in bocca al lupo

Means "Good luck" in Italian! We have had such good luck getting train tickets, plane tickets, hotel reservations when over 7 million people were stuck in airports and train stations all over Europe.

OK, so far we have climbed the Spanish steps, tossed three coins in the Trevi Fountain over our left shoulders, had lunch with the Mayor of Rome and his marching band, had a long chat with Raphael in the Pantheon and checked the time on the ceiling to make sure we weren't late for the changing of the guard.




Our first meal together in Rome was in a brightly lit, sexually/sensually (both?) decorated vegetarian restaurant, Il Margutta Ristorante, off the main drag, Via del Corso. It was the perfect antidote to the heat and mayhem of the cobble-stoned, tourist group infested streets. We will have to go back for their 5 course vegan dinner...CANNOT WAIT.

That night we rushed over to the Chiesa All Saints to see the Opera, I Solisti dell'Opera. They sang 22 pieces from different operas. It was comprised of a harp, 1 violin, 2 violas, a stand-up base, a cello, one flute, one clarinet, and a french horn. There were four singers, a soprano (donna), a mezzo-soprano (donna anche), and two tenors (2 dudes). Our favorites were "Una furtiva lacrima" from L'Elisir D'amore, and "Nessun Dorma" from Turandot, both by Italian composers Donizetti and Puccini (I had to keep poking mom to keep her from singing the lullaby out loud). I recognized one song off the bat from La Boheme because our family saw it recently in Florence. Saturday night, they are performing La Traviatta! We may or may not attend, but it is cool nonetheless.

Today, we people watched and ate a leisurely lunch in front of the Pantheon. In our 2 hour repose we feasted on pasta dei fagioli, a fresh caprese, and an incredible radiccio, gorgonzola, and walnut salad drizzled with olive oil (or EVOO, for all you Rachel Ray watchers). To finish up we scarfed some tiramisu, seriously. scarfed. downed un espresso and un caffe macchiato and made our way back into the fray.

Teaching mom to say "May I please have an espresso with a spot of milk, please" was my highlight of the day. Mom's was seeing the St. Matthew triptych (the calling of, the martyrdom of, and the inspiration of) in the Chiesa Sant' Luigi dei Francesi by Caravaggio (which was actually my favorite as well because I got to share what I had learned in class with mom).

ciao! ci vediamo domani!