Continuing with our traditional Christmas, we decided to put up a Christmas tree this year. We don’t have a lot of space, and we certainly don’t have much storage space, so we opted for a small tree. The little tree was perfect for our little family. I love having it on at night for the lights to give off a soft glow … so relaxing. You can see our little tree below, and if you look closely, you can also see our little angel.
On Christmas morning we woke early to open gifts. Our little Dolce also had his own presents to unwrap. He’s only slightly spoiled. 😉
*If you missed meeting Dolce, you can check out the newest little member of our family here.
Dolce with his Christmas loot … balls, mice, treats and a walking jacket.
Dolce having fun with his new toys.
For lunch, I prepared traditional southern dishes. They are what I grew up eating every year for the holidays, and they taste like home to me. We had cornbread dressing, green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole. We also had roasted chicken (for the hubby since I’m a vegetarian) and cranberry sauce “substitute”. Everything was made from scratch. There are no French’s fried onions or cream of any kind of soup mix here in Italy, and other typical ingredients are hard to find (think sweet potatoes). So at the end of the day, I was patting myself on the back for pulling off a traditional southern American holiday meal in Italy.
*If you would like any of the recipes, you can find them here on Why Rome’s Pinterest, under ‘Expat Food’.
Sweet potato casserole with brown sugar and nut topping
Green bean casserole with homemade fried onions
And desserts, I couldn’t leave out the desserts … brownies, banana nut muffins & bread, chocolate almond candies, and cookies with dried cranberries (from the States), dark chocolate and hazelnuts. Needless to say, we were STUFFED at the end of the day, and I was one happy girl with a belly full of American food! 🙂
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The other week I stopped in Piazza Navona, and the square was bustling with street performers. It seemed every direction I turned, someone was doing something to draw a crowd. Here are a few of the acts that caught my attention …
These guys drew quite a crowd. Everyone stood in fascination as they tried to figure out just how this guy seemed to sit effortlessly in mid air.
The balloon-making clown was popular with the younger crowd.
I’ve seen this guy before and he always draws a crowd with his comic routine. He’s big on audience participation, and always receives a lot of laughs.
We first saw this little man back in August. He completely brightened my day with his dancing and lip singing to Elvis Presley songs. He brightened my day again, but this time he had classic Italian songs playing. He always makes me reach for my change purse. 🙂
Pizza, pasta, gelato … I bet these are some of the things you plan (and dream) on eating when you visit Italy. I bet you’ve even gone so far as to dream (and plan) on grabbing a gelato and eating savoring it while you take in the sights of the fabulous Piazza Navona … the Spanish Steps … the Coliseum … or any other famous landmark in Rome. Hold that thought though. Don’t think you’re going to transport yourself onto a movie screen when you visit Rome and eat your heart out around the city, like so many countless films you’ve seen before.
Why you ask? Well, because as absolutely absurd as it may sound, it is now a crime to eat on or around any public monument or landmark (which is every place you turn in Rome’s city center). It is a crime that can be fined from 25 – 500 Euros (about $32 – $650 USD).
No more stopping at my favorite gelateria and walking to Piazza Navona while I sit and enjoy my cool treat and take in the energy of the piazza … ancient fountains, street performers, artwork, people watching … it has all come to an end. That is, unless I want to pay a hefty fine for enjoying my gelato in that picturesque setting. And I can tell you, I do not.
This crazy rule is not only for gelato. It also applies to eating a panino (sandwich), a slice of pizza, a bag of chips, or any other snack food or dessert.
As NBC News noted on their website, after receiving fines and learning about the new law, several tourists pointed out the fact that there are no signs in the vicinity alerting people that they are no longer allowed to partake in any food or drink while near the various monuments. NBC News reports that police in the area were asked about the complaint and said there was no need for signs. A local policeman patrolling the area is reported as saying, “It’s common sense. You can’t dirty such a beautiful and historical monument with ice cream and bread crumbs just because you can sit on it.” You know, dirtying and vandalizing a historical monument is one thing, but trying to control the free world is entirely something else.
Another thing that makes the matter even worse, is that many eating establishments have very limited or no seating available, forcing patrons to take their food to go. Where exactly are people supposed to eat? This I would like to know.
I would also like to know why the city can’t put those same policemen in place to prohibit the horrid men who force roses into your hand then try to get money from you by chasing you down, or the men who shine the damn toy lasers that they are trying to sell directly into your eye (pet peeve of mine, can you tell?), or the men who sell illegal goods displayed on a bed sheet along the sidewalks who speak ugly words to you if you gaze an extra second at their merchandise and then not stop to by something. To me, these are a few of the things that are ruining and dirtying those beautiful and historical monuments. Nothing is being done to address those matters.
So … if you’re planning to visit Rome, don’t plan on eating your Italian treats outside while enjoying the fresh air and taking in the amazing scenery the city has to offer. You’ll have to savor your morsels inside.