Roma, bella Roma – Part I
Basel is conveniently located in the middle of Europe, great European destinations only a short flight away.
This weekend will take us to Rome. And big thanks go to my friends who invited me to this lovely trip (it was their present for my big birthday last year). Rome: I cannot believe I have not been to Rome before as I love to spend much time in Italy.
It is a short and lovely flight with a perfect view of the Alps and the coast line all the way to Fiumicino, Rome’s airport. We can even spot the Costa Concordia.
Glaciers in the Swiss Alps
We are lucky and find a very nice transport service, comfortably seated and expertly driven by Valerio (if you are interested I have his cell number) to our hotel on the Aventine Hill (one of the seven hills in Rome), close to the river Tevere.
The Hotel Aventino
The Hotel Aventino is truly a home from home and I can heartily recommend it (no affiliate link!). Within walking distance to all the historic places and restaurants (always very important for us) it is located within a beautifully kept garden, where the camelias are in full bloom.
We decide to go for a “short” walk and eat something in Trastevere (across the river). Little did we know that this short walk would result in a world record for hours of town scouting! But what a way to get a feel of a new town and slowly fall in love (or not) with it.
Bitter orange trees in the park close to the hotel – how I would love to take them home for marmelade!
We have a late lunch at Il Ponentino, a restaurant serving typical Roman food and moderately priced (we have antipasto and a primo piatto, lots of mineral water and some white wine, coffee and pay about € 20 per person). The quality is ok but can anybody tell me why a Frascati should be called PEOPLE?
I am overwhelmed by all the sights and smells and cannot stop taking pictures:
A vintage car in Trastevere: Dopolino
I love the facades with their different pastel colours
Santa Maria in Trastevere where we admire the magnificent interior as well
Back over the pedestrian bridge Ponte Sisto
View from the bridge
We walk towards the Campo dei fiori when the lovely smells from the Pasticceria I Dolci di Nonna Vincenza (I had a warning from Goggle about the link – just in case) beg us to come in. We taste a lovely friandise with tiny strawberries on top – delicious.
Campo dei fiori
Santa Maria Maddalena – a magical place
Fonte di Trevi
A long day draws to its close and deeply fulfilled with all these impressions I fall into a dreamless sleep.
Comments 26
Ooooohhh, I am so captured and enraptured by your words and photos Barbara. Sigh….
@KDillabough Wow, Snow Queen, you make my day, A am happy the love and care put into the Rome love story shine! Now on to part II …
@Late_Bloomers Your nickname for me always puts a smile on my face. One day I’m going to draw a picture of the image it conjures in my mind:)
@KDillabough Cannot wait for that picture, there is no limit to your talents!
Now thasa Italian……
Great pictures; thanks for sharing. I have flown over the Alps, but not there. I flew from Monaco to Geneva.
This definitely looks like a trip I would like to take if I could only get the wife comfortable with traveling; she doesn’t travel well (car sick, claustrophobic, etc).
Good stuff though; hope your day has gone well.
@bdorman264 Bill, lovely to see you here, hope everything is fine with you and your golfing up to par.
Why not take a boat then, big cruising ship I mean, might be appreciated by the wife. Or maybe not, when thinking about the Costa Concordia …
Have a great day!
I haven’t been on vacation in over a year!
And yes, we should exchange friends…please! Mine just gift me cheap jewelry….
@Hajra Pack your magic pajamas and socks and get thee gone!
Hajra, you make me laugh out loud and no, I will not exchange my friends, I do not like cheap jewellry, if it were the Hope diamond, we could get into business …
Thanks for visiting, you may have another cookie and I hope you are fine and stay out of the sun!
I love Rome and crossing the Alps by plane has such special memories for me 🙂
@tandysinclair Hey, Tandy, now you have me very very curious to know more about your special memories ;-).
How is the house building going? I had to laugh about your electric wiring post, funny, wherever we are it is the same story.
@Late_Bloomers it is comforting in a sense to know that this is a global problem 🙂
Believe it or not, I have never been to Rome! I can see that I have missed a lot. Sigh. So many things to do!
@JSJ2020 This was my first time, too! And that first day was so enchanting, like a first date (haha!), and when we finallly went back to the hotel after dinner, my head was spinning – what a feeling!
Everything looks so charming! Thanks for taking us on this wonderful trip, Barbara! I can see how Rome should be on my ‘must-see’ / ‘must-visit’ list 🙂
@jpage.manuel It is indeed charming, Joy, and Rome has been on my wish list for a very very long time! Working on part II ….
Hey Barbara,
Great pics. I have been to Rome once. It is a cool city. I walked the whole place. I could not go to Venice though. Best wishes for your trip 🙂
@blogaks Hi, Ashvini, walking the whole place is the best way to get to know a new location, is it not? Thanks for stopping by and do not forget to sing, I loved your comment over at Lori’s!
I haven’t been to Rome yet but your pictures make me want to get their sooner.
@TheJackB Hi, Jack, this is a lovely compliment, thank you so much, a picture is worth more than 1’000 words, eh? If only I had your talent with words, the world would be at my feet (as if I wanted that)! Have a great Pessach, how are you doing these days?
Lovely, lovely photos. Thank you!
@1plus1wednesday Thank you so much, Adrienne, I am working on part II but got sidetracked, writing and checking photos is like revisiting this marvellous town but with less tourists! Have a great and loooooong weekend!
Ah Roma, how I adore thee.
@JanineRipper Would it not be wonderful to sit in the café opposite the church Santa Maddalena and enjoy some coffee together? Haha, maybe next year, Janine?
@Late_Bloomers @JanineRipper I certainly think so!
so beautiful pics! thankk you for sharing. it’s so cold here iny germany and your photos make me feel a little warmer ….
@annaschueler Hallo Anna! Willkommen bei Late Bloomers und herzlichen Dank für Deinen Kommentar. Ich bin eben aus der Toskana zurüci gekommen und der nächste Post wird Dir noch mehr Sonne, Weite und Freiheit bringen!