After our Tuesday morning tour, Maggie and I adventured out to Borghese park with a few stops on the way, including one stop at a cafe called Ristoranti Sabatini where we ordered a "Cafe e Gelato": our own off-the-menu invention of espresso served over vanilla gelato. The idea for this concoction came from a cafe in Kilkenny, Ireland called the Mug Shot where Maggie ordered a delicious drink made from those two ingredients. Separately both are delicious, but together they become a divine infusion! For some reason, we haven't found a duplicate to match the exquisite taste as that found at Mug Shot. Nevertheless, I'm sure we'll continue to order it in Italy and maybe find it's Italian match!
One thing about Italian cafes is that the majority are bar-style cafes where one drinks their espresso at the bar, which is precisely why cafes here are called "bars", not to be confused with our idea of what a bar is. To sit down costs extra. At first, this idea perplexed me. I'm so used to the idea of sitting down to enjoy a nice cup of coffee, certainly not rushing to drink it. The idea here is that if one wants to sit down to enjoy a cup of espresso, he must pay for not just for the espresso, but for the conversation that accompanies it. This is why one never drinks alone, if he does then he drinks quickly at the bar. Paying an extra euro to sit down is normal for one sits to enjoy it and the company he is with. Paying extra to sit down is to pay for a long, enjoyable conversation with a friend! I'm so accustomed to ordering my coffee to go, but here a to-go cup consists of a dinky plastic Solo cup. I'd rather just drink it at the bar then get it to go, although no matter where you have it the espresso here is fabulous!
Continuing on our way to Borghese park led us through the Trevi Fountain and eventually up the Spanish Steps! Not but a five minute walk from the Spanish steps is the beautiful Borghese Park. Thanks to the Borghese Family we're able to enjoy such beautiful places such as these. Much of Rome's restoration is due to this family's wealth! A couple of hours were spent reading and just chatting away at this park that overlooks Piazza del Popolo and Vatican City. We sat specifically in an area where we could see the top of St. Peter's from our "hot spot" on the grass. A kind of cloudy-ness filled the air throughout the city. I've noticed that in a lot of places within Rome and Italy. The air isn't ever fully clear, it seems. Is it smog?
I watched the many couples enjoying themselves in the park. What a beautiful setting to share one's company! The majority of the benches were filled with couples in love. They seemed to exist in a certain timelessness--enveloped in each other. Something about this city evokes such a feeling! One thing seemed to be missing, and that was the laughter of children. I haven't seen a lot children in or around the Rome area. I don't know if it's because they're in school, but I rarely see young children running in the streets or at the park. This park is great for people watching and/or reading. It's open yet full of trees which are a welcome invitation for people such as Maggie and I who love spreading underneath their branches with a big blanket and picnic for a lovely afternoon of talking and reading! It felt very safe and offered much shade as a relief from the warm sun.
On another note, a couple of things have surprised me about the city. Although I've slowly become used to seeing them everywhere, various fountains fill Rome's streets. There is no reason to ever feel a need to buy water here--just keep refilling a water bottle. A drinking fountain can be found at almost every street corner and, if not, somewhere in between. I'm amazed that anyone and everyone can fill up at these fountains--nothing like our boring water fountains in the U.S. These fountains were made eloquently out of stone. The water pouring out of them is refreshing and tasteless!
Another surprising thing and something that has taken me longer to get used to is the graffiti that covers the city's walls, streets, buses, etc. Graffiti lines beautiful architectural structures and seeks to destroy Rome's beauty. I've learned to look past it, although some might argue that it gives Rome character--an urban feel. Personally, I'm greatly saddened by its impotence on Rome's history and beauty. That's not to say that graffiti in itself isn't a sort of art form that can be beautiful in the right context--but, as an act of vandalism, I find it destructive. Looking beyond, the important thing is that Rome's beauty still remains intact despite the array of graffiti that paints its many walls.
Until next time, ciao!
No comments:
Post a Comment