A Re-Cap of My Seven Weeks Here in Roma

It has come to the end of my trip through Europe and my blogs will soon end. For anyone that has read them I hope you enjoyed hearing about my experiences and the new things I have learned and hopefully you have learned some new things too. If this is your first time reading my blog, I am going to show a retrospective view of my major themes and places. One of my themes started out as pasta and I introduced you to some new Italian pasta dishes as well as different types of pasta. Towards the middle of my trip I expanded my pasta theme to different international delicacies of different countries I visited. I brought you to Spain with paella, and France with escargot, and London with fish and chips.
Another one of my themes was fashion. Here I started out pointing out some of the differences I have seen while walking around Rome. I also introduced you to some stores here in Rome that were very popular and well known. As I started traveling I expanded my fashion to some of the different cities I visited. I showed you the high class couture in Paris, and the creative self expression in London.
Lastly the place I focused on was the Trevi Fountain. I let you in on some of it’s history, as well as the traditions that go along with it. After my travels I helped you experience the different fountains in different cities like the Magic Fountain in Spain and the fountain in Luxembourg Gardens in Paris.Hopefully you have been interested and entertained by my blogs, and the themes and places I have explained have given you an look into the Italian and European culture.

The Fountains of Lonon

While in London I took notice to the fountains they had. Just by looking at them many look similar to fountains in Rome and the other cities I have visited. One difference is on a couple there is writing and it’s in English so I can finally understand what they say. Many of the fountains I took pictures of because they were pretty but I didn’t really know if they were important or what their significance was. My favorite fountain was in the middle of Piccadilly Circus. When I got home I did some research and found out its significance. This fountain is the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain. It is a relatively new fountain built in 1893 to commemorate Lord Shaftesbury, a philanthropist known for his support of the poor. The nude statue on top of the fountain depicts the Angel of Christian Charity.

http://www.aviewoncities.com/london/piccadillycircus.htm

Fish and Chips

Since my blogs have expanded to a wider range of food in general rather than just pasta, you have been able to see all of the different food from each country that they are pretty much known for. This weekend when I went to London, I knew that fish and chips, was their famous food choice. My friends who I was visiting have been living there for about five weeks now and advised us to get this meal for a cheap lunch from one of the vendors around the London Tower. This was a great decision, because the meal included a huge piece of fried cod, and large serving of chips, which are thick French fries. Although, I have heard of fish and chips in the US everyone says it’s just not the same until you have them in England. This is totally true. It must be the kind of batter they use and they way they fry the fish, because it was so tasty for anyone’s budget. You have to try vinegar and salt as well which really brings it all together. I can’t wait to try some fish and chips at home and see how it really compares.

Creative Fashion in London

Where do I even begin with the fashion in London. As you have seen in my previous blogs I have mentioned fashion here in Rome, as well as Paris, and now London. Many think of Paris as the center of fashion, but after visiting London this weekend I now know the difference and have made my own decision on what is my favorite. Paris is more of just a high end, classy, couture fashion area. London on the other hand is home of the creative, self-expression area of fashion. I really enjoyed seeing this area of stores I have never seen or heard of before. The way people dress there on the street is also really different and so fun to look at. There is one area of London I visited called Camdentown. This is an area of vintage shops, and cheaper outdoor markets of some of the trendiest styles and clothes available. To me that is what fashion should be about, not necessarily the most expensive, but what makes you feel good and happy. That mentality is precisely how the people in London look at getting dressed in the morning. Camdentown reminded me a lot of South Street in Philadelphia times ten in craziness and business. If you ever visit London, and fashion is on your things to experience, make sure you visit Camdentown, and it’s not only for fashion lovers, anyone who wants to see something different this is a place to see.

The Botanical Gardens

After everyone in the class researched different places to see in Rome that we have not been yet, there was a long list of places I realized I wanted to check out. One place really hit my eye even more than the place I picked myself. This was the botanical gardens. A couple other girls felt the same way I did and we all planned a trip there. It was about a 30 minute walk from our place in Trastevere, but was a nice walk through a part of the city we had not been yet. When we got there we were surprised in good and bad ways. There were some really beautiful tropical different plants there. The one thing we realized was many of the flowers were not in bloom, or already bloomed and were now dead because it was summer. We did see some beautiful roses, and there were many gigantic green leafy plants everywhere that I have never seen before. One really cool spot was in a greenhouse we stumbled upon. It was a couple rows of almost never ending cacti. All different kinds, they were fuzzy, or prickly, some shaped like flowers, some shaped like snakes. It was very cool to see so many different kinds. I would recommend a visit to this place because it is a nice break from the city and very beautiful even if all of the flowers are not in bloom. It was a good place to get some exercise in as well, with walking up the hills to the top and such. When we did walk up to the top we found a beautiful view of the city over the garden.

