Today was a transition day – leaving Capri and going to Rome. We’re always sad to leave one place but then excited to see the next, so I guess it works out just fine!
Tutto bene! At Dinner on our last night in Capri.
If we had to leave Capri, at least last night we had a great send off. We ate in a restaurant that I had noticed on my way back into town from my walk to Villa Jovis. It turned out to be a great find! The food was creative but not crazily contrived and the service among the friendliest and most attentive that we’ve had on this trip. Below are a few of the dishes we were served:
Some of our dishes from our dinner – clockwise from top: grouper fish balls; Caprese “My Way”; cuttlefish and salmon bonbon with red pepper sauce
Somehow we missed taking pictures of our main dishes but Ryan had Capri’s signature dish, Ravioli Caprese, and I had Fettuccine Bolognese. After the delicious dinner, we walked back through Capri Town on our way to our apartment below the city. It was still lively after 9:00 and festive with its strings of lights draped over the main piazza.
Capri Town after dusk
This morning we awakened to our first day of cloudy weather and drizzle on this trip. Below is a picture from the window of the ferry we were riding to Naples. The island of Capri is seen in the distance as it grows smaller and smaller.
Capri crying for us on our departure
It’s hard to see in the photo below but our ferry (with the letters SNA on the side) is in front of the Celebrity cruise ship in the port of Naples after we had disembarked.
Port of Napoli
Leaving the port
Driving to Rome from Naples takes 2 1/2 hours. We left the driving to a professional so we could arrive safe and sound on the busy Italian Autostrade (like an interstate). Fortunately along the way the clouds started to break up and blue skies and sunshine were beginning to dominate. It feels so much better this way!
On our way to Roma!
Driving through Rome to our next apartment, we happened to pass the Colosseum. It’s so weird to be going past regular city buildings and suddenly go, “Isn’t that the Colosseum in front of us?”
Passing the famous Colosseum on the way in
Finally we arrived at the Piazza Trilussa, just across the Tiber River to the west, as close as we could get to our apartment in a car. This was interesting because one of the Italian restaurants we frequent most in Palm Springs is called Trilussa.
Our apartment is located just off of Piazza Trilussa.
A short walk and an “invigorating” climb of 3 flights of stairs with all our luggage, now numbering 7 pieces due to purchases we’ve been making, brought us to our final “home” on our European adventure. Surely, this is one of the most interesting we’ve stayed at because of the old world charm that is exuded inside and outside the apartment. Below are two photos that give a bit of an idea of what we’re talking about:
The view from our apartment’s terrace in Rome’s Trastevere neighborhood
Looking out from our bedroom
After getting settled in, we were ready to hit the streets and see what our new neighborhood was like. Below are some examples of the street scenes we encountered during a 2 hour exploratory walk.
Clint was like a kid in a candy, errr, gelato store. (And, if I may say so myself, I’ve never seen so many flavors and it was some of the best gelato I’ve ever tasted!)
A demonstration, of some sort, in Campo dei Fiori (seemed like it had something to do with union wages.)
Colorful spaces
Art and architecture mixing in this, the most Roman Catholic city.
Shadow & light caught my (Ryan’s) eye
Chiesa Sts. Trinità dei Pellegrini – one of the many RC churches we passed on our short stroll.
After walking around this part of Rome for just a few hours, we had developed quite an appetite. It was about 6:00 p.m. by now. But, we keep forgetting that most restaurants close down in the afternoon and don’t reopen until 7:00. So, we had to distract ourselves for another hour until the restaurant opened for dinner. That wasn’t hard to do in this vibrant city and the wait was worth it because the meal proved to be another interesting one, full of flavor, and truly memorable!
Clint had Bucatini all’ Amatriciana – Rome’s most famous dish. Thick hollow spaghetti with tomato sauce, guanciale bacon and Pecorino cheese.
Ryan had Bombolotti alla Norcina made with cream, Norcia sausages, Parmigiano, Pecorino, black pepper and a pinch of nutmeg.
Very interesting, the difference from one spot to another. Capri look so beautiful, is Rome as great? keep sending these until the 8th.
Mom