Rome, 20-22 March 2009
Our home in Rome, after a EUR 45 (!) ride from the airport was the Ideal B&B. Ms Bear found it on the Net after much research for the perfect Roman accommodation under EUR 150, that was not a bargain because it was in the boondocks. It's walking distance from the Vatican Museum and 3 subway stops from the Spanish Steps - what more can you ask for ? And we got pampered both mornings with breakfast in bed.
Here's what an "Ideal" breakfast in our four-poster bed looked like with cappucino, juice, breads, eggs, sausages, ham and cheese toastie ...
Sure there were Ikea-type furnishings and thin walls, but it was spotlessly maintained by the Filipino in charge, who also helped tremendously with transport and sightseeing advice, and is definitely a value stay in Rome in a convenient neighbourhood.
The neighbourhood also contained the Pizzarium, an avant-garde standing-only pizzeria that sold pizza by the weight (say "piccolo" if you want a small slice about 2 inches by 6 inches). We had toppings that are infrequently encountered, in a takeaway context, such as parma ham and artichokes. As the blackboard says, the chef's a lion in his kingdom, and certainly sets his own standards.
Pizzarium is a few doors away from a Chinese restaurant called New Town that had Chinese waitresses who only spoke Italian - a bit of a culture shock for us when we ordered some comfort food after freezing our nether regions off. We had kung pao chicken without the "pow" - no dried chilis in Rome ? - but the wanton soup was passable and welcome in 7 degree weather.
We orientated ourselves during the 3D/2N stay with a couple of organised tours - an afternoon tour of the Vatican and a night walking tour, as Rome is a city made to be seen by lights - but supplemented it with our own visit to the Campo dei Fiori market in all its brightly coloured glory.
We love wondering around food shops and in Italy, where alimentaris outgun the hypermarts, there was ample opportunity to immerse ourselves in the cuisine. Sometimes it meant walking through and under large slabs of meat, prosciutto to be precise !
Italy is Pork Heaven.
Here's what an "Ideal" breakfast in our four-poster bed looked like with cappucino, juice, breads, eggs, sausages, ham and cheese toastie ...
Sure there were Ikea-type furnishings and thin walls, but it was spotlessly maintained by the Filipino in charge, who also helped tremendously with transport and sightseeing advice, and is definitely a value stay in Rome in a convenient neighbourhood.
The neighbourhood also contained the Pizzarium, an avant-garde standing-only pizzeria that sold pizza by the weight (say "piccolo" if you want a small slice about 2 inches by 6 inches). We had toppings that are infrequently encountered, in a takeaway context, such as parma ham and artichokes. As the blackboard says, the chef's a lion in his kingdom, and certainly sets his own standards.
Pizzarium is a few doors away from a Chinese restaurant called New Town that had Chinese waitresses who only spoke Italian - a bit of a culture shock for us when we ordered some comfort food after freezing our nether regions off. We had kung pao chicken without the "pow" - no dried chilis in Rome ? - but the wanton soup was passable and welcome in 7 degree weather.
We orientated ourselves during the 3D/2N stay with a couple of organised tours - an afternoon tour of the Vatican and a night walking tour, as Rome is a city made to be seen by lights - but supplemented it with our own visit to the Campo dei Fiori market in all its brightly coloured glory.
We love wondering around food shops and in Italy, where alimentaris outgun the hypermarts, there was ample opportunity to immerse ourselves in the cuisine. Sometimes it meant walking through and under large slabs of meat, prosciutto to be precise !
Italy is Pork Heaven.
posted by 2Bears at 5:12 AM
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