Our Own Walk through Roma

After everyone in the class described their walk through different parts of Rome, we decided to choose one from our group to actually take the tour. We chose Nicole DiMeglio’s which started at Piazza del Popolo, then went to Piazza di Spagna, then Piazza del Barberini, then ended at Piazza del Repubblica. It was a really great walk because this part of town is not one that I get to frequent very often. All of these Piazza’s are very large, and have very significant aspects to them. On the way from Piazza del Popolo to Piazza del Spagna we were stopped by a man in black on the street. We then saw a speeding car with a camera attached to the back speed around the corner. We found out that was another area of filming for the movie Angels and Deomons starring Tom Hanks. It was really cool to see that happen because, that was just part of another regular day in Rome walking the city. I especially like Piazza del Popolo the best because it is a very large Piazza. In the center there is a large fountain with a very tall obelisk in the middle. Other than the fountain there is nothing else in the middle only the surround churches on the outside. I like the open space and the fountain was very refreshing.

What Are These Fountains all About?

All three of these fountains are a great way to get your first taste of Rome. The first fountain, The Pantheon Fountain is the least important fountain but definitely a great sight. This fountain is the central part of the Piazza della Rotunda and really makes the piazza come alive. The fountain is round with interesting faces on the statues with water spitting out of their mouths. In the middle there is a semi-tall obelisk. When you walk through you will see many people gathered around the fountain taking pictures and sitting around admiring the entrance to the Pantheon. This fountain was originally drawn up without a specific location in mind and eventually ended up in the Piazza della Rotonda. One of different aspects of this fountain is that on the side facing the Pantheon there are five steps and only two on the opposite side. This is due to the fact that there is uneven ground and when constructing this fountain the creator did not know if would be placed in this area.

The next fountain is the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. There is an Egyptian obelisk designed by Bernini in the middle. This fountain in English means the fountain of the four rivers. Each of the figures on the fountain represent a river from a different continent, the Nile, Ganges, Danube, and Rio della Plata. This fountain is one of the most famous in Rome and is situated in one of the most well known Piazza’s in Italy. For this reason alone it is a great spot to visit. You will find a lot of entertainment and artists in this area adding to the ambiance of this amazing site.

Our final destination is The Trevi Fountain. I saved this for last because The Trevi Fountain is unlike any fountain you have ever seen before. The Trevi was originally used as the end of an aqueduct and also could be used as a drinking fountain. It is the largest running water structure in Rome. Now a days I would not recommend to drink from it but it does look refreshing on a hot day. There is a fun tradition to throw a coin over your left shoulder into the fountain and it will guarantee a trip back to Rome someday. Hopefully you enjoy this final destination, and if you wanted you could even do this walk at night and see these fountains all lit up under the moon on a nice night.

A Fountain Walk

Starting at Piazza del Collegio Romano make a left onto Via Pie di Mamo follow that to your left up to Piazza della Minerva. Make a right and walk through that Piazza and you will stumble into the Piazza della Rotonda. Here you will see the Pantheon Fountain which is the main focal point of the piazza other than of course the Pantheon. If you are facing the fountain with your back towards the Pantheon walk to the left and follow that street until you cross the Corso del Rinascimento. Piazza Navona will be on your left and you will find the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi in the dead center. After admiring this beautiful fountain go back out the same way you cam in and make a left back onto Corso dei Rinascimento and make a left onto Lgo. Toniolo. Follow that straight all the way past S. Maria in Aquiro. You will run into Via del Corso and cross that onto V. di Sabini. Follow that street to your right onto the V. dei Crociferi and you will end up at your final destination of the The Trevi Fountain.

Curly Fettuccine!

This past weekend I attended the weekly Sunday market of El Mercato de Testaccio. This is a market filled with clothing, accessories, home appliances, food, and much more. While walking through the market I made a lot of purchases one being some home made dried pasta from a food vendor. The man was selling all homemade products that he had packaged himself. He had tons of different pastas so I knew I had to choose one to take home and try myself. I decided to choose one that looked like little round bunches of pasta. When I boiled them they unraveled and came out to be long strands of curly fettuccine. I was very happy with my purchase because I had had this type of pasta once before at home but am not able to find very often. The pasta tasted fresh and doughy, which I liked. It definitely tasted home made. I paired the pasta with pesto sauce and a dash of balsamic vinegar. The end result was very yummy, and one I will take home with me. I just hope I can find this pasta at home!

The Trevi at Night

The Trevi Fountain at night is a site you must see. Many of the sites here in Rome are beautiful during the day but really come alive at night. For me The Trevi Fountain is at its peak when it is dark out. After finally visiting it at night this past week I feel even more in love with it, although I didn’t think it was possible. The lights shining off of the different statues with the shadows really give it an antique feel. I also love it at night because there aren’t crowds of people. During the day there are so many people it’s hard to even get a picture in front of the fountain by yourself. At night you have the freedom to stand wherever you want and really admire its beauty. Being there with a group of friends is really a great experience, and I recommend taking a favorite bottle of wine and enjoying a summer night at The Trevi Fountain.

