Roma

We have been here two days and we are still sort of doing reconnaissance to see what is around us in the neighborhood and finding shops for food and so on.
Our apartment is on Via deli orti d'Alibert which is a tiny, narrow, dead end street with the most amazing colored buildings

What do you think about the terra-cotta building I see every morning?

Also...our doorbell has this marker

I wonder if I could be placed in a film? American in Rome maybe??

The apartment itself is nice...wood floors, high ceilings and quite roomy...we have French windows that open out to our street...we are one floor up from the street so it is bright and the bedroom is separate from the living area. The kitchen is TINY and narrow...just enough room for a cook and then a dishwasher but not two at a time.

dining area in living room

living room 

coming into living room bedroom is in hall straight on

windows to living room

Here is the "coffee maker" indicated in the rental agreement...I am glad I know how to use this Italian coffee  pot and I am glad I brought along some cafe from France...there was a tablespoon of ground coffee in the cupboard...our morning coffee was delicious and we were off to Campo di Fiori and the produce market there.

This the the Ponte Mazzini which is "our " bridge to cross the Tiber...the water was very high.

I liked this man on the foot bridge...he was wearing a very elegant navy felt hat and looked very distinguished.

The French embassy is located in the Piazza Farnese so JC posed for a photo:

We are going to go on a tour here later in May...you have to book way in advance and they only take 25 people so I think it will be interesting.

The rest of Sunday we walked through Trastevere which is our neighborhood so we could see what is here. The streets were filled with people strolling and we heard French, Spanish, Finnish and English among other languages and as well as Italian. I was able to ask a few questions in Italian and got an answer but I am not ready for conversation yet. We have been watching the news on TV and it is not that easy to understand!

 Thought this was fun to see...a 2CV in Trastevere!

Love the rooftop gardens....

The gate to our part of the neighborhood which is north Trastevere...we are not far from Vatican City and St. Peter's basilica.

Villa Farnesina...an art museum and school. Across the street is the the museo Corsini, on our walk today we passed by the door and out came a fellow driving a yellow vespa!!! That was unexpected!

Here is JC buying bread by the gram at the neighborhood bakery:

Today, Monday we decided to just walk and look around some more. We found a little supermarket Despar where we bought some of the BEST yogurt and we figured out that we had walked about 5 hours! Two in the morning and three this afternoon...time flies!

We strolled over to the Vatican to see the mobs of people and the odd souvenirs...tshirts with the pope on them etc.

In the afternoon we made the climb up to Parco di Gianicolo from which you have great views of the city. 

these are the stairs

It reminded me of a somewhat larger Mt. Tabor park but there is a monument to Garibaldi and sculptures of his various officers.

This is our street seen from the park!

I love the shape of these pines in the park...there is also a puppet theatre like in France and a refreshment stand that sells gin and tonics!

We ended up the day at the Piazza Navonna where we had a place to sit and rest!

Now off to bed...buona notte!!

Departure day

Saturday was windy and perfect kite flying weather in Carpentras. We had some time before heading out to the airport at Marignan near Marseille so off we went to the nearby park with two kites, a small girl on a scooter with her mouse friend in her backpack pocket. It was a nice walk in the sun as wind whipped around us.

You can see the view of the city from the playground! I have to say it is really pretty lovely! Not many playgrounds are overlooked by an ancient tower gate la Porte d'Orange! I like that mâchicoulis fringe on top (by the way...Italians call it:difensivo a sporgere) the French term sounds more like a good salad or dessert to me.

Well...the ladies had better immediate success with the kite flying.

Our kite had a sun/moon symbol but the guys did get their kite up eventually. This area is where they set up the circus tents and the rides for all the various festivals but it is perfect for kites.

We spent time at the playground too...(love the outfit)

(what do you think about this cute cigale bouncy ride? Talk about "regionalism!")

... before strolling back home to lunch followed by...fromage!

Well, we have to eat right? Might as well be good.




The drive to Marignan was not too long and we had a coffee with Anton before he drove back home. Well, here is the airport Starbucks!!!

I KNOW there are French cafes there too but we had to have a cup here since they were serving Pike Place Roast!! I also bought a French magazine to read about Julie Gayet...sounds like she broke it off with President Hollande!

