"eat, pray, love"

Italy Part II:

can one find all three in one place?  I think I did!

After the prayers and spritual reflections in Vatican city, it was time to venture around and explore the city of Rome.

Mama Mia!

The most odd but, simple, delicious and fun five course Roman meal experience at 'Trattoria Der Pallaro' in Campo de' Fiori!

an eatery that has no menu!  Instead, they have the slogan "Here, you'll eat what we want to feed you."  The owner, Paola Fazi was more than just a simple owner.  She approached Arah, held her and squeezed her cheeks, and said 'mama mia', a typical of Italian culture!  Arah quickly became fond of her warm demeanor and ate all of her lentils and olives! 

 Arah also picked up the Italian ‘catch phrases’ and therefore

practical culture faster than any of us.  She kept saying ‘Ciao’ as we entered

or left a place and Italians did’nt seem to get enough of her clever

(deliberate) gesture!   

"You got more spaghetti I can devour?"

No salad dressing can be spotted here. pure Olive oil and perhaps some balsamic viniger is all you need!

Mehdi and Arah Enjoying the best pistachio Gelato near Pantheon!(Reza Gelateria)

Of course which Italy trip is complete without an Italian Pizza?  Just

remember that Pepperoni means just pepper and not ‘the

meat’ (smile)   

Pizzeria- mangiare!  We just couldn't get enough of this Pizza! and reasonable for 2 euro's a piece too!

the Pantheon

Colosseum

On a mission to find the 'Persian-Gulf' as a part of an ancient Roman's world Map on the walls of Colosseum.  Too bad weather was too hot and Arah was too impatient to make this happen.  Perhaps, on the next trip (smile) 

Built in A. D. 80, the Colosseum represents Rome at its grandest.  While the story of gladiators, prisoners of wars and slaves in this place can be more than familiar to many of us, the architecture and engineering novelty remains to hold more mystified properties.  The Romans pioneered the use of concrete and the rounded arch, which enabled them to build this tremendous structure to this scale.  The games took place inside this oval shaped arena(meaning sand), with the ratio of length to width of 5:3, often called the golden ratio which the architects thought existed in nature. 

inside colosseum balcony.  Arch of Constantine in the back ground

Temple of Saturn, Roman Forums (497 B.C)

Forums oldest temple with the statue of the god Saturn which was placed inside holding gold bars, coins and jewels of Rome's state treasury.

                                                

Ave Cesar!

{Imagine an Achaemenid vs Roman warrior battle taking place in 350 B.C! }

strolling along narrow streets of Rome.  This is how I picture Italy!

And the town might be old

but stores are stylish,

people are stylish,

and they're living a good life,

a modern life!





After all, what do you get if you spell Roma back wards? (smile)

And Arah, Mehdi and I made sure to toss our coins back wards( I tossed for Arah) in the Trevi fountains, just to hope to be back here again some day as the Romans say!(smile)