Museo della Pasta!

Since so much of the Roman attractions are very serious and historical, I realized I wanted a little break from that to see something a little bit more silly and fun. I would love to visit the Museo della Pasta! This is a museum completely dedicated to Italy’s best meal of pasta. The museum features all different types of aspects to pasta from the different kinds, to antique machines used to make pasta, to pictures and the history of pasta. This museum is a great place to go for pasta lovers and take a break from the statues of Rome. The only problem is the entrance fee is ten euro, a bit much just to see pasta, not even eat it.

Sant' Agnese fuori le Mura

Rome is a city filled with too many attractions to count on ten hands even if you them. To pick just a couple places to visit is hard. Being here for seven weeks has given me the opportunity to see much more than I ever imagined. While looking through my guidebook I found another place that really looks interesting and would love to visit. This place is Sant’ Agnese fuori le Mura. This looks interesting to me because under the church there are catacombs you can visit with an entrance fee. These catacombs seem more interesting to me than others because there is a crypt that holds St.Agnes who was buried there in 304 A.D. The story of St.Agnes was what really interested me. She was a thirteen year old martyr who was ordered to be exposed naked by Emperor Diocletian. He did this because he was furious that she rejected the advances of a young man at his court. The best part of the story is that after being ordered to be exposed naked supposedly her hair miraculously grew to protect her modesty. An added bonus is before or after the catacombs you can check out the church above.

*Rome Eyewitness Travel Guides. DK Publishers.

My View of Boys Town

After visiting the Boys Town, I was surprised in a good way. This place felt more like a summer camp, than a glorified orphanage. The housing was large, and very clean. The bedrooms were set up for three people and they were bigger than some people’s rooms at Penn State! I was very impressed with the assembly hall where they have their town meetings every three days. They discuss concerns or problems throughout the community, and their leaders are chosen by the other boys every two months. This gives many boys the chance to learn responsibility and leadership skills. We met the mayor of the town and although he didn’t speak English his words were translated and you could see how proud he was of his town. You can see how much respect they have for each other just by seeing them interact with one another. The older boys take care of the younger ones like they are their little brother or son. It seems like an amazing place to grow up and learn the most important life lessons. Most of these boys came from horrible conditions, and they are now happy, and living a successful life.

Boys Town of Italy

When you think of Italy you think of the ancient city and beautiful scenery. You also think of tourism and site seeing. On the other hand there is a need to help the underprivileged and homeless as much as anywhere else. One of the greatest programs they have here in Italy is for homeless children. They have places called Boys Town and Girls Town. These towns consist of homeless children who have been taken in and govern and live in a town all on their own. I have such high expectations for my trip to see this small community. I think it is really wonderful to get kids off the street and give them the opportunity to change their life for the better. They learn responsibility, work ethic, and so many other important life skills. I expect to see many small stores operated by young men, just like any other town only with younger people. I am excited to see how the city thrives with young men and no real adults. I am very interested in seeing how the laws of the city work with such a young population.

The Teatro of Ostia Antica

One site in Rome that you may not have considered visiting or may not have even known about is the site of Ostia Antica. Ostia Antica is much like Pompeii in the fact that it once was the largest commercial port in ancient Rome, and is now in ruins. Its decline began all the way back in the 4th century. While walking through these ancient ruins I was stunned by the amphitheatre. This structure is still very large and able to be used today. The whole back of it behind the stage is gone today, but the whole seating area is still in tact in a round open air theatre. Although the upper two-thirds of the seating area has been reconstructed, it is still amazing to think you are sitting and watching a show in the same seat someone sat over thousands of years ago. When Ostia Antica was alive and running the theatre was used for entertainment for up to 4,000 guests. In the ancient times the theatre was twice the size of what it is now.















http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/italy/ostia.htm

Caution: No Heels while Site Seeing

Fashion in Rome is definitely an important thing to many people. The only problem is sometimes the appropriate fashion is not always around at the right time. While visiting the inside of The Colosseum today I noticed a woman walking around with about six inch black patent leather stilettos on. The weather was about 80 degrees and sunny. The Colosseum is all dirt, rocks, and steps. I can see that this woman was very fashion conscious, but she definitely did not know where to draw the line when site seeing. Unless you are doing a photo shoot in this historical site, there is no reason to wear stilettos. Not only did she look ridiculous and out of place, but her feet must have been killing her. In the end, it is always your choice to wear what you want but please I advise you not to wear high heels while walking around The Colosseum or any part of Rome, unless you are going out for a night on the town.

Spain's Pride and Joy, Paella!

