After a long sweaty trip to Verona our life in the north is coming together. We went up to go apartment hunting and stayed with one of D’s friends who is also in the air force. I had met him a few times in Rome while he was here but I was excited to finally meet his wife, but I found out she was down in Puglia with her family. D thinks we will really get along and she is in the same boat as me: living in a new area, military husband, no job and lonely. She sounds hilarious and that we have a lot in common-another added bonus of moving!
We visited apartments ranging from a hole in a wall near the train station (EW) to a HUGE apartment with 2 balconies overlooking Via Mazzini (For you Romans think Via Condotti/Via del Corso). I was in love with it but it was just barely above our price range. I was surprised how cheap rent is there compared with Rome-def works to our advantage. We also looked at a really pretty attic apartment a tad out of the center, but it had a view of the entire city! On foot it was about 10-20 to Piazza Erbe (we are trying to live car less the first year). Add another 10 minutes to get to D’s office and it seemed too far away. It was also on a hill and there wasn’t so much as a grocery store or a bar near, being that the apartment was flanked by a convent and a monastery. We were going to go for it anyway when we found the PERFECT place! It was just around the corner from the Via Mazzini apartment, so the street intersects with Via Mazzini but it is a on a side vicolo (which equals less foot traffic/tourists/noise). Plus, Bershka is on the corner-heaven! So the apartment is completely remodeled, and actually when we looked at it, the bathroom was gutted and being completely redone. In all ways it was perfect: size, location, newness, and rent. We would def be able to manage the city with bikes and walking. The apartment has a huge bedroom, a living room a separate kitchen and dining room and the bathroom. All for under 600 euro per month (our budget from the military)!

The owners were not in town (they live in Mantova) when we called initially but told us to stop by and look at it as the workers were there. We immediately called them back after looking at it and told them we wanted to take it. The bathroom won’t be done until the end of the month which is perfect for us since we want to move in the beginning of August. We offered to drive to Mantova but they told us they were actually vacationing in Garda and to come down (accomplishing my secret mission to go to the lake during that week even though D had initially poo-pooed the idea since we were not on vacation).

The next day we went to meet them. They were an old retired couple and were extremely nice. We chatted for a few hours and signed the lease.

I can’t wait to move!!! It’s even more exciting now that I can picture where we are going to live.

Tags: apartment in verona, Bershka, Italy, Jessica Romes: Road Trip!, moving, Moving within Italy, My Neighborhood, renting in Italy, Shopping, Verona, Via Mazzini

That’s right folks, I hit up all corners of the boot in just 1 day! How? We went to Mini Italy!

Located near Rimini, MiniItaly was the second stop on my “just an average Italian vacation” vacation. This was day 2 of me being the only English person sight!

I couldn’t believe the amazing detail of all of the cities. I really felt like I was there! There were even working trains, cars, airplanes and in the Arena of Verona an mini opera! It gave me a good idea of the new places I want to visit in person.

So here is the grand tour. I left out Venice for the next post because it was absolutely insane-you’ll see! (note this is photo intensive!):

First Stop Roma!

We have the Colosseo:

The Airport:

Termini:

and the Vatican:

Florence:

Rimini:

Pisa:

Bologna:

Milano:

Torino:

Verona!!!

There were so many more, I have hundreds of pictures but I don’t want to put anyone to sleep. The islands of Sicily and Sardegna were really neat as well! You could get a look at the whole country from the huge monorail that goes around the entire park. I highly suggest you take a trip here, it was really cool!

Tags: Jessica Romes: Road Trip!, Lose the Guidebook, Postcards from Rome

Where’d the time go? Has it really been a year since I started this blog, and even crazier, a year since I got married (for real, not the fake wedding in October)?!?! To celebrate D and I are going on a little road trip. I will post pictures of all our weekend antics on Monday (or sometime next week depending on my level of laziness).

Tags: Jessica, Jessica Romes: Road Trip!

