One of the vendors that was selling shirts was actually from Texas original. Jokingly, he introduced us to his political views. After a little idle chat, we grabbed a couple shirts and moved on to his neighbor for some grapes to snack on. The fruit in Rome is a little expensive, but no more than if you were to shop exclusively from a Whole Foods. Rounding the tables as we widdled down our grapes, we took this opportunity to buy some gifts for friends back home.
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| From Italy Honeymoon |
After finishing at the market, we moved on south to the Trastevere district. This place is a more traditional area where most of the city lives. The streets are old and feel more like a small town rather than the shaded corner of a bustling metropolis. Streets are lined thick with tall leafy trees and countless parked scooters and miniature cars. Just about every block is served by it's own piazza or park. Unlike the other parts of Rome, this place is quiet and calming, with children playing and people walking their dogs. It's the kind of place that makes you think you could actually live in Rome.
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| From Italy Honeymoon |
As we wandered through the streets, Sarina spotted a wide set of stairs at the end of the road we were on. I decided to count the number of steps with my feet, and proceeded to run up one step at a time. I counted 128 steps to the top. Beyond which was a public park set in the middle of the buildings.
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| From Italy Honeymoon |
The park was thick with all manner of cooling trees and bushes. Each corner of the soft, natural paths were claimed by gangs of pigeons. About every 100 feet we were met by a fountain or statue replica of some classic work living in a museum. The trails, lined with stones, seemed to twist around the greenery for an eternity. Outside the park, we stumbled upon a church overlooking nearly all the city of Rome: Piazza Saint Pietro in Monumento. From here, we could see down into the center of Trastevere, and out towards our next target: Saint Maria in Trastevere.
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| From Italy Honeymoon |
The ceilings in Saint Maria in Trastevere we painted almost entirely in gold. Although the light in the church was dim enough to confuse the time of day for much later, the candle light seemed to reflect a dull radiance from above. Almost like it was an attempt to make the guests feel like Heaven was just overhead, nearly in reach. The floors were a combination of small triangles and large circle, all in simple red, white and green. It was kind of like walking over a massive Italian flag that had been shattered when the church crashed down on it from the clouds. One other thing that was particular to this church was an elevated pulpit, about 10 feet above the floor, midway down the left side of the pews.
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| From Italy Honeymoon |
After appreciating Saint Maria in Trastevere, we pointed ourselves east and made our way towards the Colosseum for lunch and a Metro ride. On the way, we came across the only Sinegog in Rome. It was as large and elegant as most of the other hundreds of Catholic churches spread across the city.
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| From Italy Honeymoon |
We sat down for a panini across from the Colosseum. After a day of walking Trastevere, the warm, salty bread felt like a rush of life. Before leaving for the hotel, we checked out a small side-display on the edge of the Imperial Forums. It was little more than a gallery with a bookstore attached, but it gave a short relief from the day.
Before calling it a day, we stopped in to the general superstore for some gifts and the makings of a picnic lunch for tomorrow's trip to Borguesse.
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| From Italy Honeymoon |
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