As my blog has expanded to all different foods it is appropriate to tell you about one of the most delicious dishes I have had yet. I am sad to say this is not an Italian dish but rather a Spanish dish which I had in Barcelona. Spain is known for their Paella. Paella is a dish consisting of rice and either all seafood or a mix of seafood and meat, with spicy seasonings. The dish is made in a large frying pan almost and is served in the pan it is prepared in. It is usually made big enough to share with 2-4 people. I had the dish with two other people and it more than filled us. It was a great change from pasta and was absolutely delicious. I have definitely heard of this dish in the U.S. but never tried it. I’m not sure exactly where you can get it but I think some research is deserved so I can enjoy it at home as well as in Spain.

The real "Magic Fountain"

When it comes to The Trevi Fountain being magical that is definitely a word I would use. The only thing is when I visited Barcelona recently I discovered what the actual Magic Fountain is. In Spanish, the Font Magica is a huge fountain in front of their art museum that displays a fountain show of colors, and different patterns of water after dark. The main fountain is in the middle is at ground level but as you ascend up the escalators or stairs there are a series of more fountains tinted with a goldish color. The real treat though is in the middle with the main circular fountain. The fountain spews water in really high circular, or straight up patterns while different colored lights make the water look like a real life tie-dyed shirt! As you walk past there are hundreds of people taking in the sight as well as the live music all around on the platform right above the center fountain. I can definitely say this fountain is a close second to The Trevi and a definite tourist site to visit if in Barcelona.

Fountains in Piazza Navona

While out in Rome Piazza Navona is a must see place. This piazza’s main focus is the long oval shaped center with three fountains spaced equally from one end to the other. In comparison to The Trevi Fountain, these fountains are a much smaller, but just as beautiful a place to congregate and socialize with friends and family. The largest fountain in the middle is also the most famous of the three. This is the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, there is an Egyptian obelisk designed by Bernini in the middle. This fountain in English means the fountain of the four rivers. Each of the figures on the fountain represent a river from a different continent, the Nile, Ganges, Danube, and Rio della Plata. While at the piazza there are usually many different street performers and here at the furthest fountain there was a group of musicians playing together, and an older couple dancing in the middle of the piazza. This is the exact type of scene you can only find in Italy.

A Jaunt Outside the City

To get to Ostia Antica from Roma Termini, you would first start out leaving the Termini station, which is right at the Piazza dei Cinquecento. Walking out of the station you go to the left. Walking straight on the road, to the right of you and forward, you will see a blue sign that has the letter “M” on it. Walk down the stairs, and make sure that you follow the blue sign that reads “Metro Linea B”. When you get down the stairs, there will be a little room, and a machine named “Biglietteria”.

To buy your ticket for the metro, go up to the machine, and hit the touch screen on the British flag. There will be four types of tickets that you could choose from, and pick the first option. It will cost 1 euro for a one-way/75 minute ticket. I suggest you purchase 2 tickets, so that you have a return ticket for your trip back to Rome. Go through the turnstiles. Make sure you get through the turnstile for “Metro Linea B” going to “Laurentina”.

Get onto the metro, and remain on until it stops at "Laurentina".You will get off at the 8th stop, named “Eur-Magliana”. When you get off the metro, follow signs directing you to the “Lido” train. To get there, you will have to go underground and to the left. Go upstairs at the entrance to the “Lido a Cristoforo Columbo” train. Get onto the train and take it to “Ostia Antica”. It will take about 30 minutes to get to this stop, and it will be the 5th stop.

Get off the train, and leaving the train station cross the street using the “Blue Sky-Bridge”. Walk down Via della Statzione di Ostia Antica. Follow this road down to the parking lot located on your left.

Ostia Antica is open Tuesday through Sunday, May through December, excluding religious holidays. It opens at 8:30am until 1 hour before sunset. The link provided would direct you to a page designed to help you find out more about what to expect when arriving at Ostia Antica. You will approach a ticket office, and tickets can be purchased for 4 euro per person. After your ticket is purchased, you will be able to explore the ancient ruins and be able to experience Rome’s largest port town that is now a preserved city, much like Pompeii. To get the map of Ostia Antica, you can pay 2 euro at the ticket office to get a detailed guide of what to expect upon your trip. If you refer to the guidebook Eyewitness Travel ROME you will be able to look through all of the history of places throughout Rome.

If you have time, the closest beach to is along the same train line as you would take back to Rome, and should be easy to find how to get to. Lido di Ostia is a suggested beach to travel to. If you refer to Rick Steves’ ITALY 2008 you will be able to get additional travel hints or advice on how and where to travel throughout Italy.

