ROME (Italy)
02 July - 03 July 2017
02 July - 03 July 2017
No rest for the wicked in this day and age, right of the back of our wedding celebrations came my 42nd birthday. Bidding farewell to our families in the morning, Inga & I, accompanied by my best man, Janelle, headed north to the capital of Rome. This was to be the exit point for both Janelle and ourselves, with JJ heading back for home and us, heading on our honeymoon. With that said, we did have one night left in us and Janelle's brother, Jarrod, was flying into town from London in order to catch up with his sister and join us in my birthday celebrations.
The standard state of getting re-acquainted with an Australian that you haven't seen for a while is to have a drink, and of course in Rome there's no shortage of options. We took up residence at one of the bars on the Tiber River whilst chatting. This also allowed me to set the scene for what I had planned this evening as nobody, other than myself, knew what we were getting up to for my birthday celebrations.
The standard state of getting re-acquainted with an Australian that you haven't seen for a while is to have a drink, and of course in Rome there's no shortage of options. We took up residence at one of the bars on the Tiber River whilst chatting. This also allowed me to set the scene for what I had planned this evening as nobody, other than myself, knew what we were getting up to for my birthday celebrations.
Tiber River - Rome - Italy
Tiber River - Rome - Italy
Tiber River - Rome- Italy
Tiber River - Rome- Italy
Tiber River - Rome- Italy
For this evening I decided that I wanted to change things up a little bit and not hit the typical bar or restaurant which is what made me decided on making a reservation with Eat With Me, (Federica & Barbara of BB Kitchen). What this is essentially is like a covert Supper Club, or as they would call it down in Buenos Aires, a puerto cerrado. In these scenarios you end up going to the chef's house and eating a pre-determined meal prepared by them. Usually....and I say usually because I can only imagine it to be case, the venues are intimate, a little clandestine and atmospheric.
The home of Frederica was in the Trastervere area of Rome, a locale of winding cobblestone streets, tons of charm and more authenticity, or so I felt, than the centre of the city. Their apartment itself was quite nice and I would say large for Rome considering that about 20 odd people stood in it comfortably and were seated on the accompanying terrace more than easily.
As a venue I think it stood up well, ambient lighting, some well placed greenery and having a reasonable outlook over the rooftops in the area, it actually did feel like you'd been invited to a random dinner party in Rome, albeit that the guests were from all over the world.
In scenarios such as these, seating at communal tables can come undone quite quickly if you don't have an unwritten commitment from all parties to both instigate conversation and to invest enough time in keeping it running. Thankfully we had a lovely couple from Finland, Paivi Tontti and her husband Juha Tontti, and an equally as engaged Canadian couple, Pamela Keegan and her partner. Add to that a few Australians and one Latvian into the mix and you had a veritable United Nations gathered at the culinary negotiation table.
For something different and to have an experience in Rome that was relatively unique, the experience was a lot of fun. Actually after the event all our table went out drinking in the Trastervere area, effectively having the party kick-on. I suspect it could have become an absolute rager but for the fact that we were catching flights the next day. So the three Australians and the Latvian did the mature thing and bundled ourselves into a cab at a noble time.
The next morning was sluggish for us all. Random artefacts from the night prior appearing within our lucid morning prompting memories of drinks gone by. After picking ourselves up we headed out for some breakfast and made considerations to head to the Colosseum.
With the sun high but with time running short this is where we had to bid our farewells, unfortunately the Colosseum tour would need to wait for another day. Still, what a wonderful fours days it had been for us. A time of our lives that we'll never forget, certainly. But now it was time to head off on our honeymoon, and that meant heading to the airport and catching a big bird down to good 'ole Rio, Rio by the Sea-o
As a venue I think it stood up well, ambient lighting, some well placed greenery and having a reasonable outlook over the rooftops in the area, it actually did feel like you'd been invited to a random dinner party in Rome, albeit that the guests were from all over the world.
Eat with me - Federica & Barbara of BB Kitchen - Trastervere - Rome- Italy
Eat with me - Federica & Barbara of BB Kitchen - Trastervere - Rome- Italy
Eat with me - Federica & Barbara of BB Kitchen - Trastervere - Rome- Italy
Eat with me - Federica & Barbara of BB Kitchen - Trastervere - Rome- Italy
Eat with me - Federica & Barbara of BB Kitchen - Trastervere - Rome- Italy
In scenarios such as these, seating at communal tables can come undone quite quickly if you don't have an unwritten commitment from all parties to both instigate conversation and to invest enough time in keeping it running. Thankfully we had a lovely couple from Finland, Paivi Tontti and her husband Juha Tontti, and an equally as engaged Canadian couple, Pamela Keegan and her partner. Add to that a few Australians and one Latvian into the mix and you had a veritable United Nations gathered at the culinary negotiation table.
Eat with me - Federica & Barbara of BB Kitchen - Trastervere - Rome- Italy
Eat with me - Federica & Barbara of BB Kitchen - Trastervere - Rome- Italy
For something different and to have an experience in Rome that was relatively unique, the experience was a lot of fun. Actually after the event all our table went out drinking in the Trastervere area, effectively having the party kick-on. I suspect it could have become an absolute rager but for the fact that we were catching flights the next day. So the three Australians and the Latvian did the mature thing and bundled ourselves into a cab at a noble time.
Post meal drink - this looks like a round of tequila shots to me!
The next morning was sluggish for us all. Random artefacts from the night prior appearing within our lucid morning prompting memories of drinks gone by. After picking ourselves up we headed out for some breakfast and made considerations to head to the Colosseum.
Rome Fiumicino Airport- Italy
On our way to Rio via Lisbon - Rome Fiumicino Airport- Italy
When you have left over champagne...obviously champagne should never be left over, but if there's a time when it happens then drinking it at check-in on a flight to Rio is acceptable
Rome Fiumicino Airport- Italy
With the sun high but with time running short this is where we had to bid our farewells, unfortunately the Colosseum tour would need to wait for another day. Still, what a wonderful fours days it had been for us. A time of our lives that we'll never forget, certainly. But now it was time to head off on our honeymoon, and that meant heading to the airport and catching a big bird down to good 'ole Rio, Rio by the Sea-o
Flying down to Rio where there's rhythm and rhyme Hey feller, twirl that old propeller Got to get to Rio and we've got to make time You'll love it, soaring high above it Looking down on Rio from a heaven of blue Send a radio to Rio de Janeiro With a big hello just so they'll know and stand by there We'll fly there Oh, Rio, ev'rything will be okay We're singing and winging our way to you
