Yesterday was wonderful. I woke up with Ginny and we went to the prati market (of course) to get our fruits, veggies, and cheese (cheap brie! hooray!). It got me up and moving for the day. After a quick bite I settled in to watch the season premiere of BONES! So excited with this season, I don't even care that I shouldn't be watching tv while I am living this incredible city. So after being cuddled up on the couch for half an hour my energy was lagging. I could either nap, or tag along with Kat and Sophia for their passagata. I got my lazy bones up to explore Roma!
The Itinerary: Circus Maximus to see the military exercises/fair, Santa Sabina, and "the keyhole"
We walked along the Tiber to Forum Boarium where they just finished graveling a little park so we stopped to soak up the warm November sunshine. Passing by la Bocca della Verita we approached the Circus Maximus. It was fenced off and swarming with people dressed in military uniforms. At first we were unsure if we were even allowed in because of the fifteen intimidating soldiers standing at the front gate, after watching a family with little kids go in we followed suit. We checked out a map which labeled each branch of the military and where their booths were. We saw tanks and planes and helicopters and boats and horses and lots and lots and lots of people dressed in uniform. It was like a fair ground! The Marines were a little disappointing in their gym suit windbreakers but they had a large pool set up in which they were sailing guests around! We saw a demonstration of a bomb/drug/tracking dog searching suitcases and finding the correct one, then we watched as they simulated a robbery and had the dogs charge the "criminals" who were wearing padded attire of course. They even fired blanks from guns which was startling but impressive because the dogs never flinched. When they finished the trainers rewarded the dogs with pats and played with them. After that we examined the scientific booth where they had posters about forgery and fraud and fingerprinting etc. Over top their dress pants and shirt these officers had long white lab coats! It was again not very intimidating just like the Marines. They even had fake Benjamins. It was a fun day to be outside and we enjoyed our stroll around the circus checking out all the displays.
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| Along the Tiber Photo Cred: Sophia |
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| Forum Boarium |
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| Tanks! |
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| Marines and sailboats |
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| Want a Frati in Prati tank?!? |
After that we strolled up the hill directly across the street from the circus in search of Santa Sabina (the circus was the only thing we actually knew how to find, the church and keyhole were educated guesses). Along the way we found a small walkway which was covered in ivy, then we realized once we reached Santa Sabina's garden that the walkway was nothing. In the garden they have a small orange grove and benches. The sun was reflecting golden glow over the city which we could view from the deck over the Tiber River. We just sat at the overlook looking out over the entire city bustling with life, the modern and ancient alongside one another just like they have been for decades. This is Rome. This is where we live, our city, home. It was a really nice moment to experience. I would highly highly recommend anyone in Rome visit this overlook and garden.
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| Kat and I in the orange grove |
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| the overlook |
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| Sophia and I and ROMA |
Inside the church next door we were three of the five people visiting. The huge wide nave was empty of anything except fabulous marble. This is an old church in the original basilica style with a flat wooden roof and a clerestory with wooden carved shutters letting the light in. The apse had a beautiful naturalistic fresco which I admired but besides a few chapels it was a very barren church, in a nice way. I told Sophia I wanted to ballroom dance in the church, it had just the right atmosphere! Kat and Sophia obliged and did a little waltz for me. I might go back to that church it really had an impact on me, along with the gardens.
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| Aisle of Santa Sabina |
Following Ginny's advice we turned right out of the church and kept walking until we saw it, the keyhole! from this spot all guidebooks and friends have promised "the best view of Rome" In this great big green door, above the doorknob, a hole has been drilled so the viewer can look through with one eye. The paint is worn away by years of hands pressed against the door as people look through. It was the perfect summary to our walk. I don't want to spoil the surprise but if you're in Rome you should take a peek. It brings a smile to my face just remembering it.
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| Keyhole |
We strolled back down the hill past the circus, stopping in a cafe for an Earl Grey pettifor and Kat's first cannoli. Strolling along streets we've never seen, sort of aiming towards home we passed by a view of the Roman Forum from above and through the Campidoglio which Michaelangelo designed, through Piazza Venezia. Sophia pointed out la gatta on Via della Gatta for Kat and I as we wandered towards the Pantheon. It was finally dusk when we were at the Pantheon after a quick stop in a cioccolateria for a gift. After that we finally came home to change for aperitivi.
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| La Gatta |
The Pepperonis are winding down their stay in the eternal city and invited the Prati and Centro (we are specifically in the Ponte neighborhood btw, learning something new everyday) apartments to aperitivi. We showed them one of the places we frequent more often and enjoyed a drink and some appetizers with them chatting about their day at the Vatican and trip to Pompeii. They really are lovely people. We keep the tour going for them and stopped by San Calisto as well as one of our preferred wine bars. All of us crowded on the steps of the fountain in front of Santa Maria in Trastevere sipping Peronis watching kids play ball was a really nice moment. I am lucky to have such great friends.
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| The Gang as captured by Mrs. Peppers :) |
The parents eventually called it a night and we all trooped back to our apartment to change and try to located a club. The night fell apart, some people were tired/sick and those of us who did go out spent forty minutes strolling the streets of our neighborhood finding that Fridays are horrible nights to go to clubs in Rome. Everything is closed or booked for private parties. That was fine with me because it meant I could curl up in my bed for a good nights rest instead.
That's a great day to me.
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