Created By: Kelley Costello, Nicole Vella, Ilana Segal, Hillary Jones, and Alyssa O’Donnell

Getting to the Most Famous site in Rome

When arriving in Rome at the Termini station you can choose to make your way to the center of the catholic religion. This is St.Peter’s Basilica. You will be crossing the entire city on your way. Start our straight to the V. le. E. De Nicola and make a left. When you get to the corner of the Republica it will be on your right in front of you, make a right. Go to the center of this Piazza and make a left to get to the Via Nazionale. Follow that all the way down until you run into the Mercati Traianei. Stay to your right on the Tre Cannelle and make or stay right onto Via IV Novembre and stay left on the Corso Vittorio Emanuele. You will pass Palazzo Venezia on your left on the way. Stay straight on this road all the way down towards the end and you will see S. Giovanni dei Florentini on the left and then get to the bridge of Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II. Stay straight to the Via della Conciliazione and make a left. Stay straight and you should be able to see St. Peter’s Basilica in the distance right in front of you. St. Peter’s is the central location for the catholic religion. This Basilica took over a century to build. In the Basilica there are many sites you need to check out. The first is the Baldacchino, a canopy designed by Bernini in the 17th Century. The other most important part that you won’t and can’t miss is the Dome of St. Peter’s. It was designed by Michelangelo and is 448 feet high.

Your Journey to The Trevi Fountain

When arriving in Rome at the Termini Station you will start your journey to the Trevi Fountain by walking out of the train station facing the Piazza del Cinquecento. Walk straight up until you hit the V.le.E.De Nicola and make a left onto that street. Take that until you hit Via Torino and make a right. Once on that street you will pass the Teatro Dell Opera on your left and the Republica on your right. Then stay straight and make a left onto Via Nazionale. Stay straight until you hit Quattro Fontane and make a left. Stay straight on that until you hit Via Della Consulta and make a right, you will run into the Piazza de Quirinale. Pass through that piazza and stay to your left on Via Darateria. Turn left but stay on that. When you find V.lod. Sconderberg make a right. When you find V.d.due Modelli make a left and you will run into your destination of the Trevi Fountain! The Trevi Fountain is the largest and most famous fountain in Rome. It was originally used as the end to the main aqueduct in Rome and you could even drink out of it. Now it is one of the main tourist attractions in Rome simply because of its beauty. There is a legend that if you throw a coin over your shoulder, you will someday return to Rome.

Escargot, a huge 2 Thumbs up!

Being in Italy you get into a routine of the P’s; pizza, pasta, and paninis. It’s hard to get out of that routine because the other dishes are more expensive and on a college student’s budget it’s not that easy to splurge. So the good thing about traveling is you feel like you’re only in that place once so you might as well splurge on the things that are worth it. For me being in France means trying their different food. One of my choices of different food was definitely trying the Escargot. I had it once before on a cruise ship but I was very young and couldn’t remember the taste. At the first restaurant I went to I decided I had to try it, if it was on the menu, and it was! When it finally came I was a little puzzled by the instruments given to you to use to get the little snails out of their shells. It was actually a lot of fun learning a new way to eat something and the right way. The first bite just melted in my mouth. The sauce was absolutely delicious. They were hot and had a very meaty texture. Many people think they are very chewy, but I didn’t think that at all. I could say they are an equivalent of mussels in America but much classier, of course everything in Paris is classy. In the end, I definitely recommend the escargot especially if you are an adventurous eater like myself.

Vogue....Strike a Pose

Since Paris is a huge fashion capitol I figured I would see some amazing things here, and that I did. After walking down the Champs-Elysees admiring all of the high class designer stores, I walked down the steps and to the Seine River. To my surprise I was walking right into a fashion photo shoot! There was a girl with a beautiful dress on posing in a very awkward position against the wall. There was a photographer with a huge camera, an art director, a make up artist, and a couple other people all hanging around. I was caught in my tracks not knowing if I could walk past, and starring. I had never seen a real photo shoot like this right in front of my eyes. This just shows how regular things like this are in Paris. I did not think it was the most appealing part of the city, but who knows what the shoot was for and what it was meant to look like. I can't wait to see if this is a huge ad in an international magazine or something. I can say I saw that in progress! All I can say is, Paris totally lived up to its fashion standards.

Child's Play at the Fountains in Paris

When walking around Rome you are bound to find many fountains. As I have stated in earlier blogs there are many drinking fountains, and fountains for visual pleasure. While in Paris this past weekend there were not as many fountains. There definitely were not any drinking fountains located along the streets. I went to Luxembourg Gardens where I found something interesting that I haven’t seen in Rome yet. The garden was centered on a large pond with a small fountain in the middle. This pond was used to sail small sailboats around by the young French children. As I observed from the side I watched boys and girls from ages as young as 3 and up sail their small sailboats with a large wooden stick used to propel the boats. The children were dressed to the nines and you could tell they were privileged. Although they looked very well- to do the fountain was used for great entertainment for these young children. If I lived in Paris I would take my children there all the time. This garden really took you away from the city, even though you were still in the middle of it. Watching the children laugh and truly have fun with their boats around the pond was a culture shock. This was a form of child’s play I did not see very often in the U.S.