… I think of it’s hometown Ariccia! In honor of my new blogging buddy Karla moving there in May, I decided to take a little trip and see what was on offer. When D and I usually head to Castelli Romani, we generally go to Nemi because it is one of my all time favorite places (mostly due to the desserts). Ariccia is now a very close second place! It is an adorable little town. The main site in the historical center is the beautiful Church dell’Assunta, that was made by Bernini and inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. I also loved seeing the various porchetta restaurants! I am shocked that there was once a time when I refused to eat pork. Well, Italy changed that really fast!

We found a cute little osteria complete with picnic tables, no menu, a paper table cloth and the best appetizer I’ve ever had. This “appetizer for 2″ was actually a full blown feast complete with prosciutto, several types of salami, porchetta, olives, the best cheese I have ever tasted, warm bread, and wine with no label (that was excellent). I was so full afterwards, there was no way I could have stuffed in a sandwich or anything else afterwards. We couldn’t even finish what was in front of us, though I really, really wanted to. This, the closest thing to an Italian “Old Country Buffet” came to only 25 euro.

You can’t lose when a town has great food, great views and a lovely street market featuring handmade chocolates! You’re a lucky gal Karla (I will be visiting you often)!

Click any photo to see them up close and in a slide show!

Tags: Italian Food, Jessica Romes: Road Trip!, Lose the Guidebook

WOW.wow.wow. What a wonderful time I have had this past month! Beginning with a trip to London, my wedding and a 16 day trip to the U.S, I am happy to be home and am completely exhausted! While I very much feel like the globe trotter (Italy-London-Italy-USA-London-Italy), I am happy to be back in my ugly pink robe (I’ll spare you the visual) and ingesting better quality food. I really learned that home is where the heart, and your ugly robe, is. The months leading up to the wedding were stressful. That combined with not having time for Italian lessons made me really hate Rome there for awhile. The break was needed and appreciated. When D and I were driving home from visiting relatives during our trip I said that I couldn’t wait to get home. He looked at his watch and said, “We’ll be there in 5 minutes.” Referring to the hotel.

“No, home home.” I said.

This trip opened my eyes in a lot of ways. It being my first trip back since my permanent move almost a year ago, I wasn’t sure if I considered Rome home. Now I know I do. It is where my life is now. My pet, my clothes and 50% of my family (as in the in laws who I love and adopted as my own) are all here. I can sense it deep down. Rome is where I want to be. With this my attitude has changed a lot. I actually want to learn Italian and get adjusted, and maybe even *gasp* get a job…well, we’ll see.

The trip also opened up D eyes a lot as well. I think he has a much better understanding of where I am coming from, not only literally, but in terms of culture. Things ARE really different in our two countries, and now he sees that when I complained, there is a source behind it. I loved seeing his annoyances about the U.S. Of course he thought the food was utterly gross, but he also found it sad that there was a drive thru for EVERYTHING.

“Can people really not get out of their cars? Are they that lazy? Drive thru banks, coffee, dry cleaning!!! No wonder everyone is fat!”

He has a point.

I adored the fact that he turned into a Starbucks addict and begged for American style breakfast every morning. I am so thankful for the things this trip has taught us and how closer we are from it.

I absolutely loved showing D around my old haunts: The Oregon Coast, Portland, Seattle and my hometown of Spokane. Most of all, it was awesome to see my sister Angie again. Here are Galleries of my favorite pics from each place!

Seattle:

Newport and Tillamook, Oregon

Seaside, Portland and the way to Spokane:

Spokane:

Tags: Jessica Romes: Road Trip!

The ocean kind that is! We are having a blast on the Oregon Coast!!! Yesterday we went whale watching and crab fishing in a boat WAY out in the mighty Pacific Ocean. Dani is in love with the US and is looking for a house to buy on the beach (wouldn’t that be nice). He also loves the customer service in every store Today we are going to a huge sea lion cave and the famous Tillamook Cheese Factory, those will be fun pics! 2 more weeks left to go! Just wanted to update and thank everyone for all the nice comments in the last post…LOVE YOU GUYS!

Tags: Jessica Romes: Road Trip!

