My life is too cool, and I’ll be the first one to say it. I’m about to head off on what will most definitely prove to be the best Spring Break of my life, but before I go, I have to document the insane week that I spent with Matt here in Rome. After his first couple days here, I got a little nervous. I had already showed him all the sights and was fresh out of interesting facts about the city. We fit what I had expected to take a week in about a day. Before leaving for Siena, I showed him the main attractions; we sneaked into Castel St. Angelo (which was ridiculous), and drank wine atop Gioncolo (formerly referred to as the Garibaldi Park).
We arrived home on Sunday exhausted and hungry. Thanks to my Grandma, there was a bunch of fancy veal waiting for us in the freezer, which we ate alongside brussel sprouts as we ogled at our strangely adult meal. Since when do I like brussel sprouts? I’m beginning to think there’s something wrong with me. Or maybe I’m just becoming a grown up. Actually, that’s probably exactly my problem.
I had planned to spend the next day at the Coliseum, but he had already been inside and neither of us wanted to pay the expensive price to go back. We decided to sit outside of it on a small patch of grass, whereby I quickly fell asleep in Matt’s lap. I must be pretty jaded and am definitely one of the few American’s who has fallen asleep in front of such a historic monument.
When I went to class that afternoon, I sat Matt down with a Rome guidebook and told him to find things he wanted to do. This is where things got interesting. I had no idea that Rome had so much to offer! Well, that’s not entirely true, but I’ve been too caught up to really explore the hidden spots.
On Tuesday, we climbed Quirinale, the highest of Rome’s seven hills, which was surprising, considering it was actually pretty low to the ground. We saw all sorts of political buildings at the top of the hill and laughed at the uber still guards outside of them. Afterward, we walked down by the Trevi Fountain to San Crispono, an overly fancy gelato spot that the guidebook suggested. I tasted a 30 year aged whiskey gelato, even though I wasn’t supposed to (thanks boobs), but we settled on the Crema di Mele (cream of honey) and Fresh Grapefruit flavor. It was an explosion of magic in my mouth. It was my favorite breakfast and my favorite dessert combined. This was not gelato to be eaten standing up. I made us wait till we arrived back at the Trevi, where we sat, speechless, eating the most expensive tiny cup of gelato ever.
After that we walked back to Piazza Barberini and into a church known as Cappuccini. The church was like any other, but it was what was underground that really blew my mind. For a one-euro donation, we were allowed into the crypt. A long, dark, hallway lead to three-wall rooms filled with skeletons of ancient friars, many of them still dressed in their robes. The walls, ceiling, and lamps, were all decorated with human bones arranged in elaborate patterns. Hipbones and spine segments created what looked like Victorian décor. It was outrageous, and unlike any other historical thing I’ve seen in Italy. That night, I taught Matt how to make Carbonara a la Pantry Raid. He loved it, of course, and was ecstatic to hear that Trader Joe’s sells all the ingredients!
On Wednesday, we headed into Rome’s Compton for an Open Market. After walking straight past the train station, the graffiti became more vulgar, the nuns were less present, and beggars filled the streets. Just as we were about to turn around without fresh food, Matt noticed a nun carrying a grocery bag. Then there was another. Tons of people were filing out of a small door of a gigantic warehouse. We followed the fishy scent inside, where we were confronted with the market of our dreams. There were different rooms for fish, meat, exotic produce, and local produce. We started with the fish, buying two hefty salmon steaks for just four euro and a bunch of fresh shrimp. I bought a plantain, some grapefruits, and a bunch of other things that made me too happy for words.
Later that day, we took the bus to Trastevere, where we visited Palazzo Corsini, a little known museum across the street from Trastevere’s most famous one. It was filled with interesting art from years ago, and in true Matt/Sienna fashion, we made fun of as many as we could. Afterward, we wandered across Ponte Sisto to a posh Sicilian bakery I’ve had my eye on for weeks. We ate a creamy and rich cannoli and were offered dense hot chocolate to accompany it. Matt, who doesn’t normally like cannolis, changed his mind in an instant.
We made the salmon for dinner with some wine, and after I was done studying for my midterm, we left for a jazz club. Upstairs from an unpopulated bar was an intimate arrangement of loveseats in a dim room filled with Italians. At the front, a live Italian jazz band played sweet music that, combined with the wine from dinner, put me right to sleep. A couple hours later, we sadly left the bar behind, but our heavy eyelids just weren’t having it.
Well, I’ve successfully procrastinated on writing this post. I have to head to class now, before my long journey to London begins. Don’t worry, that was only part one of the week. It gets even better. I’ll add photos and more details when I get home, but for now, ciao ragazzi!
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