Lynne and Bert in Italy: Rome, Porto Santo Stefano, and Villa Colombina

Well, we’re 2 weeks into our trip and have had a wonderful, albeit wet, time so far. It seems like it has rained more than not, but that hasn’t deterred us. Here’s what we have been up to...

ROME

We arrived in Rome last Friday, March 4^th and stayed one night after picking up my brother and his wife at the airport. We stayed at a very nice hotel near Termini (the main train station in Rome) called Hotel Serena. It was the first time we had stayed at this particular hotel, and we would definitely stay there again. After having lunch at a small trattoria near the hotel, we walked to the Forum and Colosseum,  and then afterwards headed for the Trevi  Fountain. 

You can’t visit Rome without visiting the Trevi Fountain.

My brother and his wife threw the ubiquitous coins in so they could assure their return someday. Then, that accomplished, we headed back to the hotel, after getting lost a few times, to rest before dinner. We had a very nice dinner, then walked a little bit afterwards while enjoying the first gelato of our trip. (The first of many, trust me!). Bert got his usual: half coconut, half chocolate. He’s definitely in a rut (but it’s a good one!), while I hardly ever get the same flavor twice. Jack & Linda also had their first gelato ever…yes, they’re hooked, too!  Linda vowed that the next gelato would be in a cone, not a cup. It’s the same price for either, and you can always combine two flavors. With so many flavors to try, that’s the smart thing to do.

The next morning, we were up early and grabbed a taxi to go to St Peter’s Basilica. We were there early enough to beat the crowd and were rewarded with shorter lines than usual. No matter how many times we see that church (and we’ve seen it many times), it never fails to impress us. Jack & Linda were blown away by the magnitude of the church and the beautiful mosaics inside. Of course, the crown jewel, the Pieta by Michaelangelo, was breathtaking, as always. 

PORTO SANTO STEFANO & VILLA COLOMBINA

So, back to the hotel to pick up our bags, we grabbed a sandwich to eat on the train to the airport, jumped on the train, picked up our car, and headed home. We arrived at Villa Colombina about 3:00 pm, unpacked, and settled in. Of course, Jack & Linda were anxious to see the house and grounds, so we gave them the grand tour before heading out to dinner with our Italian friends at our favorite restaurant, Il Foro, in Porto Santo Stefano.

We had ordered a specialty of the house ahead of time, Zuppa di Pesce, and it was amazing. First, they brought a large bowl filled with a delicious broth, and bowls of crusty bread. Those of us having the Zuppa were given a bowl and a knife and fork. So, there I am, waiting for my spoon, and when it didn’t materialize, I asked the waitress for it. Well, everyone looked at me and Luciana said, “Oh, no, you don’t use a spoon! You just pour the broth over the bread, and it soaks up the broth, and you eat it with a fork.” (Of course, she said this in Italian, and I didn’t understand it completely. Thank goodness for hand gestures and that Italians can’t talk without them!)

Then the waitress arrived with the piece de resistance, a huge platter filled with the seafood that had been used to make the broth. I wish I had taken a picture of that platter, but, alas, I didn’t. It was delicious!! Jack had Spaghetti alla Vongole (spaghetti with clams) and was suitably impressed. Bert always gets that when he can.  It’s made with these amazing tiny little clams and is absolutely delicious.  Jack & Linda couldn’t understand much of the conversation, as it was all in Italian, but they have made a lot of new friends nonetheless.

--Lynne