"Fatte du' Filetti"
Very busy day. But, first I hate to admit latest camera fiasco. Just downloaded tonight's pictures, and learned that somehow setting got switched to video so all I have is very short video clips instead of photos. Maybe I'll put a couple in here and you can pretend they are pictures. After mercato, I took metro to Piazza del Popolo. Was starving so had a little spaghetti carbonara and wine to get me through till night. Here's a couple pics, before camera setting changed.
Arrived back home to meet another of Maria's students, Greta, a 21 year old university student who is working on her Italian. I also came in on tail end of some aglio e olio, and had to eat what was left so as not to let it go to waste. Then helped Greta with english as she helped me with Italian.
Later went out for evening with Maria Grazia. As soon as we left, there was a huge anti-Berlusconi demonstration passing by our front door.
I think this is short clip of protest.
As walking on our way, came upon line of serious looking Caribinieri holding shields expecting trouble from the protest. One of them informed Maria we couldn't go through and would have to go another way. She wouldn't accept that, and found a higher ranking one, who after listening to her, politely let us through. Walked by several beautiful sights on way to Campo dei Fiori where we were going to have dinner at small local place not frequented much by tourists. On way, I did the typical guy trick of reaching for my wallet, realizing it was gone, and explained to Maria that I must have left wallet in other pants, and how was I going to take her to dinner. Unfortunate part of this was that it was all true. Luckily, Maria had some cash, though not much. I was totally embarassed, but she found good humor in it. The restaurant was a roman version of fast take-out food. Specialty is deep fried cod that you wrap in a napkin and eat by hand. We sat at table and had ours with salad and wine. Many others came in, ordered and walked out with piping hot freshly cooked cod. Very good, but not my favorite way of eating baccala. Maria had exactly 25 euro to cover our tab. Only problem was we had planned to stop for gelato on way home, and now we were flat broke. Walked back home, where being the gentleman, I did reimburse Maria from my found wallet, and still feeling bad, told her I was going out to Fassi to bring back take-out gelato for her. So, hit the streets again, bought 5 etti of gelato (riso, pesca e cioccolata), which they nicely packed with some dry ice for the walk home. By the way riso is rice gelato which sounded pretty strange, but was very good. Arrived home with the package, and Maria had the bottle of grappa waiting on the table. A very nice end to the day.
Here is a quick look at the restaurant. Oh, their motto, the title above, roughly translates to "Eat two filets."
Sorry, this seems a bit messed up with video clips showing up a couple times. If you can't see them, you aren't missing much.
ReplyDeleteI have had that same problem with the camera, you almost need to check it every time because it is so easy to slide into video mode. Great photos though. You had a very busy day, glad you are safely tucked in and snoozing away while my night is just beginning. This time change is so weird to think about, your day starts as mine ends and vice versa, freaky how that works.
ReplyDeleteGiuseppe, I am laughing out loud... does this whole thing agree with you, or what? And, nice job with the wallet, by the way. But, it seems there were no hard feelings, as Maria Grazia had grappa waiting for you. I am enjoying this blog very much.
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