Rome is an amazing city, but sometimes you just have to get out. Via Appia, or the Appian Way, is a short bus ride outside of Rome’s city center but once you get there you’ll feel completely removed from the craziness of Piazza Venezia. Parts of the ancient road are well preserved and you can […]
19
Feb
Feb
Thank you to everyone that is keeping me on my toes by pointing out my recent lack of posts. Somehow, when I wasn’t paying attention, my ‘Italian Life’ became simply my life. Friends and dinners and sunny days in the park and work and even a little bit of studying have combined to take up […]
15
Feb
Feb
I steered clear of what I secretly thought was “water-y cheese” for some time. Not wanting to be rude at dinner one night, I apprehensively took my first bite. I’m pretty sure my exact words were: “Oh my God! It tastes like string cheese! Without the stringiness!” Ever since that eloquent awakening, I’ve become addicted […]
14
Feb
Feb
One of the things that never fails to make me smile are the love messages that you come across in Rome. Spray painted across roads and sidewalks, you’ll find declarations like this one: Defacement of public property aside- I think they’re touching. There is something very brave about professing your feelings to the person you […]
12
Feb
Feb
Italian pastries are pretty amazing, but sometimes I miss good old chocolate chip cookies. So when my friend came to visit, I requested US contraband: baking soda. You know what else American baking calls for? Butter. Lots of butter. (and zomg, did you hear about the lovers in Sicily that killed the woman’s ex-husband by […]
11
Feb
Feb
I’ve hit a very strange stage in my life in Rome: it no longer feels like vacation. The first few months in Italy felt like a long-extended trip. I was in love with the idea of Rome, but frustrated by Italian systems that I didn’t understand and secretly dreaming of how easy life was back […]
09
Feb
Feb
I’ll admit that I’ve broken plenty of corks. But I’ve never broken the corkscrew: I was momentarily stumped. Luckily, I remembered I bought a pair of pliers at Ikea! (I know, I know I swore I would never go back there). In Italian, “corkscrew” is cavatappi. Cavatappi is one of my favorite Italian words because […]
07
Feb
Feb
The weather in Rome has been absolutely amazing for the past three days. The sun is back and I’m slowly letting myself start to believe that maybe, just maybe, spring is coming. I spent Saturday at Villa Borghese reading in the grass, between dead winter leaves and new daisies. Che bella giornata!