Roma!

Rome has been fantastic for the most part. Natalie, my amazing hostess (the blond in the picture) lives in a neighborhood called San Lorenzo that makes me think of Brooklyn in relation to Manhattan: less touristy, more genuine, much calmer – except at night, because her apartment is one floor above an illegal nightclub! But I love to sleep with noise and the techno beats just lull me to sleep (along with the Italian dubbed copy of Love Actually that I purchased my first day here). The walk home to her apartment goes along the original Roman city wall (see it on the left side of the 1st photo?). It is gorgeous: very slowly crumbling but bursting with plants and flowers in random places.

I’ve spent most of my time just roaming the streets (no pun intended!) and trying not to look too much like a tourist. I’ve been here for 3.5 days and I’ve eaten at least 6-7 pizzas. My favorite was probably the one in front of Natalie: a white pizza topped with fresh arugula (although i went to Naples yesterday for pizza...that will have to be a separate post).

The opening of this particular McDonalds at the Spanish Steps is what inspired Carlo Petrini to start the Slow Food movement (and eventually, the organization).

Fontana di Trevi (the Trevi Foundation) is just one of the beautiful sites in Rome that I find more moving than the last time I was here almost 10 years ago. Everything here feels larger this time around. The two horses in the front of the fountain are meant to symbolize the two faces of the ocean: one calm and obedient, one wild and unmanageable.

More soon!! I leave early Monday morning for farm#1, in Umbria. Hopefully I figure out internet access and/or a cell phone of some kind by then.