A Different type of Macy's

When you are in America you take many things for granted. When it comes to shopping in Italy you would never think to miss any stores at home, but one thing I have come to realize is there are no one stop shopping types of places. The closest thing I found was a store called ZARA. When I walked in it was much bigger than I expected. There were three or four floors all of different clothing. There was a women’s department, a men’s department, and a children’s department. The women’s department has a couple different sections, one for older women, one for working women, one for just fun clothes, and one for younger women. I really liked this store there was a wide variety of clothing at decent prices. There were some pieces a bit more expensive than they needed to be but that happens everywhere. Being in this store reminded me of being in Macy’s back home, and I thought this must be the closest thing they have to a store like Macy’s. I did not see a section for your Home, but on their website online they have home furnishings for sale. ZARA is just another example of the beautiful fashion in Rome.

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/08/zara/image/intro.jpg

Squid....Tasty!

Since Pasta has been my main focus on Italian Dining, I have decided to give you a little taste of the other delicacies here in Italy. While traveling one weekend to Sorrento, I knew the seafood was a must to try. The reason for this is because Sorrento is a city located right on the sea. When we first arrived at our hotel there were about five different restaurants right on the shoreline. The first was a restaurant of all seafood dishes. We found out later this restaurant was one of the most well-known seafood restaurants in Sorrento. What made it look so appetizing was a man brought up a box full of fresh fish they had just caught in the ocean. We walked over and the waiter proceeded to describe the different fish and how they tasted. The first night we were there I had mussels, and they were cooked to perfection with just the right sauce. The next night I ordered a meal titled mixed grilled fish. I’m an adventurous eater so when I saw that I didn’t even think to ask what kind of fish was on it. When I got my meal I was a bit surprised because there was one piece of regular fish you would see in the states and then there was squid, a king prawn, some other type of shell fish, and only what I can guess was the body of the squid. Everyone else had ordered pasta so they all looked at me like I was crazy, but I knew it was going to be good. To my surprise I offered the other’s a bite and they accepted and some even liked it! The moral of the story is try new things especially in a place that is known for something specific, you will be happily surprised.

That's an Old Fountain

Although The Trevi Fountain may be the largest and most beautiful there are hundreds upon hundreds of water fountains around Rome. They go from the smallest of just drinking fountains to the largest optical amazement's such as The Trevi. The Trevi is also not as old as many other fountains in Rome. One of the oldest presumed fountains is Fountain of Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere. The oldest date it appeared on a map was in 1471. This fountain was thought to be a restoration of an even older fountain. This fountain was one of the only ones found in a poor district and was always lacking a rich and continuous supply of water. Later Alessandro VII Chigi finally increased their water supply and moved the fountain to the center of the square. Throughout the years the fountain has been modified in many different ways, and in 1692 Pope Innocent the XII had it cleaned probably increasing the capacity of the basin and moving the shells so that they face inward almost to protect them. In 1873 the Municipality of Rome re-built the fountain in bardiglio marble.

http://www.italyprivatetours.it/home/Monument.asp?ids=223&City=FOUNTAIN%20OF%20PIAZZA%20SANTA%20MARIA%20IN%20TRASTEVERE

Get yourself a new Favorite Meal!

There is one pasta dish that I found here in Rome is one of the favorites. It is called Pasta Carbonara and I have never heard of it at home. I have been seeing it on all the menus when I go out to eat and never order because I am never quite sure what it is. After some research I have found the answer to my questions. Pasta Carbonara is usually spaghetti or fettuccine tossed in a Carbonara sauce with bacon and/or prosciutto or sausage. The Carbonara sauce is made with melted butter, beaten eggs, parsley, the cooked meat, Parmesan cheese and pepper. The cooked pasta is added to this mixture and there you have your Pasta Carbonara. Although, I have not tried it not it sounds delicious and I have the confidence to order this favorite Italian dish and make it one of my own favorites.

http://www.taunton.com/cms/uploadedimages/images/cooking/articles/issues_91-100/051092056-01-spaghetti-carbonara-recipe.jpg

Spend Wisely...

While walking around Rome I have seen many boutiques and cute clothing stores that I have wanted to check out. Last week I decided to check out a store called TEBE. This was a very stylish, trendy store with decent prices. If I lived here in Rome and used the Euro as currency the prices would be fairly cheap. The problem is I use the dollar at home and the exchange rate is so bad the prices at this store seem to look a little pricier. On the other hand I really enjoyed their clothes, there were many pieces that I felt I could find at home in America but then again there were some other pieces that I knew only getting them here would be the wise choice. The one piece I fell in love with was a leather motorcycle jacket. I have been looking for one at home for a long time and would settle for fake leather just because I like the style of the jacket. At this store they had a jacket that was the exact style I wanted and in real Italian leather. That is what caught my eye; the real Italian leather. At home I have always heard Italy is the place to get leather. I have noticed the do sell it all over the place here. I even passed by shop one day where I saw a man hand making a leather bag in the store. Anyways the jacket I wanted was in five different colors! I have decided to make a promise to myself to spend my money for the rest of the trip as I need to and if I have enough I will go back to this store and buy my dream jacket. Isn't Rome the place where dreams come true?

