We made it to Rome, after driving through a terrible rain and hail storm, turned in our poor, battered car with no problem (since it was pre-battered when we picked it up in Palermo...), found our apartment and met the lovely landlady, Carmela, and settled in. It was still raining when we arrived, but 59 degrees, so not too bad...the apartment is great; a full working kitchen with dishwasher, washing machine, oven, and...wait for it...a microwave !! Big shower in the bathroom (very unusual !), memory foam mattress (heaven !!), a separate living room with TV and...wait again....internet that works !! We may stay forever....
Carmela had a big cake and a bottle of wine for us when we arrived, along with all the essentials to set up housekeeping...very nice !
We went out to dinner last night when the rain stopped: a terrific local pizza place recommended by one of our favorite cooks on TV - David Rocco...it was every bit as good as we had hoped. It was a tiny place and warm and welcoming...you can't help but talk to the people seated next to you...you're basically at the same table ! Our neighbors were a couple from Scotland and we had a nice chat about travel (they LOVE the States !), food, and getting around Rome...
One of the dessert items was called "la sorpresa" - the surprise - so I had to order it...and quite a surprise it was ! The owner brought it out with a flourish, and gave us after dinner drinks on the house...after the laughter died down, we found it to be delicious (filled with nutella...what could be better ??)
We left the pizzeria at about 10:45, and strolled around the Trastevere area where we are staying (about 1/2 hour from the Vatican), until after 11pm...things were still jumping...on a Tuesday night !
All in all, a great welcome to Rome...
Hugs, Chris and her "bring on the wine, I'm not driving" husband
stuck in a hailstorm behind a garbage truck, going nowhere fast...it could only get better, and it did !
a special heart-shaped pizza for the "lovely signora"....
the surprise...watch that knife !
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