I Came, I Saw, I Tried to Speak Italian

I probably need to update more than just once a week because so much happens in the span of each blog entry. This weekend was one of the three day weekend we have and I did a lot of exploring. With my adventurer-in-crime, Beth, we walked. A lot.Beth and me at the Pantheon

Friday (no class!) we wanted to go to Camp Di Fiori to buy sandwich supplies; however, their lack of bread threw us for a loop. We decided to walk along and buy some sandwiches to enjoy in the Borghese Gardens, the Central Park equivalent over here in Rome. After buying some mozzarella and salami on foccia we headed up the Spanish Steps and made our way to the gardens. The transformation of our surroundings from the tourist-packed historic district to the peaceful and green park lacking any modes vehicular transportation attempting to run down as many pedestrians as they can was completely refreshing. We spent the entire day, joining the locals taking naps on benches and enjoying life away from the bustle of the city.

Borghese Gardens

Saturday we were determined to visit Trastevere, the less touristy district of the city on our side of the river. The SLA (i.e. RA) told us it was really complicated to get there and that we should actually take the train. No. Don't believe him. Just the take the bus and walk across the river. Anyway, we walked from Piazza Venezia to Trastevere and had a great time just meandering around the neighborhood. We discovered a botanical garden that we might go back and visit and we know we want to go back at night. We ended up walking back from Trastevere through the Vatican (stopping at Old Bridge for the most cheap, best, and big servings of gelato you will find in the city) all the way back to the Cipro metro station. About 5 miles in my Target shoes, which are actually holding up really well. Cool car in Trastevere

Sunday we woke up at the crack of dawn to go to the flea market at Ponte Portese back in our familiar neighborhood of Trastevere. It. Was. Huge. We kept thinking it was ending and another section would pop up, 4 deep in stalls. At first we were a little disappointed because everything was just 2 Euro jeans or the same cheap jewlerey but after a while the antique section of the market popped up and we started to have some fun. They sell absolutely everything there from chandeliers to faucets to old photographs. I tried to barther but my courage failed. It's a lot more intimidating than you think. I bought a vintage leather bag for 15 Euro (a quarter of the price of the purses at the San Lorenzo leather market in Florence). We went back to the Rome Center and passed out. Get your chandelier at the Porte Portese flea market

That night we went to an event at Piazza Navona. I read about Flamenco Night in the piazza on one of those what's-going-on-in-rome websites and we decided it would be really fun to go. I headed out with Beth, Kylah, Kerstin, Lauren, and her boyfriend Eric. It was absolutely packed but really fun. We watched a couple acts and then decided we were too short to enjoy any more of it. Flamenco Night at Piazza Navona
Kylah, Beth, Me (with my new purse!), Lauren, Kerstin

We headed out for some more Old Bridge. If you ever get to Rome, get the amaretto or the coconut gelato at Old Bridge. The best. Overall, not a bad way to spend a Sunday night.

Enjoying some Old Bridge gelato

I love walking around the city at night. Piazza St. Pietro is so tranquil, the Spanish Steps is like a living room where everyone hangs out, and Piazza Navona is a great people watching place. St. Pietro at night from the Tiber

Look at me adding pictures to my blog. What will I do next? Stayed tuned!