Fountains around Rome

As you walk around Rome you see many different flowing water fountains. Some are very small and some are very large. The small fountains are meant to be used as a means of hydration for the passers by. The water is extremely fresh and cold. It can be a great pick me up during the day, without having to spend extra cash as long as you have a water bottle with you. As for the big fountains they are really there for visual effects, and they do their job. They are very beautiful on the sunny days when you can see the clear water change into blue in the air with the backdrop of the blue sky. The bigger fountains look like a fabulous place to jump in and cool yourself off on a hot day, although I don’t think many people would think you were still sane if you did that. The Trevi Fountain is the largest running water structure in Rome, and there have been some crazy people who decide that jumping in is the best decision. The ones who do probably will never forget it, and have just made a memory for the spectators as well, saying they saw a person jump in this historical landmark of Rome.

The Sweet Life

Some movies are made popular, or made unforgettable because of one scene. For instance in the movie Rocky, one of the best scenes is when he is training for the fight and finally runs up the stairs of the Philadelphia Art Museum and throws his hands up in victory. The steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum completely made this scene what it is today. For many movies their one memorable scene takes place in front of The Trevi Fountain. This is a place that is so beautiful, and different than any other place on earth that it can turn a good scene into a spectacular scene. For instance in the movie La Dolce Vita, the character Sylvia finds herself standing amazed in front of the Trevi Fountain in the middle of the night with no one around. She decides to jump in, in her clothes and immerse herself in the flowing water. Her love interest Marcello was wandering around trying to find milk for her cat when he stumbles upon Sylvia swimming in the Trevi Fountain and drenching her hair in the fountain of water. He is so enamored with her beauty he jumps in to be with her. The scene is very sexy, and classy, at the same time which has made it one of the timeless scenes of old film. This scene would not have been made possible without The Trevi Fountain; it has made the movie what it is today.

*Check out this scene on the link below, just click the video when the site pops up!

YouTube - My Favorites

The Oldest Recipe Around

Most of the best dishes around are the best because they have been passed down in their family for centuries. After doing some research I have found how pasta was first used and a popular recipe used with this pasta. It first starts with a type of boiled dough called itrium, there are different forms of this dough and the one used in this recipe is called laganum. In Latin this word refers to thin sheets of dough. The first time I read this i realized that's just what lasagna is like and this must be where the word comes from. This dough dates all the way back to the first century B.C. and it was fried and used as an everyday food. The recipe comes from the second century Athenaus of Naucratis who provides this recipe from Chrysippus of Tyana of the first century. The recipe includes very fine sheets of a dough made of wheat flour and the juice of crushed lettuce, then flavored with spices and deep-fried in oil. Later in an early fifth century cookbook there is a dish called lagana which consisted of layers of rolled out dough stuffed with meat and baked in the over which deeply resembles modern day lasagna.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasta

Rome, the new Paris?

For a very long time Rome has always been on the back burner to Milan. Milan is known for their ready-to-wear fashion while Rome is known for their haute couture. Milan's ready-to-wear fashion consists of popular names like Versace, Armani,and Prada. Rome's haute couture consists of couturiers like Sorelle Fontana, Gattioni, Renato Balestra. With Rome consisting of names like this it may soon become a rival city to Paris as the couture capital of Europe. As a result of Rome becoming such a large contributor to the world of fashion there are many fashion shows in the summer to not only highlight fashion, but cinema, and TV to enhance the worldwide image of Rome as a whole. One of the largest fashion events in Rome is the "Donno Sotto le Stelle" show which is an open-air feast for the eyes of any fashionista held on the Spanish Steps. This show is a must see for anyone interested in high fashion.


http://www.romanhomes.com/why_rome/fashion.htm

Mens Jeans, a little different in Roma

As you walk through the streets of Rome it usually is very easy to tell an American from an Italian. This is especially easy with men. The men here in Italy tend to care much more about their clothes and appearance. I have noticed that most of them style their hair in the morning and their clothes are also much more polished. I see many men wearing pants that are a lot tighter and form fitting. Their jeans are usually designer and do not hang like many American men's jeans. The more professional men seem to wear nicely fitted suites and fitted dress shirts and black pants. Another thing I have noticed is most young men in America seem to wear baggy comfortable clothes to go to class or do many things throughout the day. Here this is not the case. I have not seen any Italian men in sports wear during the day at all. In my opinion I like to see them dressed nicely in clothes that fit. The men's style in America is getting way past the point of baggy. I think they should take a lesson from the Italians and try out a new style.

Dinner at Home

While in Rome you can walk the streets and see fresh produce, meat, and cheese everywhere. I'm sure your first thought is to go out to eat because the restaurants are so amazing here, but making dinner in your own house is just as good and much less expensive. My favorite pasta is Rigatoni and walking through the market you get many new ideas on what to add to your pasta whether it be the sauce or ingredients. I have found a sauce that was in a jar in the market. It is pesto alla calabresse. I think this is a pesto sauce made of peppers. I also added fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. Once i finished putting it all together, i tasted it and wow is all i can say! It was absolutely delicious, I could not believe I made this dish all on my own! So for the sake of saving money and being a bit adventurous, try out your own creation on a budget! You will be satisfied.

