Piazza di Spagna

For some reason my posts aren't showing up immediately after I write them, so bear in mind that the timing of what you read is probably off...

Yesterday after the Palatine, we got to go to the Mercato di Traiano (which is new, opened in Aug 2007), which was awesome because we got to go into these ancient market stalls and walk through the actual imperial forum. It's so cool to picture people buying and trading in these stores over 1,500 years ago!

There was also an open-air market going on in our neighborhood (Trastevere) all weekend so we went to that on our way home and bought flavored honey (miele) and I bought blueberry jam and we both bought cookies - all homemade.

Then finally we went out to a real Italian dinner last night at my favorite spot- Night & Day at the Pantheon. There is a waitress (possibly the owner) who has been there each time I have eaten there (2004, 2006, and now 2008) and she is so sweet, talking to everybody. Anyway she has a bichon frise who looks like Cody and her dog is still there :) This time I went to take a picture of the dog and she invited me to go inside and see her- turns out her name is Gaia and she is 4 and a half years old. She's a sweetheart! And I told the waitress how I had been coming to Night & Day every 2 years so when I left she said "see you in another 2 years!"

Afterwards Erica got gelato at this place called Giolitti which is always packed with Italians. I have a route from the Pantheon to the Trevi Fountain and it's on the way so afterwards we went to the Trevi. All the Italians I talked to yesterday were complaining about the cold. Then some Italian man asked Erica, "You want some boyfriend?" haha
So we're talking about the differences between Italian and American women and Erica goes, "I don't smoke, I don't watch my weight, and I'd rather have ice cream than a cigarette." So true.

Haha and then for some reason, at the Trevi Fountain, Erica goes, "Too bad we don't have something like this at our castle." Funny 'cause when we got back to our "castle" our hot water wasn't working!

I'm writing this on the Spanish Steps after an extremely fulfilling dinner (complete with a bottle of wine, dessert, and a great view) at Caffe Ciampini. Today was a full day- we started with the Scavi Tour this morning which was AMAZING. We got to see an entire ancient city with ancient tombs right next to where the first Christians were persecuted under Nero. The excavations are preserved beautifully, and our tour guide, Anthony, was from Wilkes-Barre! Totally awesome and we did get to see firsthand where Peter is buried. We were with a choir from Holland and they sang a beautiful song while we were by Peter's grave at the end of the tour.

We did get to the Mouth of Truth and we still have our hands, so that's always a good thing.

Signing off! We go to the ruins of Nero's Golden House tomorrow, as well as Castel Sant'Angelo... Buona notte!