Rome, Thurs, Nov. 13

Nov 13 Thurs Rome

Here's what we did today

Woke up and were surprised it was already 8:30 am

La Signora Alluinni (in her night dress as were we) and her maid, Rosa, came by to change the sheets and towels

Took the 64 bus to Largo Argentina and then saw the Tiber River for the first time as we  walked across the Ponte Sisto to the Villa Farnesina, another Renaissance villa filled with incredible frescos, some by Raphael.  

Back across the Mazzini Bridge and through the interesting small streets looking for lunch.  Stopped at El Bric, a charming small restaurant for the daily pasta and risotto and red wine (and we didn't immediately fall asleep).

Then to the Palazzo della Cancelleria to see Leonardo Da Vinci: Le Grand Macchine.  But on the way we had to stop by the open air market at Campo de Fiori to admire all the goods.  The Da Vinci exhibit was high on Fernando's list, but, unfortunately, he was disappointed.  The exhibit wasn't executed with Leonardo's genius.

The Piazza Navona was next where Cathy was almost hit by a police car driving in reverse after a fleeing suspect.  In the center of the piazza is Bernini's Four River's Fountain with Borromini's Santa Agnes in Agone Church overlooking the whole.  Really quite fantastic.  The interior is the church is all baroque with some beautiful marble reliefs.

Fernando has a cold so we stopped at a farmacia to get some medicine and it was getting dark already.  Quick rush to the Pantheon, which is quite amazing even more so when you realize it wasn't destroyed through two millennia.  I've seen NY apartments that look in worse shape.

Now we had to get home and it was rush hour.  You have never seen such crowded buses (Fdo says they have them the same in Colombia).  We got on the second one and travelled like anchovies home. Wait!  We need ingredients for our dinner of salad.  Off to the little supermarket, but first a stop for our daily gelato at the Gelateria Artigianale. ..chocolate with rum, pistacio and chocolate fondente, pistacio and zabaione.  Tame flavors and just right as an appetizer.  For dinner a wonderful salad and another bottle of novello!!

Buona notte!