Bella Sposa!

When I decided to let you all in to the upcoming fashion trends of Italy, I realized there was something else that is just as important as everyday attire. This special part of fashion may be the most important piece of attire a woman will ever wear in her entire lifetime; a wedding dress! In the small part of Rome that I live in which is Trastevere there is a small bridal boutique just around the corner. There is a beautiful dress in the window that catches my eye every time i pass by it. One morning as a group we were waiting at the Capitoline to go on a tour of the museum and witnessed the guests of a wedding starting to show up. The capitol is Rome's office for civil weddings, as well as many other things. We then saw the Bride arrive wearing a beautiful gown, looking like the happiest girl alive. We looked over and saw her standing underneath a beautiful marble arch, and I thought to myself how amazing it would be to have a wedding in such a beautiful, romantic place. Getting a wedding dress in Italy could be one of the best ideas of your life. Just the fact that Italy is known for fashion, I know you would be able to get a one of a kind dress for a one of a kind day in your life.

Make a Wish!

Ahhh, the famous Trevi Fountain. I can not explain in words how excited I was once I could see with my own eyes this amazing piece of artwork and history. After talking to so many people before I came to Rome I knew of the famous legend that if you throw a coin in the fountain behind your shoulder and wish to come back to Rome you will! So as soon as i got there i got my coin out, turned around and threw it over my shoulder wishing to come back. After i did that, i knew it would come true no matter how many years it takes me. How could i not come back to this breathtaking city? After the coin toss, I stood around in different areas looking at the fountain, looking at the beautiful blue skies above us with the puffy white clouds rolling by. I thought maybe this is what heaven looks like. When you look up and understand how big this fountain is and see the white marble against the bright blue background it is unlike something you have ever seen before.

My First Pasta Dining Experience

While traveling the city of Rome, you look around and see tons of restaurants everywhere you go. Most have outside seating especially in the many piazzas around the city. While visiting the Pantheon a group of about 5 girls decided to get some lunch. We decided on a small place just about 5 yards from the Pantheon. It had nice outdoor seating and a great special listed outside the door. We were able to get a salad, wine, and a pasta dish for 10 euro. This sounded good to us. You could choose from 4 or 5 pasta dishes, one of which was the cannelloni. We all were not quite sure what cannelloni was but we tried it. When it finally came out our mouths were salivating at the site of this pasta. It ended up being three large round pieces of pasta filled with ricotta cheese and spinach. It was covered in a delicious red sauce with just the right seasonings. The pasta itself was very very tasty. I would say the cannelloni is the closest thing to manicotti if you know what that is in the states. So, basically you need to try this cannelloni, maybe you could look up a recipe online and try to make it yourself if you can't get to Rome to try it on your own.

Italian Fashion

Fashion!! Who doesn't like to look good? As a huge connoisseur of fashion, i knew i wanted to explore the world of fashion in a completely new country. The trends of fashion trends in the U.S. many times come from Italy, and i am excited to get a head start on some of the trends while I am here. Hopefully through this blog you will be able to see these new trends for yourself and show off your fashion forward style. Although Milan is really the birthplace of fashion, Rome is also a huge contributor to fashion around the world. If you walk down The Corso, you will eventually walk right into the expensive, luxurious part of town. There are stores like Fendi, United Colors of Benetton, Tod's, and many more. In the future I will be taking you through this part of town as well as small boutiques around town and the street fashion of the people of Rome.

Delightful Pasta

Many Americans favorite type of food is Italian. While at home there are hundreds of Italian restaurants all over any area you may live in. I have always dreamed of coming to Italy to taste real authentic Italian food. I wasn't sure how many differences there were in Italian food that you may order in a restaurant in America and the food you will order in Italy. I have decided to try and experience as many different kinds of pasta available and what types are used in different dishes. Pasta is an extremely important part of the Italian diet. There is even a whole museum devoted just to pasta. Here in Italy pasta is actually meant to be part of the first course, and then you move on to the second dish usually consisting of some type of meat or fish. Italian dinners are a social event which usually consists of your whole evening. Dinner is meant for you to socialize and have fun with friends while enjoying delicious food and great local wine. In my blogs to come you will discover new pasta and dishes through my delicious research throughout the city.

The Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is one of the most beautiful places to see in Rome and even all of Italy. Being in America I have seen many pictures, and have seen this sight on T.V. and movies so many times. It always looks so magical, and filled with tons of people who are extremely happy and loving life. The fountain has a tradition that if a coin is thrown into the water it guarantees you will someday come back to Rome. The fountain will capture and pull you into its breathtaking atmosphere whether it is day, night or anything in between. As a visitor to Rome make sure you get to this site and throw your coin in, because you will be back.