When its summer in Rome, its normal for the temperature to be at 35 and even to 40 degrees Celsius. There is a tradition here for many Romans to head to the beach in different parts of Italy. And some find this the perfect time to cool off in swimming pools.
I was really motived to go swimming when I saw a video of my friend Lynn and her babies having a swim on facebook. Growing up in sunny Singapore, we’d head to the pool every now and then. The prices at most was 2 Singapore dollars per entry in a public pool.
So imagine my shock and horror when I saw these prices for the public swimming pools in Rome.
Here in Italy, there are two big sales mainly in January and the other in July. And since last Saturday, I’ve noticed loads of shops, mainly those selling clothes, shoes, bags and accessories being on sale, with big 50 percent off banners all over. Of course, that made me feel very excited!
With many of my summer clothes still in Singapore, this was a good excuse to buy moar pretty stuff, after all :-D
Hence, I went to one of my favourite clothes shoppe, Mango and scoured around for some wearable stuff and I saw a couple of outfits that I love. Like these :
I love the white cotton print dress. Its so comfortable and yet it makes me feel so pretty and girly. Pair it with a pair of heels and oooh laa laa, instant glam. I don’t think you could see it from the picture, but it has lovely lace details around it.
The green outfit is very wearable too. Its very comfortable as its made of a cotton blend. And because its stretchy, I don’t feel lumpy in this. It might look simple, but with the right accessories, its easy to look glamorous with this one too.
Unfortunately, in my opinion, the price doesn’t seem very sale-y. Even with the discount, it costs about 60 euro in total. Freaking heck. I’m just a housewife with no income. So this sale, doesn’t feel like a sale to me. But I do like my outfits anyway.
Anyway, I’m adding this picture of the dress I got from last year’s sale with me and Sweska. This was supposed to be an ala Marilyn Monroe shot. But it looks more like Sweska is doing something naughty instead :P
Cart and I have been hosting the lovely Sweska and hensem Ntt and showing them around Rome since last Thursday. And just a few moments ago, we waved our goodbyes as they left for Venezia.
I could probably blog about the awesome food that we ate, like the orgasmic tiramisu that we had in Genzano.
Or blog about the interesting places and monuments that we’ve seen while in and outside of Rome like when we were on the open bus.
Or I could be cheeky and make a post about how the three of us had fun in bed with Cart taking footage of the whole act
Or how hopelessly addicted ALL of us were to the internet
But because I am still very sore and upset that no one cared to leave a comment on my spectacularly awesome video blog post about Bevagna, that I used brain cells, hours and creativity to edit.
So hard to give comment is it? Will die one is it? Humph!
So I protest. I wont blog about our expeditions. At all!
After going to Bevagna about two weeks ago, Cart and I decided to head back there again for their annual gaite festival. It was interesting to see as everything in the town is made to be recreated as back during the medieval times.
Check out the video below on our adventures!
Thanks a lot youtube for choosing a still of me nomming of all things
Even though I’ve already a class 2B license and am an experienced rider in Singapore, turns out that my license isn’t valid here in Italy. I’m not sure why though. Perhaps it is because in Singapore, we drive on the left? Cart believes it is because Singapore is a commonwealth country.
In any case, I’m just starting to learn riding theory in a private school which was supposed to be an English speaking one but they were as fluent in English as I was in Italian. It isn’t necessarily bad though, since its actually useful for me as I could polish up my Italian by learning about road terminologies.
And I’ve learnt to be a lot more patient and not to laugh (juvenile I know) because now that I’ve been thrown on the other side, I understand how difficult it is for non natives to learn another language. Even if I think sometimes it sounds really strange and non fluid. Like the book that I’m reading from.
Considering that it is supposed to be translated by a native speaker, it sounds quite babelfish to me.
In any case, some of the signs were familiar to me, many of the signs are pretty universal, pretty much most of the symbols on this page below. Who doesn’t know the stop sign? And the left and right arrows?
There are some signs that I’ve never seen before though, for example, in Singapore there are no trams like as there are towards the Rome city centers.
Recently, I’m learning about the right of way – which vehicle has the precedence to go first and it confused me as I was taught a little differently when I was back in driving school in Singapore. It took me like freaking one minute just to stare and compute. Oh gosh, I cant imagine how it will be like in the actual exam!
And speaking of exams, Lynn passed me her driving theory quiz book for me to borrow. And I’m starting to feel overwhelmed. Blog reader Roberto said that its not difficult, but I still feel apprehensive. My theory test is in a month’s time and I’ve yet to cover 1/4 of the books. So much to read and study!
Last saturday was Cart’s birthday so we decided to try to explore a little and try out a restaurant that we’ve never been to before.
