Today is a new day, and after sleeping some absurd amount of time, we were ready to get out there and see what Rome had to offer. We started off by heading to Campo de’ Fiori. There is an open-air market there in the square that is available every day except Sunday. Though the goods that are sold are not necessarily the most authentic, it is one of the most prominent markets in Rome, so we had to see it.
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There were plenty of vendors selling pastas, fruits and vegetables, and various spices. We found a particular vendor who was selling lots of different dried fruits. Some of them were candied, but many of them were just dehydrated. He was nice enough to let us sample some of them, and we ended up settling on the dried melon for a small and quick breakfast. Costing us under €2 for a nice portioned bag, it was well worth it.
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After the market, we started walking toward the Colosseum. On our way, though, we realised that we were in Rome for a very special event: the Coronation of Mother Teresa. Just like when we happened to be in Thailand for the start of the protests, we were unaware that such an event was taking place during our visit.
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Fairly close to the Colosseum, we decided to stop at the Imperiale Café right outside of the Richmond Hotel for an early afternoon coffee break. It’s a rather touristy area, so I was hesitant, but it turned out to be a really nice experience. I got an Americano, and this time, they honoured my request for no sugar. Deb got iced tea with fresh peach nectar, and she loved it.
After our refreshments, it was about time for our reservations to the Colosseum. Normally, there are substantial wait times to get in, but tickets can be purchased ahead of time through Co-Op Culture, and I would strongly recommend doing so. We were able to queue up and get right in to see one of Rome’s most magnificent sites!
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It was really impressive to see it from the inside, and witness just how enormous of a structure it truly is! Again, as to be expected, there were masses of people, but somehow, they didn’t seem to detract as much from the structure as they did at Trevi Fountain. I still preferred seeing it from the outside, though, and found the view to be even more stunning from the steps to the southwest.
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After the Colosseum, we moseyed down the way to see a much lesser-known attraction called the Bocca della Verita (Mouth of Truth). Unfortunately, though, we were too late and had just missed the last entry time by about five minutes. It seemed like an interesting spot because of the legend that if one tells a lie with his or her hand in the mouth of the sculpture, it would be bitten off. Alas, though, we would have just to believe the legend. 😛
Instead, we walked across the river Tiber to the neighbourhood of Trastevere for our dinner reservations at VII Coorte. We had seats on the beautiful terrace, which was even more lovely at dusk. We started with a mixed Bruschetta plate, and all the choices were great! Unfortunately, though, for me, that’s where the goodness ended. I found the pasta to be wildly overcooked, which was disappointing considering the high reviews of the restaurant.
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After dinner, I returned my camera equipment to the hotel, and then we walked back to Trastevere because it is known for its great nightlife. We started out at Ombre Rosse, but it was very busy, and didn’t offer the more subdued evening that we were after. We walked west toward the Tiber, and found Niji Café instead. We had a couple perfectly-made cocktails and just enjoyed one another’s company. Interestingly, though, it confirmed to me that cocktails completely pale in comparison to the enjoyment that I get from wine.
Afterwards we stumbled upon Café Friends just a couple blocks south of our hotel. We stopped in and shared some wine before retiring for the night.
Cheers,
Zach
