Here I am back in Roma. But more of that in a minute. First I backtrack to our last day in Venice. A day that we gave over completely to Carnevale and in truth it didn’t seem quite as chaotic as Friday had seemed. Not sure why but the crowds seemed a little more manageable. We set off in the morning after cappuccino in the local Patisserie that we had grown to know and love as you do! Then we had the inspiration to book at the best restaurant we had frequented in Venice because the previous night we went to 3 restaurants that turned us away because they were fully booked. Then to the Vaporetto and off to San Marco to get with the action. Really from there it was just that, a day of wandering around amongst the amazing costumes and the tourists. The thing I really liked about it was that it just wasn’t a Carnevale of the highly glamorous and intricate costumes, it was increasingly becoming the peoples fun with more and more people donning masks and going with it all. Needless to say we were totally hopeless and were very much observers rather than participants….perhaps sadly!!!
There was the flight of the eagle with an ‘eagle’ i.e. a woman doing a high and ‘daring’ flying fox…a bit underwhelming when it’s all said and done. When we needed to get out of the fray we went and had a quiet lunch and glass of wine, then back into it but briefly because it is exhausting, it is a very intense and ‘happening’ environment. Each afternoon we went back to our lovely apartment and had some wine, cheese and downtime before heading off for dinner. Which was delicious! I had seafood lasagna and it was to die for, something I will try when I get home!!!!
This morning was pack up time and lugging the luggage back over the bloody bridges to the Vaporetto and the the train station. But not before our last cappuccino and arrivederci to our yummy pattiserie. Then Tull and I parted company at the station. I can’t believe a whole month just flew past. It flew on one hand and on the other the start of this adventure seemed like a lifetime ago. We certainly packed a lot in and it was great for me to spend the time in places I’d been to before but never had the luxury of a week of concentrated orientation to the city. The highlight being Naples just because I hadn’t been there and I loved it.
So, in a jiffy back in Roma. No hitches, met the manager of the apartment as arranged at the arranged time, an easy walk from the station. The apartment is great but very small and missing some basics such as no microwave and no oven. It will take some ingenuity to work out how to heat the lasagna I bought as a quick fix for tonight. Rosa…prepare to be up close and personal with your Mumma!!! But we do have separate beds so don’t totally panic!
Then out i went. I had to find a bancomat because I have to pay her cash and I have a bee in my bonnet about taking out less than 500Eu when I need a lot because you get charged for each withdrawal. So walk I did…and walk and walk! Anyway, it had the effect of orienting me not just to the local area but also the broader context. It’s a terrific area, very trendy, lots of wine bars (Enoteca’s), restaurants and great places for coffee. I’ll get into it in the morning and choose my daily coffee place to bond with. Chris and I have been talking, of course, and will catch quickly if not tonight.
The one good thing I’ve done (you will think me very ’slow’ of course), but I’ve found Aljazeera online and as I write this Aljazeera news is going on in the background…very good, it has become my friend again!!
More tomorrow and more of my love across the airwaves.