Little Italy 26

[Rosa]

Siamo qui ... Ciao a tutti !

Hello Auld, so nice to see you! Yes, I haven't been mumsnetting as much lately, I hope all is well with you.

Bananagio lives in Rome and I am sure she'll have some good tips. I am ashamed to say that it's been ages since I went to Rome , therefore no insiders tips from me.

Whoops sorry, posted to soon.

Yes, I am afraid I can't think of anything useful to say re Rome. I think I'd love to visit the Musei Vaticani, I think you need to book in advance if you are interested.

Oh, and it seems to be sunny and warm still in Rome, you lucky thing!!!

You called Franca . Hi auld, what kind of thing do you fancy? I would say Vatican is a definite, both the basilica and the museums. Definitely book in advance although if it is the last weekend of the month you are there then entrance is free so not too sure how that works. The Basilica is free to get into though and although you have to queue to go through airport type security the queues move pretty quickly.The Basilica of San Clemente is well worth a visit if you go the colosseum. Its a 5 min walk from there and is a building on 3 levels with a 4th century basilica and pagan temple. Look here . I would spend an afternoon wandering around the central piazzas as well and people watching at bars. The Spanish steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona and Campo dei Fiori are all within close distance of each other in the historical centre and the streets are lovely to wander round. Expect to pay for the privilege if you sit at the bars on the square but worth it to people watch with a glass of something. Food you are best avoiding the main squares, both for price and quality reasons. If you want a lovely view of Rome go up to the Villa Borghese Park, via the Spanish steps ( turn left at the top) and go to the Pincio which looks over Piazza del Popolo and all of Rome. Let me know the kind of things you are interested in and will try and come up with some more tips. Hope you enjoy it anyway. It is a wonderful city but am very biased. And if the weather stays as it is its the perfect time to visit, mid 20's so not hot to work around but warm enough to sit and soak up the rays in a bar. Oh and when crossing at zebra crossings, look the oncoming drivers in the eye and cross determinedly otherwise you will be waiting forever.....

Hi ladies, how are things? We had ds birthday party on tues. i postponed it due to forecast of rain on saturday and it was glorious then and on tues it absolutely chucked it down complete with thunder, so moral of story is never look at weather forecasts! All the mums were very sporting though and there was no panic voiced in my earshot at least of fevers although a few of the kids were ferried the 3 metres in between the soft play area and the giostre under the protection of an umbrella....Anyway ds loved it, i had lots of cake compliments ( a Francesco Totti cake, of course!) and I dont have to do it for another year hurrah! Am sooo knackered though, cant believe how tiring it is. Or am I just very old? Any decisions re what you are doing for the morti yet?

Ciao a tutti!

I must admit I hated the Vatican museum, DH dragged me round it for 3 hours, and the Sistine chapel was so noisy and busy, I was so disappointed. My favourite place is Santa Maria on the Via del Corso, just down from Santo Marcello, we heard the nuns singing night office, it was wonderful (but I'm verrry religious so!)

A Totti cake! My boys would still love that. Sounds a lovely day.

Wow, thanks Bananagio, that's great.
I like art galleries, museums, historical buildings and monuments,etc., but hate crowds (I know, I know, that's not really possible in Rome).
In fact, I like just walking around new places, looking at everything and at the people, without following a set circuit.
I'll look at the Vatican website, as we were planning on going there as well as the Colosseum, and I'd love to go to the Villa Borghese. Your tip about getting a good view is great, thanks.
I suppose I was also wondering whether there are any little treasures that fewer tourists would visit.

Thanks for your help - and I'll remember the zebra crossing tactic!

Aaaah just wrote a lengthy reponse Auld and lost it. So a briefer version here.Ostia Antica, wonderful old ancient port city. Very peaceful and away from the crowds. Like pompei without the crowds and volcano. Its half an hour on the lido train from the Piramide/ostiense station.
Trastevere is lovely for a wander but avoid it from late pm onwards if you dont like crowds as gets very busy with tourists and locals. You can walk from there across the island, isola tiberina, across to the Jewish Ghetto and end up in the historic centre.
Parco sevello has gorgeous views including a picture postcard view of the Vatican through a keyhole.
There is an exhibition of national geographic photos i have heard good things about here . Apart from that there are museums and galleries that are worth a visit all over the place.

Hi Auld, I'm not a Rome expert but have been there a few times... I was once taken to a church called San Luigi dei Francesi which has some wonderful paintings by Caravaggio that really stuck in my mind.
I also remember a good meal in the Jewish ghetto but can't remember the name of the restaurant. The sculptures at the Villa Borghese are well worth a visit, despite the inevitable crowds.

Rosa, that Peppa Pig party sounds like a great idea, my DD would be speechless if her favourite piggy turned up at her party! she's seriously obsessed. Sometimes even calls me Mummy Pig

Don't think we're going anywhere for 1st November, we're a bit skint travel-weary from all the upheaval in the past few months, but I'm hoping some friends will come and visit us soon, especially now that we're in sunny Puglia

Thanks! Am taking careful note.
Buon week-end !

Auld have a great time, don't be too scared of the crowds

Friends of ours were in Rome last weekend, and told me that there were 27 degrees on sunday !

We are staying in Milan, as we are in need of some rest, plus friends who live abroad are coming and we are all having a brunch on sunday. Shame that they haven't perfected the art of a good fry up here in Milan!

Buon weekend yes, it's right!

