Ansley's Italy Self Discovery Tour 2010 - Day 1

Okay.... So I made it to Rome. The web TV and keyboard I have is sketchy, so I apologize for any great mispellings.  Not that you would expect anything less from me.

I still managed to get on the flight from Chicago O'Hare, event after missing my orginal flight out of Dallas and having to shell out my original travel budget to get on the next flight. Lesson learned.

I was very impressed with the flight to ORD. The plane was huge and baller, with a TV on each seat and a choice of movies to watch. So I was very dissapointed when I got on the plane to Rome, that was much older. Even the Business class was sub par compared to the previous flight.

The flight itself was quick. (Thank you Xanax). I managed to watch the entirely of "Letters to Juliette" which was not only a run of the mill romance movie, but a complete waste and misuse of Gael Garcia Bernal. The lady in front of me also acted like she had never ridden a plane before; which meant her gawking and hollerring at the screen showing the projected path of the airplane and the temperature outside.
             
After the easiest customs check (didn't even get a stamp on the ol passport!), I made my way to the Hotel San Anselmo, which is tucked away in an actual neighborhood. My room wasn't ready, so spent a few hours exploring the Trastevere neighborhood, which was across the Tevere River.

My main goal in all of this was to find "Ristorante Pizzaria Roma Sparita", which is where Anthony Boudain went on a No Reservations episode and had the cacio e pepe. Although on the air the location was secret,  thanks to my mad Googling skills and a lucky search....I found it! The location was suppose to be at Piazza Santa Cecilia, but for the likes of me I passed by the piazza 3 times and couldn't find it. I did get to sit in on a lovely organ playing by a nun at the nearby basilica. Finally, after leaving the basilica, I look to my left and in clear view, there it was....closed. Appearantly, Mondays and Wednesday's are very popular days for places to be closed. But heaven help me I am not leaving Rome without eating the cacio e pepe from Roma Sparita. So stay tuned!

I walked up a nearby street and found a cute women's boutique. Right when I walked in I noticed a women at a sewing machine. She was young looking, and after saying our greetings, I find out that every piece of clothing in the store she made herself. I found an chic (and one of a kind) jacket that I just couldn't pass up. Livia even sewed the buttons on herself as I waited. My first clothing purchase in Rome and it is a good one.

Livia referred me to the area known as the "Jewish Ghetto" for lunch where there are lots of Kosher restaurants. I decided that my first meal had to be pasta. So after my Morreti beer, pasta Alla'Aamartrichira e caffe, I needed to head back to get to my room. Oh, and I got my first "Ciao Bella!!" walking on the streets.

I got back to the San Anselmo and got showed my room. My amazing, immaculate, gorgeous golden room. Seriously, it is called the Golden Room. It has a chandelier. A CHANDELIER! And a terrace that you might see in any Italian movie. The happiness was even better when they brought up complimentary spumante. Before I cracked I open, I went out to enjoy the terrace, when the couple in the room next to me said hello as they were having wine and snacks on the terrace next door. They (Marron and Kathy) were from Boston, but when I said I was from Dallas, Kathy said she lived there for 25 years. After a few minutes of communication, they invited me over to share in their wine and cheese spread. They were a fun couple, and it was nice to have good conversation over a few glass of wine.

But now that brings me here. Ready for a little power nap and shower, but heading back into the city to find dinner and vino.

Hopefully today was just the tip of the iceberg in my travels. Tomorrow is Colloseum time, and leaving for Sardinia in the evening.

Ciao!