As we start our fourth day in Rome, I think we may have finally left jet lag behind. Even with a rest day on the way down it seemed to take much longer than ever before to overcome the jet lag - it must be our advancing age. Both of us are now feeling more rested and as importantly, all "intestinal transit systems" are working as they should.
We have spent the past three days going to markets. Saturday saw us attending the Rome farmer's market where area farmers come in to sell their locally produced goods. There was every item you could think of that would come from a farm - honey, eggs, meat (beef, veal, goat, lamb, rabbit, pork) and vegetables, my, so many vegetables! Many beautiful greens that we don't see in Canada. We will be trying some of them - black kale, punterelle, chicory, different types of broccoli, cabbages, etc. They also had lots and lots of homemade cheeses made from goat, sheep, buffalo or cow's milk. We had a good time shopping through this market and of course came home with a couple of bags of of food.
On Sunday we attended several garage sales and flea markets. Sunday is the big day for all these flea markets etc., so there's always lots of them to attend. We didn't find anything particular to buy except for some wine glasses to use while we are here. There were lots of clothes for sale, shoes, purses and vintage jewelery. One market we attended was more books, pictures, stamps etc., while another was more paintings and silver, ceramics, etc. The prices seemed pretty good on most items, although, the antiques I thought were in a bit overpriced.
Monday, was another market visit day. We got up early went to a big covered market in town with something like 250 different vendors selling items. It was quite the place to wander through. Again they were butchers, bakers, vegetable and fruit vendors. There were also people selling clothes, fabric, embroidery items, suit cases, cleaning supplies, perfumes, just about anything that you possibly could imagine buying. Again, there were lots of great meats - we saw everything from of course beef and pork, but also rabbit, suckling piglets, chickens - yellow chickens- just like they used to be when they ran free and ate the green grass etc. Italians have been at the leading edge of the slow food revolution. This is the practise of producing food as naturally as possible and as close as possible to where it is to be consumed. All this translates to food that tastes better and is healthier for you. No big "factory farms" here - all small producers. We have noticed the distinct difference in taste of the chicken and lamb so far - we have not consumed any other meats yet.
There is beginning to be a routine established to our days. Up around 8 or 9, out shopping, looking around etc., then home for a rest around 2PM. This corresponds to the time that many of the smaller shops close for their lunch break. Then it is out and about from about 4 till 7 or so before we are home for the night. Monday afternoon we went for a stroll down Via Coronari, where many of the antique stores are found.
Some very interesting and beautiful things can be found here, and they also come with some very high price tags, although bargaining is not frowned upon.
The weather continues to be great. It's has been 20 degrees everyday since we have arrived. What is amusing though, is that everyone here is still dressing as if it were much cooler. People are walking around with down parkas and even some toques. today on the bus we even saw a fellow with wool gloves on. You should see the looks we get, sitting there in T-shirts and short sleeved shirts!! They make me feel hot just looking at them.
I'm afraid we haven't done much in the line of sight seeing yet, but that will come. We have spent lots of our time walking and just getting use to our surroundings again.
No comments:
Post a Comment