Latium

Attitudes to public drinking in Italy seem to be more lax than in most other places I've been to. This is hardly shocking if you remember that we're talking about a wine-exporting Mediterranean country, but still, what you can matter-of-factly do here may very well surprise your typical New Yorker.

One example: during our last expedition to Rome (which neatly coincided with Ree's birthday), we got it into our heads to finish the evening with a glass of champagne next to the Trevi Fountain. Guess what?

Read the rest of: "Drinking Champagne by the Trevi Fountain"»

While Ree is enjoying her wine or Pellegrino or whatever, I'm salivating over that ball of mozzarella di bufala. I'm almost ashamed to admit that I'd never tried this kind of mozzarella before. It is kind of watery, but the taste is wonderfully fresh...

WHAT: Mozzarella di Bufala
WHERE: Le Volte: Piazza Rondanini, 47 Roma 00186.  

I was about to start my visit at Galleria Borghese in Rome when a sudden bout of hunger hit my travel companion. I'd already eaten lunch that day, but being compassionate and all, I agreed to accompany him to the cafeteria before embarking on the gallery tour.

The cafeteria at Galleria Borghese is a typical museum joint selling coffee and sandwiches to the museum's visitors. Our choice of a lunch spot wasn't completely random - I'd walked past it before, as we were waiting for our tickets, and I'd already made a mental note that one particular sandwich could be good... the one which later turned out to be the best sandwich in Rome (pictured)...

Read the rest of: "Il Panino Più Buono a Roma"»

My fiancée and I were in Rome because I had to get a visa at the Canadian Embassy. While in town, we managed to avoid most tourist traps, staying at a reasonably priced hotel and working a couple of delicious meals into our busy schedule - all while remaining consistently vague about our nationalities... And of course, doing as the Romans do...

Read the rest of: "When In Rome, Do As The Romans Do"»

When (or if) you ever get sick of all those remnants of the Roman Empire and that over-rated Michelangelo and you really want to forget where you are, check yourself into the Zoo in Rome. It's also one place in Rome where you probably won't run into your neighbors from Nebraska, your roommate from the hostel, or anyone other than Roman grandpas with little kids in tow.

The entire Zoo is in a gentle state of decay, and the reptile room was vaguely "under construction" when we visited (that is to say, Not Open). A few peacocks wandering around adds to the general mêlée, and the surrealistic atmosphere is sad but pretty...

Read the rest of: "Monkeying Around in Rome "»