Hi Auld is it this weekend or next you go? If it is this then I am probably too late with this post as doubt MN will be top of your Things To Do but will post anyway. There are massive protests planned in Rome today, totally forgot to mention before. It all gota bit nasty the last time they were here. So i would avoid anything in the San Giovanni, Maria Maggiore, Colosseum area today as although I dont know the route they are taking that is the usual area. Also avoid Campo dei Fiori as that tends to be the square people gather in if there is going to be trouble. Today would be a good day to do the Vatican side of the river.
If it is next weekend you go then all this is useless info and am sure all will be calm and as normal then
franca have a good, restful weekend. I am having the same kind of weekend. Blaming the manifestazione for having to have a very lazy Saturday. Spag am sure you will be inundated with visitors before long. Are you enjoying the sunny, southern climes? I love Puglia!

Phew, it's next weekend, bananagio. Luckily, by the sound of it.
What are the protests about?

Thanks, Franca, I'm really looking forward to it, though am wishing I'd brushed up on my (O-grade, 1990) Italian. And, shallow as I am, I'm quite looking forward to shopping in Rome as well as all the cultural delights. Shoes, in particularly, are in my thoughts just now.

Hi Auld, pheeeew, good thing you are not in Rome today.

Yesterday there was a peaceful (i think) rally organised by trade unions to protest against the coalition government.

Today it's a big mess, lots of non specific "movements" protesting about pretty much everything, from cuts in the public education sector to the infamous high speed train connecting N/W Italy to Lyon.

Oh shoes... I really like Mauro Leone, lots of different styles at good prices (and they are made in Italy, apparently). There is a shop in Rome in viadel biscione 8

here: www.mauroleone.com/punti-vendita.php

(but of course you might have the budget to get those new studded valentino heels... in that case )

Have a great time hope the weather holds for you !!!
We had strikes yesterday but no protests I don't think ..well none I saw anyway ! Today it seems to be pretty normal !

I have hurt my foot but really don't know how or what it is.. Not fallen , twisted it etc but it hurts when I walk !!! No answers form here I am slapping anti inflammatory cream on it but it feels like bone rather than a swollen muscle / tendon or similar ..Plus it doesn't hurt when I am not weight bearing ....

Nope, no Valentino here. Budget limited... Will check out that shop. Thanks!

Rosa, oh dear. Where does it hurt? I hope it's not the dreaded caduta del metatarso! Have you tired to wrap it in one of those cerotti anti infiammatori? (the ones named TransAct are said to be good)

Franca its not the metatarso - I have had a version of that on my left foot years ago and every once in a while I get a dead toe when the nerve just has no feeling !!

This is on the inside of my ankle just below the ankle bone . It is as if I have a small bit of bone sticking out more than the other foot . It hurts when I put weight on it but not now when I am sitting down. Hurts when I push it with my hand . I have a cream which was prescribed when I whacked my hand and the joint inflamed badly so I have been rubbing that on. When I put tight shoes on ...like high trainers it is better as it is supported but I can't wear them round the house ..have 2 pairs of dh sports socks on. I hope it has gone in the morning or soon as I can't be doing with it !!!

Ciao ragazze!

oh, Rosa, that sounds terrible, I hope you get it sorted out quickly.

I have been so busy this last week, my ds2's school was burgled, and as I am secretary of the Parents Association, I have been spending lots of time dealing with it - putting pressure on the mayor to secure the buildings (it's the responsibility of the municipality), talking to the police, discussing how to replace lost equipment, etc.

I hope you are all ok and surviving the latest Berlusconigate! Greek news loves to talk about him, any time he's caught so much as glancing at a girl, there they are discussing the scandal! It's actually quite funny!

If anyone can think of an Italian equivalent for "don't hold your breath", I will be very grateful! I have jotted down "non si dice quattro se non e' nel sacco", but I don't know if that's quite right - it may have even been a local expression where I was in Italy.

In other news, when I was in Arezzo, I acquired a pasta machine, and as yet it's still in its box. This week, I intend to take it out and break it in! I have never made fresh pasta before, so I'm quite looking forward to the challenge!

Rosa, how's your foot today? Have you had it checked by a doctor?

Alex, how depressing, they robbed a school? was it broke in? Mind you, at Andrea's middle school there have been thefts from people inside the school. For instant the dvds in the library have been stolen. And I have heard that last year the laptop used by one of the SN students "disappeared" from it's (locked) drawer. A janitor was suspected but there was no proof. And this, being an Italian state school, means that no one will lose their job over it. Awful and depressing.

Well this morning thousands of swallows congregated on our roofs for their migration practises (or it might have been the real thing). Rather spectacular and a bit scary, if you've seen Hitchcock's The birds of course. They were really noisy too. But beautiful.

I will think about expressions.

Yes, it is incredible, isn't it. And this is a school with very young children. They took computer equipment, and an interactive console that was for the SN children (my ds2's class ) and a few other bits and pieces. All the toys and educational puzzles and things in the SN unit were thrown on the floor too, it was terrible.

It's similar here, too, Franca, if you are a civil servant

It seems a bit better but can-t get it checked as dd1 is at home with tummy ache. So have cancelled palestra and keep taking Ibroprufen and rubbing in muscoril. I want to try to go to a physio who will be able to see if its nerve or something as my doc will probably just send me for an xray then physio and I would rather know straight away .
What a terrible thing about the school. DD1 school has very old computers but I never send dd in in nice clothes or scarves& coats that are marca . Not that we have alot but her Napapuri stuff and nicefelpe as things like that have been known to vanish !
Dh has updated the computer so every punctuation is different to what it is on the keyboard. I can-t find the euro sign anymore and I have to do about 5 conti ...Arrggghhhh
As for a pasta machine I have never made the stuff apart from spezele and gnocchi. My Gnocchi are crap but my spezele are ok. I thought of something for the blog the other day the Italian invention of cervicale only Italians seem to suffer from them !!!!