We have been in Rome for five days already. We decided that we were not going to push ourselves to do too much, especially as it is very hot and humid, so we are living like Romans. Do a little stuff in the morning, have a leisurely lunch, nap and relax inside cool surroundings for a few hours, go out for dinner, then perform the ‘passeggiata’, the evening stroll around the piazza.
Although we want to live like Romans all of our lives, we realize we have already made a huge mistake: We don’t live in Rome.
The building that houses our rental apartment occupies prime real estate, fronting the Piazza Navona, one of Rome’s busiest and most visited open areas. It has three major fountains and is lined with restaurants and shops, as well as being home to buskers, caricaturists, artists, and a saxophone player who has a very limited repetoire…about ten tunes, we think, including ‘Girl From Ipanema’, which I suppose is only appropriate since the Brazilian embassy is also on Piazza Navona.
This was not the apartment we thought we were getting. But we found ourselves here after a slight glitch with the rental agency, but when we walked in the door we knew we had found something special.
A cardinal looks down at us from one large portrait, (somewhat disapprovingly since we must look like riff-raff to his regular companions) and another painting which is at least 15 feet wide and 10 feet high occupies the upper half of the two-storey tall back wall. A wooden staircase leads to our master bedroom and bath. Underneath the staircase we have a small dining room and well-equipped kitchen with a full-sized fridge and freezer (by European standards) and four burner gas stove. The giant living area has satellite LCD TV and a large glass dining table. There is a good sized second bedroom and another bathroom with a washing machine.
Although the living room windows don’t look out on the piazza, the owner has cleverly affixed a large mirror to one of the window shutters. When you position the shutter correctly, it reflects the entire goings-on of Piazza Navona to you from a comfy window seat.
Pic of the Day
Each morning in Rome finds us at Bar Farnese, just off the Campo di Fiori, about a 5 minute walk from the apartment. The two baristas, especially the one you see at the counter in this photo, always greet us with a warm ‘Buongiorno’ and do their best to get our day started right with a cappuccino and a cornetto or pastry of some sort. This little hole-in-the-wall bar and its baristas have been there for years and years. It’s nice to go back somewhere and have a constant comfort. That comfort costs us just 3,40 Euros each morning. Try getting the same level of value, service and comfort at your neighbourhood Starbucks!
Among the many fabulous things about Rome is how there are unlimited number of places that might become your special, favourite cafe. And they’ll all be worthy of your love. I have several–I’ll be there next week and have been dreaming about the walk from my hotel to Piazza de Repubblicca to sit at my current fave, a little kiosk that’s 70 years old.
How long are you there?
If you like beer, check out Open Balladin in the zona of Campo Fiore. dds
Sigh. The vacation that coulda’ woulda’ shouda’ been. I will have to settle for a few hands of Briscola, a few bottles of Moretti, and my pisani in Hamilton. REALLY wish we were there with you.