Location, location, location

Yesterday we had three things on our agenda:

1. Settle into our apartment
2. Find my language school (I'm taking an Italian class 2 hours a day, 2 days each week we're here)
3. Take a self-directed walking tour of the "heart of Rome"--with the main goal of seeing the president's home which is only open on Sunday mornings

Check, check, and sort of check.

The apartment is spacious, with big windows, a little kitchen, decent wi-fi, lots of closets, and two bathrooms, and a bedroom. In short it's practically perfect in every way. There's also room for anyone who wants to come visit us.

After we unpacked we set off a piedi (on foot) to explore. Our guide was Frommer's "Walking Tour #2--The Heart of Rome."

When we reserved our apartment, we knew the general area we wanted to stay in but as it turns out the location is even more perfect than we first imagined. We're near the Spanish Steps on a street named Via Capo de Case. Everything we could ever want is convenient. Food, coffee, drugstores, banks, hairdressers, Gucci (haha), etc.

Following Frommer's map we walked down to the end of our block, turned left, and then just one door from the corner I saw a sign for my school--Italidea. No kidding! 2 minutes from our apartment! As they say, "even a blind pig gets an acorn now and then." 

Continuing on...we made it to Piazza del Quirinale in time to take a tour of the Italian President's palace. This is the White House on steroids. President Giorgio Napolitano (no relation to former USA Homeland Security Chief Janet) is 87 years old! If you think our government gridlock is unique--consider this...Napolitano is the first Italian president to be re-elected to a second term. Apparently he was planning to retire, but then the Parliament members who elect him fought and fought about who would succeed him. They couldn't come to a consensus, so they just asked Giorgio to stay on. This place is huge. And ornate. And has one room after another named versions of Grande Ballroom, Grande Hallway, Grande Salon--in Italia Grande is definitely better.

Really tall palace guard

Speaking of big, one thing we noticed is that all the guards are not just men, but really, really, tall men. John is 6' tall and these guys towered over him. One thing I noticed is that all of these really tall, male guards are also really handsome. 

The Piazza del Quirinale is on the highest of all of the famed seven hills of Rome. When we came out of President Napolitano's place it was pouring rain so we have to come back to really appreciate the view. Even with the rain, it was still pretty spectacular.

One thing I especially like about Rome is how the entrepreneurs show up with cheap umbrellas and plastic ponchos the second it starts raining. 3 euros for an umbrella, 5 euros for a poncho and on we went to the Trevi Fountain. 

Everyone's heard of the fountain, but across the street there's a church that's not as well known. (Actually, across most streets in Rome there's a church, or two, or three). This place houses the intestines and hearts of several centuries of popes. Why? Don't know. All I read is that the church used to be the parish church of popes and when they died they willed their hearts and intestines to it. La mia bonta!

We only made it to four of the 18 stops on the tour before jet lag forced us to return to our apartment for much-needed naps. 14 more places to visit before the end of the week (there are 3 more walking tours we want to take). 

Katerina

 Our first day in Rome working on no sleep and a 7 hour time change!  We did really well finding the places we wanted to find.  The presidential palace was incredible.  Trevi fountain was not packed as the rain had started to fall.  We had no umbrella...... no problem, at the first sign of rain the sellers were out with 3 euro umbrellas (very flimsy) and 5 euro ponchos (better.)   We got both and then found a quiet place for a fabulous meat and cheese platter, Rome style.  There is something about the olives here.  They taste better.

Back to the flat for a nap.  Upon awaking tried to check out the tv and found NFL football (Bears / Vikings) with Italian announcers.  Very fun but no out of town scores (how are the Rams doing? ... Never mind).

Finally a late evening walk and mission to find gelato.  Success and off to much needed long sleep.  Monday in Roma awaits!!










Giovanni