Summary: The ancient road across the Po Plain led us to Assisi, and then further south and into Rome... The capital of Italy. (Roma spelled backwards is Amor, LOVE in the Eternal City). Lots of driving, with a stop at the basilica in Assisi, where St. Francis rests.
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| Basilica St. Francis at Assisi. |
Awesome moment: the five-course Italian dinner, loud and boisterous with nearly all of our travel mates was complete with live music, including us as we sang along to Volare, Funicular, an other popular melodies. We are SO FULL. Now heading back to the hotel.
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| Guitar, flute, and merry singing accompanied our Italian dinner. |
Blooper: we are struggling to find one for ourselves today. But at our five course dinner out in Rome tonight, the musicians--a flautist and guitarist--struggled to find either the bridge or the next verse, and ended up in laughter instead of playing music. Well into the third course, and in our merry, big family, Italian-state, filled with wine, we laughed too until they found their way again in the music.
Cheapest pleasure: There were a few...
1. We received roses and kisses from the waiter at the end of our meal. (Free. Included in part of our dinner-night tour of Rome).
2. The gelato this afternoon in Assisi was pretty divine as well, as it was pretty hot outside. (2£ each)
3. Susan also enjoys getting kisses from all the doggies that we encounter.
4. Throwing coins into the
Trevi fountain (5 cents per coin, 3 coins each... so a total of around 30 cents). Legend holds that if visitors throw one coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome. Two coins, you will meet an Italian and fall in love. Three coins, you will marry an Italian and live happily ever after.
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| Recieving roses at the end of dinner from the waiter. |
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| Getting gelato cones in Assisi. |
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| Saying hello to the hound in Assisi. |
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| Throwing coins into the Trevi fountain. |
That is all for now. Touring the Vatican is tomorrow.
What type of Italian food did you have in Rome? I hope you enjoy all the art work at the Vatican, you know that famous stuff that guy did at the Sistine Chapel. ;) Say Hi to the Pope.
ReplyDeleteWe have had pizza, breads, gelato, coffee. But other than that, not much. It is hot and we don't have much appetite. But dinner last night with four courses gave us a taste of the following:
DeleteBruschetta, ravioli, various pastas, salad, potato and steak (for Susan), grilled veggies with Parmesan cheese for my vegetarian likings. Ummm what else... Breadsticks and ice cream with fruit. Yup. Lots of food. And wine.
Ha Ha, Beage.
DeleteAnd we just posted a bit about our Vatican visit in today's post, however without photos. Those will come soon hopefully! We have some good ones of Michelangelo's fantastic renaissance master work in sculpting, frescos, architecture etc. famous dude haha.
ReplyDeleteLeave it to Susan to get dog kisses. Of course, I'd probably do the same. Say, Lara, how much Italian do you understand? Are you able to communicate much with them?
ReplyDeleteI understand about 75% of conversational level and touristy topics, with context clues of course. The Latin roots and similar conjugations are quite related. I'm really enjoying figuring things out. I think I would like to spend more time in Italy, studying the language a bit. The culture, from what I have seen and experienced this far, is very similar to Latin American culture, plus tons of old ruins and relics and grandiose architectural styled buildings that the Americas do not have.
ReplyDeleteCarol, I cop a feel every day! The dogs are mainly small ones, but they're still cute. The larger ones I always try to say a quick hello!
ReplyDelete