Saturday, November 13, 2010 2nd to last day in Rome

Hello - and thanks for coming back again! 
We had originally planned to visit the Forum and the Coliseum today - but we figured we best hit the Campo Di Fiori Market and be sure to get the last of our shopping done.   There was no rain forecast for today - so didn't even take our umbrellas or wear our raincoats - live dangerously right? 

Once we finished our market shopping we headed to the bread baker that Diane Seed had taken us to that is right on the piazza - it was a bustling place - and if you weren't assertive and boogie up to the counter you might get trampled by Italians!  We got some hard rolls and then asked for some Pizza Bianca.  As we walked out of the store, EC said, the Pizza Bianca is warm - well we hated to "waste warm" - so we sat out on the piazza nearly inhaled our warm, yummy bread.  It was heavenly (we think when Diane warmed ours in the oven, she forgot it and it got a little tough).  This just melted in your mouth.  Then we noticed the people streaming out of the bread shop doing the same :-)  We felt VERY much like the LOCALS!  And we might have to figure out to make it!!  It can't have more than 4 ingredients - how hard can it be right?

This is the actual balcony and sign (Piazza Navona) that is sketched frequently

The church we planned to go to

 After the market we headed to Piazza Navona (OUR Piazza) to see what was happening on Saturday.  It was wonderful the street performers and water color and painting artists were out - the tourist were busy loving Rome - it was a hub of activity!
A beautifully sunny Saturday in Rome!

Random Tourist admiring the artwork at Piazza Navona

A young man posing for a sketch

Saturday activity of the Piazza in Rome

If you can't take the painting home ~ take a picture of it!

We headed back to the flat and ended up working on yesterday's blog for quite awhile.  We had to hit the streets again about 4pm - that is when things open up and the town begins to buzz again.  We explored and found areas of town that we had actually not seen yet - and were amazed at the activity and crowds that were out. 

We ended up eating on the Piazza - and had a wonderful meal of spaghetti and risotto with mushrooms (separately) - you can guess who had what :-)

We were told that mass was at 7:30pm on the piazza - so we wandered the street wasting time until it was time to go to mass.  There was a protest of some sort going on in the Piazza - not much English - but tons of people in matching T-shirts, TONS of Police - the SWAT team, paddy wagons, a loud speaker - and a marching type band.  We deduced that it was a human rights protest again the communist in China.    The nuns that walked by supported the protest - so we figured it must be something that was good for you or mankind.  

EC asked a police man what was going on - after my nudging - only to be told "we Italian - no English".  Hmm so much for feeling safe with all these police around, unless we were bleeding they wouldn't understand what our problem was!

Protest that required a great deal of Police presence

The sun quickly set - and the protest turned into a candle light vigil.  

Candle lights and humming

The city is a little different by night - we enjoyed the lights and the hustle bustle.

Strong police presence - but they looked pretty bored!

Buildings look so different by night!

Busy night life in Piazza Colonna

Just as we had walked around and headed to the church for mass - as we approached, everyone was streaming out!  I guess my Italian to English translating is not very good - we had asked what time mass was, I was sure she said Saturday at 7:30pm - drat!  I guess I messed up on the difference between sette and sei. 

So back to the flat we went as the town now comes alive!





Just for the loyal and the curious - here is a picture behind the blogger!

The blogger in Rome

Tomorrow - the Coliseum, the Forum, Castel Sant' Angelo, another massage and packing - it is our last day in Rome.
Ciao -
K and EC