Rome: Day #2

So I thought I'd make a one-post compilation of days 2 & 3 in Rome - FAIL. I took far (far, far, faaaaaaaar) too many pictures because left, right & centre, there was always something I wanted to capture. With rather a lot of difficulty, I managed to whittle down my photos to a meagre errrr.... 20 for day 2. Now, incase you missed it, I went to Rome. And I loved it. Enough to chatter on about gelato. And on and on about pizza. And still be going on about it now. 

Day #2 was Mission Vatican. I swear we would have walked but as we overdid it a little the previous afternoon (there's too much Rome, too little time!), we took the hotel manager's advice to 'subway' it. I refer you on to the map of Rome before you judge us for chickening out - it is far! When he handed us the map, I did have to turn it over and around a few times just to check we hadn't been given half the story - its simplicity ('A' and 'B'!?!?!) is shocking when London is what you're used to. We jumped on at Piramide, changed at Termini, tried (but failed) to people-watch inconspicuously and arrived, at Ottaviano, 40 minutes, a heat-stroke and one complete make-up meltdown later. Totally worth it. 

We proceeded to Castel Sant'Angelo for views over the Tiber and St Peter's Basilica before crossing the bridge (Ponte Sant'Angelo) you see above to meander our way through the cobbled streets back to the city centre and, of course, The Trevi Fountain. Majestic. Just majestic. 
SL x

Pizza, Pizza, Pizza

Then, of course, there were the pizzas. Bar some arancini and a cheeky Mcdonalds (where they served Miami Fries...?), we ate nothing but pizza. In Rome it's often baked in large rectangular trays and sold in square slices by weight. This is known as Pizza al Taglio and the sheer abundance of it, that too in vegetarian varieties, made each mealtime choice a bittersweet one. Artichoke or asparagus, olives or onion, which to have? I'd take mental note of aaaaall the combinations (sometimes 5+) I'd liked to have tried and tell myself that I'd come back the next day - this never happened though, as the next pizzeria on would just add another 5 contenders to my toppings-to-try list. Yes, my eyes are alot bigger than my stomach.

Now, I was about to indulge you in yet another picture overload but I stopped dead in my tracks when I realised, no matter how beautiful, you all know what pizza looks like. Plus I wouldn't want you to think me... odd, photographing all this food when there is... well, so much history, culture, colour & wonder in every corner of the city. It does seems to happen all too often that I return home with more photos of food than of places and people. But I guess it's just as well because they sure come in handy on gloomy days, should I be reminiscing, and in need of a visual aide to recreate the essence of sunnier memories. 

I've [already] tried reworking some of the fabulous combinations I encountered (call it pizza withdrawal) and I will follow up with recipes but for now, I think, enough about pizza. 

SL x

The Ideal Home

Yes, yes, I hear you - it's a little odd that though I'm nowhere near owning a home of my own (not even within touching distance, hell not even with a three-year-long barge pole) I spent a good four hours of my Saturday ooohing over the choice of comfy love chairs at my disposal, ahhhhing over sparkling, glinting chandeliers, ummming over which rustic stove I'd choose and oh wowing over crazy, clever little gadgets that I never even knew existed, let alone thought I needed. Hmmmmm, yeah, maybe I'm jumping the gun just a little.

Nevertheless, it was a day filled with inspiration ("ooh, I'd LOVE that Savan", "We should have one of those when we get our own place Savan” “Buy me one of those please Savan…") and even more so, aspiration. Aspiration towards being able to furnish our own place. One glance at these photos probably explains why I loved it so much; lots of things pink, girly and glittery. In a way, I think it kind of worked out for the best anyway - else I'd probably have wanted one of everything in sight. This time round, he got away with buying me just one (spicy, tangy, totally awesome) box of olives. Not bad ey? ;)

xxx

From the Ideal Home Show Website:

Open from March 16 - April 1 2012 at Earls Court London, this multi-award winning 17 day show is currently bringing together more than 600 quality exhibitors from all over the UK to offer a unique shopping experience for all areas of the home, including ideal Interiors, ideal Home Improvements, ideal Gardens, ideal Gadgets, ideal Food, ideal Housewares, ideal Shopping and ideal Woman. Whether you are looking for inspiration for a home project, redecoration solutions or just a fantastic day out the Ideal Home Show 2012 has everything you need for you and your home all under one roof.

Back to Amsterdam

Based on the shortest city trip in the history of mankind, a WHOLE two-days in the city that is Amsterdam (yeah, so I definitely know what I'm talking about), here are MY recommendations for your first time there. Wishing you all a good week.
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1. The first, and most obvious recommendation would be a walk along the scenic canals. Criss-crossed by bridges, a grand total of 165 canals encircle the city and within the pockets of land that their eclectic network creates, you can find shops, galleries and innumerable cafes. We didn't have time for a tour - but hopefully next time?

2. It's important not to miss the chance of a sneaky peek at the Red Light District. As a tourist, you'll be nothing more than a voyeur - anyways there are always more people watching than participating with the District having the surreal atmosphere of a sexual theme park:- a sort of "Alton Towers" for consenting adults if you like.

3. Visiting one of the Amsterdam coffee shops is a truly unique travel experience. They all sell coffee but their primary income is derived from the sale of cannabis based products to either inhale or eat. Under International treaty provision, the Netherlands cannot legalise cannabis but in practice you can carry up to 5 grams of the drug without fear of prosecution.The first of the Amsterdam Coffee shops came into existence in the 70s and they have become an established and iconic feature of the city's famous tolerant and relaxed reputation.

4. Try. Amsterdam. Food.

5. My final suggestion (can’t say recommendation, I didn’t actually have time to do this) would be a nose around one of Amsterdam’s many museums. It’s a city steeped in history, culture and symbolism, for example the home of diarist Anne Frank. This is definitely a must on my list for next time.

xxx

A Little More 'Dam

So I thought I’d accompany the rest of my Amsterdam pictures with the regular ‘To Eat, To Drink, To See’ type post - but for lack of time, and clearly, I’m just a little bit keen, I’m leaving you with a picture post today (Think Amsterdam Tourism should pay me for this, no?) I'll definitely be back to fill you in on the do’s and do nots at some point over the weekend - but until then, here’s wishing you a happy, sunny Thursday. Keep smiling.

xxxx

Amsterdam: First Impressions

As first impressions go, Amsterdam didn't shock me as I'd been told it would. With the reputation the RLD's cultivated the world over, I'd expected notoriety, garishness and sleaze. The reality was very different - littered with cheesy sex-shops selling blow ups and other outrageous toys, the multi-cultural community of prostitutes, junkies, cops and coffee shop owners intermingled freely along its streets as tourists 'window-shopped'. It's an old and beautiful part of the city too with its long, narrow, winding cobbled streets and rickety old buildings leaning at odd angles. Surprising? Yes. Surprising that a city can be so wholly liberal and tolerant. Shocking though? Definitely not.

A whirlwind trip in its entirety, it would be unfair of me to even try and pretend I know much about Amsterdam at all. What I can tell you, though, is that the city serves up THE best waffles in the world. Freshly made, dusted with icing sugar, smothered in Nutella and topped up with whipped cream, I munched my way through a shocking 4 of these in 30 hours. Ouch. Ask if you're going any time soon. For now, here's my first impression. More tomorrow.

xxx