Where did I find the time?

I can barely find the time to write on Xanga.  How did I ever do so much commenting?  Obviously, I was sitting in front of the computer a lot more.  I'm going to try to get around to visiting everyone soon.  Today just isn't the day.  Meanwhile, thank you all for the warm welcome back.  I really appreciate everyone being so kind.  Hope to see you soon!  Meanwhile, here's a few more Rome photos...

Margie

Check out the guy crumpled up in a little ball in the street.  I don't think he was feeling too well.

I love the expression on the little elephant's face.

Just a little scary church stuff.  They've got no problem with reminding you that you're going to be history yourself someday!

Why Rome is Difficult

Well, first of all, any time people don't speak the same language I do, I get a little concerned.  What if I need something?  Thank goodness for Hubbard.  He spent several months in Rome as a student. Long ago he learned how to communicate in Italian, though he doesn't know a whole lot of the language.  Hubbard isn't bothered by the fact that he probably looks like a babbling lunatic to these people.  He just keeps after it until they understand.  He's very polite and gracious.  Everyone ends up trying to help him when he starts "talking".  The evening of my birthday I went out shopping by myself.  I was a tiny bit terrified the whole time.  But, I did end up feeling like a grown up lady.  And practically everyone I ran into spoke English.

Rome is all uphill.  You've heard of the "Seven Hills of Rome"?  Well, there aren't seven.  Rome is one big hill.  In fact, I believe that no matter which direction you go, it's a climb.  And since Hubbard tends to march everywhere he goes in Rome, the ascention gets a little tiring.  I have to admit it.  I'm a wimp.  But, next time, I'd like to take it a little slower and use public transit a little more.  The first trip there I was afraid I'd miss something.  So, I wanted to walk.

There are too many people.  Too many alive and too many dead.  It's a very high energy city.  And I feel like some of that energy comes from all the ruins and history that you're walking amongst.  The first time we went to the Forum I thought I was going to faint.  It was so full.  The air was thick.  It was like everyone that had ever been there was still there.  Rome is a little overwhelming.

Rome is magic.   

Roma

Rome is a magical place.  It is almost scary, the way it doesn't change.  The energy is Rome is so intense that I was almost short of breath the entire time I was there.  It's spooky.  There's no denying it's spooky.  It is almost inconceivable that we stayed within a minute's walk to the Pantheon.  Narrow cobblestone streets, laid with cars not in mind.  Something stirringly beautiful around every corner. 

The central historic district is where we stayed.  We took a hellish cab ride to the Pantheon.  Italian dring is everything I thought it would be.  Terrifying.  Beyond terrifying.  From there, our cab driver claimed he could drive no further.  I was a tiny bit concerned that we were going to have to walk with our luggage a long way.  We turned the corner and there we were.  We stayed in the Piazza Rondonini.  Darling little apartment with a kitchen and a lift to the 5th floor.  A two person lift this was.  Three if you're willing  to become intimate.  It worked almost every day we were there, thank God.  We had a little balcony that overlooked the piazza.

That's our place.  Up there in the top left corner.  Those two "windows" were actually doors onto the little balcony.  The construction going on to the far left was a replacement of the tile roof on that building.  Judging from how fast they were working, it should be completed in about 7 1/2 years.  Here's our little piazza...

That little umbrella, we sat under it waiting to meet our weird landlord, Marco, and hand over a huge wad of cash.  Something felt strangely wrong about that.  But, it turned out to be the right thing to do.  Right below our apartment was this heavenly little restaurant.  More on that later.

So, here was our approach to Rome.  Hub is in charge of sight-seeing.  I am in charge of food.  Fancy that.  I was extremely lucky to find this book, "The Food Lover's Guide to the Gourmet Secrets of Rome" by Diane Seed.  God sent me this book.  Each chapter is a neighborhood.  She lists all the best place to eat and shop for food and drink. The book just came out in 2007.  It was written by a resident of Rome who is from the U.S but married an Italian man.  And she runs a cooking school.  Perfect.  Anyway, we'd get up every morning and decide where to go and then take down notes about restaurants in the area.  When people ask me what I loved best about Rome I always say it was the food.

After our first exhausting outing in Rome we came back to our apartment and landed on the patio of L' Angoletto, the restaurant right below our place.  The brought out wine and fried anchovies and suddenly I knew why I had come to Rome.  Nothing had ever been better.  The gnocchi was good.  But, the carbonara was fantastic with little crunchy pieces of pancetta and a silk sauce.  We sat and drank wine.  Just about the time I thought they had forgotten us, our waiter brought out a veal saltimbocca for us to share.  I can still taste it.  We shared some hazelnut gelato.  That was our two hour lunch.  Luckily, all we had to do was tumble into the lift and go take a nap.

This is what you need in Rome.  Patience.  Hub posted a reminder in our living room.  It's not easy going to Rome.  But, it's totally worth it.

Been A While, Huh?

  It's been a long while.  So many times I've thought of writing, just to sit and look at the screen and think, "I've lost the will to write".  I don't know what's come over me today.  Maybe it was Jaz. 

Max looked away four times like this just as the camera flashed.  You think she's figured it out?

This is the best I could get from her.  She's about 70ish pounds now.  And a big old snuggly sweetie. 

Roger the Wonderous Weenie Dog is still about the same.  Sitting on tables.  He has no shame.

We've been up to various stuff, the best of which was our trip to Rome!  That's a full blog of pictures which I'm not sure I'll actually do.  But, it was just the most amazing thing I've ever done.  Hub was in charge of the sights and I was in charge of the food.  I found this wonderful book that outlined all these fantastic restaurants by neighborhood and we ate ourselves across Rome.  I just can't tell you how great it was.  We rented a nice little apartment on the 5th floor with a balcony.  The Pantheon was literally around the corner at the end of our block.

This was the view from our room.

This is one of the fantastic places we visited.  The Castel S Angelo.  Rome is an incredible place.  We celebrated my birthday in Roma.  The restaurant below us knew us well before our stay was over (10 days).  Every morning when we left to go sight-seeing they would wave to us as we left the building.  I already have a list of all the things I wish I had done.  And 134 photos of the things I did do.

I had some of the best food I've ever had in my life in Rome.  It inspired me to ask 10 friends over to have a huge Italian dinner.  It would have to dig around to find the menu.  Three antipasti, a 6 lb. lasagna, three primi piatti (entree's), rice with mozzarella and basil and two desserts. 

Here's the table.

Here's the friends.

My friend Lori really helped a lot.  We both took off work and cooked the day before.  It went off without a hitch.  I love food.  So much so that I created a little Chinese New Year feast for Hub and myself...

Hub bought a new bike which he loves super much and he's already lost about 15 lbs riding it.  What is it with guys and shedding pounds?  Not fair.

He really loves his bike.  That's all for now.  Roger's about to knock the back door off it's hinges, wanting in.  Good to talk to you guys again for a minute.  Hope everyone is happy and well.  Now, I'm off to wish someone a happy birthday... 

Love,

Margie

Merry Christmas!!