What a wonderful break! I feel really frustrated with Italy lately, so getting outta dodge was soooooooo awesome! With my Carta in hand, I went to the closest place to America (in terms of society) I could: London! I had a great time! It is my second trip there so it really did feel like home. I had 18 Starbucks, all my clothing sizes available and best of all, no language barriers! I had the London pass so we had access to all the major sites. I loved Kensington palace, which was located right by our hotel. The Diana exhibit was really emotional! We also saw the Tower of London, Camden (my fav) and did the Tower Bridge Tour. I was disappointed with the aquarium, for London I was expecting much more. Feel free to skip this your next visit. I have to say my second love is London (the first being Dani of course)! Such a busy time right now, but next Saturday is the wedding!!! Here are the pics:

Tags: Jessica Romes: Road Trip!

It was 11:00 pm on Friday night and in typical Jessica style, while we were fighting for a spot at Pompi (only the best tiramisu in Rome) I asked Dani what he thought about driving up to Firenze in the morning. He looked cranky. I stated that Katie had never been there, please please please! Then he scratched his head and agreed it would be fun (this is why I love him so). So we ditched the Pompi and drove home so we could go straight to bed and wake up early the next morning. When the alarm rang at 7 am our adventure began.

The road trip was on and only 3 hours later we arrived. We didn’t have a plan, or a map, but we had money and good attitudes. We stopped at a bunch of booths with bottles of wine and discovered there was a wine tasting tour… ALL OVER THE CITY! For 10 euro we got our own wine glasses with a neck holder, a map of all the wine posts and a book describing all the different types. Let’s just say by glass three we were feeling great!

We ate some interesting Florentine dishes including Zombie Balls and mushy bread with tomato sauce. The rest of the day was spent sightseeing!

Tags: Jessica Romes: Road Trip!

Fellow readers and Italy lovers I need your help!!! For the last few weeks I have been dying to get out of Italy and visit friends in London. My husband has to go away for two weeks in September due to work (it’s military so I can’t come) so I got it in my head to travel it up! Everything was perfect except for the fact I am still waiting for my Permesso! From what I gather from various sources is that poor Jessica cannot leave fair Italy until the said document is in hand. At least I am a prisoner in a great country to travel in.
So I need your best places to visit! That’s right I leave it in your hands to plan my trip! I want smallish, interesting places that I must see! In return I promise to post MANY pictures and posts! It all depends on you!

UPDATE: Here are the details that will be helpful (Thanks Shelley!)
I will be with one other person, my sister is coming from the US.
Overnight is fine, I have anywhere from a few nights to 2 weeks depending on cost.
The place needs to be reachable by train, plane or bus (I don’t have my drivers license yet!).

Tags: Jessica Romes: Road Trip!

On my eternal quest for good food and getting active, we took the scooter to Nemi one of my favorite little towns that is known for fragoline, or mini strawberries. Nemi is famous for these midget berries and prides themselves on the fact that they only grow here. It is about 30 minutes away from our house and about 30 km/18 miles southeast of Rome. It is just gorgeous in the summer. I always ask Daniele if he thought it would be possible to live there (he liking nightlife of any sort shakes his head no). Nemi is truly picturesque and is home to my favorite little bakery Cavaterra Giovanni that makes the best tortino di fragoline (you can see both the shop and the tortino in the pictures below). We hiked more around Nemi and I found a couple things that reminded me of home at the street market: mystery meat jerky and banana chips!

On the way back we stopped to watch a group of paragliders swoop up and down. The roadside overlooks a cliff and leads down to the Lago di Castel Gandolfo. (Because of the generous shoulders on the road and the darkness at night you will see many cars filled with couples getting it on. Therefore it is eternally known to me as Lazio’s “makeout point”). It was so awesome seeing these paragliders just blowing around carelessly in the wind. I definitely want to try lessons!

Check out another post on Nemi at First Paris Then Rome. I also have a Tour del Gelato Nemi style coming up next!

Tags: Italian Food, Jessica Romes: Road Trip!, Postcards from Rome