through the narrow walkways hearing the thundering water proudly pouring over the magnificent sculptures.

Rumor has it that if you throw one coin into the fountain you will return to Roma, and if you throw a second, you will find love - or it will find you.

So, I grabbed one American quarter, and one Costa Rican  50 colones piece, relished in the moment and tossed my two coins wishfully into the depths of the water.

As for the how true this rumor is... 

only time will tell - but it is wonderful thinking!

Con Amore..

Bri

14 Hours Flying - 4 Hours Sleep - All in 2 days

Okay, so let me catch you guys up on what has been going on... I have been running around like mad!

Tuesday February 16, 2010

I wake up late of course, as it is the morning of my first flight out to Atlanta, so I rush into the shower and frantically throw the remaining items I needed into my bags. Yes, bags... I packed two to check and one carry on... 6 months is a long time!! Quickly, I made my comfort breakfast of hot tea and toast with nutella (yum!! ps... I'm absolutely delighted to see that they have nutella here... but not exactly ready to have it on my pizza - strange..) Jumping into the car and ready to jet off to the airport, I of course, spill half of my hot tea on my slacks. Great. My morning gets EVEN better :)

I choke back the tears as I say my goodbyes to my mom at LAX airport. Hurrying, I rush to the check-in stands and grab my ticket and drop off my two heavy bags - barely made the weight limit... whoops!! I turn to look at the security line and nearly have a heart attack! It's already 9:30 am and the security line is literally out of the doors of the airport and people are in line on the sidewalk!! Mind you that my flight is at 11am! Plus I am flying stand-by as a non-rev... not looking so good!!

10:52 I make it out of my security line and run to my gate - in high heels. Let me tell you how difficult it is to run in high heels on that slick floor, I nearly fell about 15 times, but if I was walking it would have probably been the same! The second I get to the gate, my name is called and I have been cleared for my flight. I call my aunt Jewdee to let her know I am on my way and will see her in Atlanta, as long as she clears her flight as well!!

I watched two movies on my flight to Atlanta then met Jewdee and Giorgio at the baggage claim, we were spending the night in Atlanta tonight and leaving to Rome the following afternoon. We dropped my bags off at the hotel, and after I quickly changed out of my slacks and heels and into my much more prefered skinny jeans and boots, we left for dinner at a local diner.

I could not sleep at all - Rome is in my reach!!

Wednesday February 17, 2010

Ah, how nice it is to make it on this flight, and in first class at that!! I am greeted as soon as I sit down in my huge reclining seat with a delicious champagne that tasted of fresh green apples. And dinner was amazing..

I am sitting here with Giorgio - a friend of my cousin Randy who came to escort Jewdee and I.

I had to take a picture of the food because I have never EVER had such nice food prepared so pretty on a flight! And I needed proof for my mom :)

First Course - Asian flavored salmon with soybean and seaweed salad, cream of asparagus soup, and a Greek salad of feta cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, olives and basalmic dressing.

Main Course - Mahi-Mahi topped with lemon butter sauce and served with asparagus and paella rice.

And of course, how could I forget, a delightful Bordeaux that had scents of cedar, wet gravel, vanilla and autumn leaves, along with velvety tannins and dark cassis fruit flavor - at least, that is what the wine description told me! Haha, I will one day learn how to describe wines, just not today!

I slept for 2 hours on this 10 hour flight, and watched 4 movies... a bit rediculous huh? I think so... of course I chose to watch the horrifying Paranormal Activity and couldn't sleep!

But, I watched the sun rise on the decent into Rome while eating my breakfast of granola cereal, strawberries and coffee. My heart has begun to race! I cannot wait to get off this plane!!