Trip Report: Arrival in Rome
 

Half way through our fall 2008 Tour in Italy we arrived in Rome today. Como was relaxing, Florence busy, and now Rome...

The train that brought us to Rome was late, empty, and immaculate.

Argument with cab driver over the fare, which I always lose.

Domino effect of late train: our landlord was no where to be seen in the midst of the medieval lanes off Piazza Farnese.

Rome, a spectacular 70-plus degrees (October 10th), blue sky in every direction.

First lunch in Rome at a neighborhood trattoria spilling out onto the lane: caccio e pepe and for me , bucatini all'amatriciana (with some herbs from the Spice Man), accompanied by Rosso di Montalcino 2006.

Their motto is ''l,acua fa malle...er vino fa canta!'' [Water makes you sick -- wine makes you sing.] So we sang all afternoon...

This may be our neighborhood hangout, Trattoria al Balestraria on the lane of the same name. 16th-century Rome at its most authentic.

Hey Motorino,

Sounds like a great trip so far. I was wondering where you'd been.

We ate at Balestrairia last time we were in Rome. Great artichoke there, Roman style.

Can't wait to read the full report. The weather sounds fantastic.

Enjoy the travels.

Yes taxis out of Termini - even in the approved line up - can be tricky! Makes me angry when they cheat me but I try not to hold on to it and let a couple of euros spoil my time in Rome.

Do you mean that you brought a bag of dried herbs from a market and put them on the bucatini you were served in a trattoria?

Crunchy - don't visit here too often considering I am busy producing programs about Italy - about 700 to date whic you can view on my website. I decided to review what I have contributed over the years and I see even a few years ago your attitude is dis-tasteful at best. And why i decided to spend my time elsewhere...

Actually, no, we didn't buy herbs and put them on a dish at a "trattoria." Only you would come up with such a lame "assertion." But now I have confirmed you are full of "assertions." But I am proud of you for using the correct conjugation of trattoria.

Do you get paid to hang around here or is that in the big apple you can find nothing better to do than hang around here and lob non-sequitur at those you find threatening do to your own lack of education and need to feel like My BIG on Fodor?

Your comment on the pizza post today and this comment of yours 3 years ago confirms about everything I suspect about you and more... and as they say, " a leopard never changes its spots." Do you know the author and movie crunchy? Google it. As they say, "we must change to remain the same." It seems you need not change b/c you are always the same. Seems in this instance you have confirmed that art imitates life.

Centi anni Crunchy...

You came back to complain about a <u>2 year old post</u>??

And not even a nasty post at that. "<i>. . . and for me, bucatini all'amatriciana (with some herbs from the Spice Man) . . . </i>" does sound like you sprinkled herbs from the market over your bucatini.

ekscrunchy was just asking for clarification -- 26 months ago.

"<i>Seems in this instance you have confirmed that art imitates life.</i>"

Your own post confirms a thing or two as well.

(BTW - since the OP -- Fodors has instituted a posting code of conduct and personal attacks are not allowed. Just a word to the wise)