There is our flight to Rome...

we left late due to the wind but it is a short flight so it was not too bad...here we are in the plane

...I can never get these "selfies" right...my nose always seems too big but we thought it would be fun to see what we look like sitting in a plane! Here is our approach to Rome airport....

Arrivo a Roma!

Off to get our luggage and meet our driver. More tomorrow but here is JC in our living room...don't you think that rooster is truly a propos??? All the items on the wall to the right are fossilized bones...nope, not food. Arrivederla! Ciao!

Friday in Provence

It is Saturday here in Carpentras and later today we are leaving for Rome so I am going to finish up writing this morning...yesterday was VERY windy...probably the Mistral...so instead of braving the market Emmanuelle and I went over to a very Provençal style shopping center in Avignon.

We both like a store there called Zodio...sort of like our Bed Bath and Beyond only...French style (bien sûr!) We strolled around the center which has fountains and plantings of lavender and and olive trees. Really pretty. I can image the lavender in bloom with the contrasting grays and creams of the stonework.

The center has mainly things for house and garden but of course also a lovely store with just perfume etc. with a knowledgable shopkeeper to suggest good scents...I LOVE French perfume!

We went into a shop that sells these colorful balls of twine or sisal (not sure) which you can make into light fixtures

you can design your own and buy the colors and sizes you want. Look at the array of COLORS! I would have a hard time choosing.

 They also carry on-the-wall planters like these:

Across from Paul is a coffee store that sells only coffee/espresso machines of all sizes and prices and coffee roasted by them

you can enjoy a cup of delicious coffee in the very cozy corner or outside.

The garden store Griin (oui) has the most attractive garden furniture I've seen...

 not sure how I could get any of this into my suitcase though (sniff)...again check out the COLORS!

The sky was gray but the colors made us feel good!

We thought we might stop in here at what Emmanuelle calls the provençal fast-food place

...it is actually set up like one where you order your food at a counter like Burgerville. All the products are from the region only...here is the business "motto" statement on purple bien sûr!

It says basically that 100% of what is sold here comes only from the Camargue, Luberon, Ventoux or Alpes, all regions in Provence. All containers and biodegradable or recyclable and...they have this to drink: 

Provença-Cola!

The menu looked delicious...this will be for next time. 

See you again in Rome. Ciao!

Happy May Day!

On May 1st you can see vendors on street corners selling lily of the valley...they are "porte bonheur" good luck bringers (!!) The supermarkets were full of them days before May 1st because that day is a holiday and most things are closed. That is the date for the fête de gardiens in Arles which is a Provencal cowboy (oui!) celebration with women in beautiful costumes and men on white horses. Quite spectacular!

We did not go to the fête and instead drove over to Beaumes de Venise (famous for its muscat wine of that name) for a vide-grenier which is a sort of rummage sale but includes mort of the people in town who bring things to sell out to the market square...

We turned left and headed towards Orange/Bollene.

 This is the entry to the little town and the square in front of the Hotel de Ville.

I thought the platanes were so gorgeous I had to get a close up shot too...they look so wise and massive and probably are very old. I wonder how many "haircuts" these platanes have had?

On the edge of town, in the vineyard there are California poppies blooming! I think they are in competition with the red Flanders poppies and it was a surprise to see them! I wonder if I had some seed in my pockets when I came to Provence in past years??!

We found some treasures at the vide-grenier so everyone was happy. Here is an interesting sculpture at the round-about outside of town:

Heading homeward we had some plans...a barbecue in the garden and then some dessert...so just so you know, Anton and I thought we would do an American treat to compete with the French desserts...we made Rice Krispy Treats!!! What do you think? Hmmm, is it the presentation perhaps?

Actually, Maya and I decided we would try to make some brownies instead in the gourmet bistro.

We mixed up a batch while the barbecue was in session.

Everything turned out delicious...even the cat liked the brownies and sneaked a piece before going off to bed. ( Did you know cats like chocolate? She seems fine this morning!)

Later, after a session with paints we joined Emmanuelle's family for an "apero dinatoire" which was so much fun...everyone talking at once, laughing, cuddling the new baby and just generally having a good time in the garden.

paint brush clean off collage...joli non?

Well, thats it for now. More later after I pack up for Rome. We are heading in that direction on Saturday, May 3...then some real adventure begins...

Il buon giorno si vede dal mattino!