Ana Italiana Surprisa Fora Nicholassinni

You might have read in our last entry that my family was out visiting us here on the Iberian Peninsula. A few months before this, Tim and I were trying to think about the upcoming weekends with visitors and on our minds specifically was the weekend that only my brother, Nick, was here. So, we hopped on our frequently visited low airfare sites and found a great deal on tickets to Rome. Perfect! However, we didn't tell my brother about the purchase until a few days before the Italian adventure, leaving it as a true surprise (this was an early birthday gift!). He was shocked and elated as we told him the news of our plans to combine forces power as a team of three to take on The Eternal City.

We spent three glorious days in Rome - FEASTING on glorious Italian food...pizza, pasta, wine, gelato. Oh, it was sinful! We aren't lying when we say that it is some of the best food we have ever had, uh, it's that good. We don't know how the Italians do it, but we are glad they are so damn good at it! Confession: all three nights we went to the same restaurant. Cheap, charming patio seating (in Trastevere, for those of you who have been to Roma before), and delectable. We kept saying, "We're just so happy!" God bless those Italians.

We visited all of the city's highlights: The Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica, Roman Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon...this place wreaks of history; so much began there. My favorite spot was Appia Antica, the ancient road that lead to Rome. It was a long quiet street that was lined with ruins, old churches, and catacombs. It was even said that the Apostles, Peter and Paul, were buried here at one time. Gosh, the US is just a baby!

We had the privilege of staying with a real Italian grandmother, Rosanna, who really talked with gesturing hands and said "a" after every English word she spoke in her Italian accent. A real treat to spend time there, and we highly recommend it!

Ciao...
timminono and corigiona (and nicholassinni)

Lots of Pics, Here