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Piazza Treasures: Halloween Edition

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The entertainment is endless here in Rome, and I always see fun and interesting street performers when I’m out and about.  The piazzas are a perfect place to people watch and be entertained by different street performers.  Since it’s Halloween, I thought I would share a few fun costumes in this month’s Piazza Treasures roundup.  Who knows, maybe you will be inspired with ideas for your own Halloween costume.  Happy Trick or Treat everyone!  
A scary skeleton hanging out by Castle Sant’Angelo.  
You could dress up like a bronze Egyptian statue, like the one in Piazza Navona. 

You could be a pirate or Captain Jack Sparrow, like this guy who we also found in Piazza Navona.  

You could dress up as Michael Jackson, like this person we spotted performing in Piazza del Popolo.  Or … 

… you could go as a bush.  This guy makes me laugh!  He sits along the cobblestone streets of Trastevere, and is very still until someone drops coins into his cup, then he moves and shakes.  Confession:  The first time I noticed him was after I was walking next to him and he suddenly moved.  He almost scared me to death because he blended into the setting and I didn’t notice him as I approached his way.     

Are you dressing up for Halloween?  What are you dressing up as?  What is your costume?

Chinese Food in Rome

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Chinese food?  In Rome?  I know, I know.  You are probably thinking Rome is a place where you eat Italian food, not Chinese food.  If those are your thoughts, you are (mostly) correct.  Rome has delicious Roman cuisine and Italian style dishes, but when you eat that always, your taste buds beg for something a little different from time to time (at least mine do).  
 
Being from the States, I am used to having a variety of cultural and ethnic food options, all usually in close proximity.  Monday – Mexican, Tuesday – Chinese, Wednesday – Italian, Thursday – BBQ (Barbeque), Friday – Mediterranean, Saturday – Sushi, Sunday – Southern comfort food.  I am willing to bet most weekly menus resemble something similar to this.  When I lived in the States, mine certainly did.  Now living in Rome, the menu looks more like pizza, pasta, risotto, pasta, pizza, pasta and the occasional kebab or Mediterranean sandwich.  
 
Even though Italian food in general is, and always has been, my favorite type of food, sometimes my taste buds need a little variety.  It’s what they have grown accustomed to.  That is why I was overjoyed when we discovered this great little Chinese restaurant in Trastevere.  When I am in the mood for something different, I usually head here.  The food is delicious, and it is very reasonably priced.  I usually order an appetizer, two main dishes, two side dishes and a large bottle of water…all for under €20.  If you are in Rome and craving something a little different, definitely give this restaurant a try.  It’s located right off the main piazza in Trastevere (Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere), so it’s very convenient.        
 
You can see everything I usually order below.  On your mark, get set, let your mouth start watering…     
You can dine inside the restaurant, or sit at a table outside and enjoy all the energy from the main piazza in Trastevere.  

Primavera – Spring roll (with carrots and cabbage and topped with sweet & sour sauce)

Shrimp Lo Mein

Fried rice with shrimp

Shrimp with ginger and green onions (pairs great with the fried rice).  

I saved the best for last.  My favorite…sweet & sour shrimp.  Yummm!

Ci Lin
Via Fonte dell’olio, 6
Open 7 days a week
Lunch served from 11 am – 3 pm
Dinner served from 6 pm – midnight

Piazza Treasures: Take Two

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The first time I talked about ‘piazza treasures’, I told you we always come across different street performers each time we visit a piazza or stroll along the streets of the city.  The entertainment is endless in Rome.  It always brightens my day when we come across someone showcasing their talents or doing something ‘out of the norm’.  
 
In August, I said I would like to share a monthly round up of all the ‘piazza treasures’ and street performers we come across each month.  I am unfortunately running a little behind for September.  I wanted to share a fun video with you guys, but my external hard drive has decided to hold all my files hostage at the moment (grrrr…isn’t technology so fun some times? ;-).  I do have a few fun photos to share with you this time though.  Enjoy!If you missed the first ‘piazza treasures’ round up, you can check it out here, and be sure to be on the lookout for this month’s round up in a few weeks.

  
Fun, upbeat music for shoppers along Via del Corso.

Bubble making in Campo dé Fiori.

These silver guys were hanging out close to Piazza Navona.  I’m not sure of the message they were trying for, but they made me laugh.  

This strange guy was hanging out on the road leading to the Coliseum.  Don’t ask.  I have no idea, and honestly he scared me a little.  

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Why Rome?

Water Fountains in Rome

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Rome’s water supply has been piped into the city from the countryside for centuries via ancient aqueducts.  The water is crisp, clean and fresh.  The city of Rome makes this great water free and available to everyone with the many public fountains located throughout the city.  In a time where it is the norm to pay upwards of €1 (in many cases more … much more) for a regular size bottle of water, it is refreshing (no pun intended 🙂 to find the sought after product for the low, low price of free.  It is so nice to be able to stop and fill up my water bottle with cool, fresh water when out and about in the city.  This is something I am thankful for on a regular basis, especially on warm, sunny days.  

Not to mention, the fountains are beautiful.  They are all so different and unique, and it’s always fun to stumble across a new fountain.  I have included photos of several different fountains I’ve come across throughout the city.  Keep in mind, it’s just a small sampling of the many fountains Bella Roma has to offer.  


Fountain in Villa Borghese Park

Fountain in Piazza Venezia

Fountain in Largo Argentina

Fountain near Piazza Campodolgio

Neighborhood fountain in Montesacro

 

Cheap Wine in Italy

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Italy is known for producing great wines.  I bet a plate of pasta and a full glass of wine are two of the first things to enter into your mind when Italy is mentioned.  (At least they are for me :-).

I love a good red wine.  I completely and utterly adore it to be exact.  Even before moving to Italy, my palette was always drawn to Italian reds.  Montepulciano, Chianti, Barolo, Amarone, Lambrusco, Brunello … oh Brunello!  Enough of my obsession.  On to the cheap wine.   
 
There are several supermarkets (I use the term supermarket loosely) here in Italy that offer very reasonable prices.  Two of them are In’s and Eurospin.  The first time I visited In’s and saw their prices for bottles of wine, my jaw dropped.  Literally, I stood there speechless with my mouth open, just staring at the wine.  My mind could not fathom the price tags staring back at me.  I honestly turned and asked if it was some sort of a joke.  Once confirmed it was not, I then asked how the store could charge so little.  
 
What were the prices you ask?  Are you sitting down?  €1.79, €0.99, €2.29, €1.19.  Yep, that is for a bottle!  In the States, I was used to paying a minimum of $10 for a bottle of wine.  Mind you, $10 was the minimum, and then it was usually for a bottle I picked up from the supermarket out of convenience and it was something basic like Merlot, Cabernet or sometimes a Malbec (juicy red wine produced in Argentina).  My mind started computing that I could now by 9 or 10 bottles for what I used to pay minimum for 1 bottle.  JACKPOT!  I even saw a bottle of Brunello (one of Italy’s top wines, and my favorite wine) for around €12.  The same bottle will run you around $90 (or more) in the States.  DOUBLE JACKPOT!
 
I am assuming the reason for the low cost is because the wines are produced locally.  Many of them come from small, local producers, not big industry leading wineries.  I know the wines I find here are not necessarily the ‘cream of the crop’ or the top of the line, but they are great for a girl on a budget who enjoys a regular glass of wine with dinner at home.  Cin cin!