Somehow we ended up in Testaccio which is not too far away from an old fireman station which I think is still functioning by the way. We weren’t very familiar with the place, but I was game to explore. Surely there must be a restaurant within walking distance. Moreoever I was wearing sensible, walking shoes
And thus, our traverse begins. We walked past a multitude of shops, some of them common, some interesting. We walked past a couple of people quarelling dramatically, past some tourists who wanted to head to Circo Massimo and your regular kepokians.
Like this alimentari shop. It was the horse made of cheese that caught my eye.
But after an hour and still no proper eating place, I was starting to feel hungry. And everyone knows that a hungry woman is an angry woman.
At length, we both raised our arms in the air in defeat and decided to go back to the car and make our way to a restaurant that we were familliar with. Like L’insalata Ricca or something. I was just about to open the door of the car when I noticed something.
What’s that? Is that a restaurant? I was feeling doubtful. Its so strange. If its a restaurant, why didn’t they put up a signboard?
But curiosity got the better of me and we walked closer and saw a menu and a large conglomeration of people sitting down, having a meal. So it IS a restaurant! We walked for about an hour fruitlessly finding a restaurant and turns out we parked RIGHT in front of one!
In any case, the name La Fraschetta di Mastro Giorgio and its actually a trattoria by the way. A trattoria is less formal than a restaurant and the service casual. Neverthless, it was a really lovely place. I admired the lovely courtyard outside all covered with grapevines. It was such a lovely shade of green, so relaxing to see. I could look out of the window all day.
And in the inside, its not too shabby either, everything looked very rustic, from the wooden furnishings and the barrels and such. With the grapevines, country style furnishings and all, I feel as if I’m really in the countryside, even when I’m in the middle of Rome city center!
Of course, with that being said, naturally, I started to camwhore and bother Cart by snapping loads of pictures of him too! Wahaha!
Hensem jugak laki aku
If you’re wondering why it looks quite empty inside, I suppose everyone prefers to dine in the courtyard. But its just as comfortable inside as it was air conditioned, what with having walked for an hour.
And since it was a trattoria, service was a little slow but its worth the wait as we found out, the food was as lovely as the place itself. While its non traditional, the pasta was really al dente and very tasty. Like my tonarelli with cozze.
There was pecorino cheese sprinkled lightly on it and I was a little surprised. There is an unwritten rule in Italy that you never add cheese to seafood pasta. But the salty pecorino cheese accompanied my tonarelli well.
While Cart had fettucine alla sorrentina.
While most places would be gentle with the basil, the sauce was generous here and I can totally detect and I love it tastes like. I love fresh pasta! And its wonderful when its freshly cooked.
For dessert I had the mint semifreddo with chocolate sauce. Semifreddo is something that I just discovered recently and I love it so much. Translated, it means half cold and it is usually made of whipped cream and you can use a variety of flavours like white chocolate, raspberries.
I had to savour this one slowly so that it doesn’t disappear before I knew it.
While Cart had a crostata with ricotta e visciole which is a type of cherry. Cart loved it. He said that it tasted very home made and was really pleased that the waiter gave him a large piece.
All of a sudden, Cart started to stare outside of the window, into the courtyard transfixed on something. And he asked me :
Cart : Hey! Look at that lady behind you. Doesn’t she look like someone you know?
I noticed a young woman in a blue dress winding and tying the straps of her purse on the chair.
Cart : Oh come on, you know, the comedian playing Lara Croft
Me : Oh! Sabrina Impacciatore! Dont say guns! Say pistols! Freaking heck. You made me imagine an Uzi Bra. But anyway no, I dont think it looks like her.
Cart starts to whip out his phone and search on google mobile
Cart : See! Her nose is the same shape and the hairstyle is exactly the same.
The woman enters and we both hear her ask the waiter audibly where the bathroom was.
Me : It sounds like her. But I’m doubtful. Why would a celebrity eat here? Its wierd to have them to go to places that we regular people do.
Cart : Why cant they? You like this place right? So they come here to enjoy because they like it here too
Me : Ok lah! Ok lah! Since you’re so adamant about it, I challege you to go up to her and say hi and ask if it IS her. And take a picture or something. Dont be cheeken.
What the HECK were you guys thinking? I may not be well versed in the arts of football, but even I could tell that yesterday’s match was horrigible (horrible + terrible).
I dont understand why head coach Marcello Lippi picked the better players only towards the end of the match. Why ah? Expensive is it? Indeed, the game only picked up at the point and the players fought with more soul then. But its just too late. All you Azzuri can pout and make that sad face for 100 years also wont change the results one.
And then the head coach says he’s is sorry and feels responsible and decides to resign.
