Rome offers a lot more than its very impressive tourist experiences; this post outlines what you must do to really understand the city and its people
When in Rome, do as the modern Romans do. Observing the maxim, start the day with a Cappuccino and a Cornetto - the slightly denser, less buttery cousin of the croissant - a combination only culturally acceptable before 10 AM, and a faux pax thereafter.
Stray away from the well treaded, explore how people live - an indirect benefit of opting for cheap accommodation, in the outer suburbs.
Appreciate the Roman pizza, with its unexpectedly heavy, focaccia like, base and exquisite, probably adventurous, toppings, all respecting the 3 ingredient rule- a far cry from the lighter Naples version - carved by the slice, to your desired dimensions, by scissors or knives, by practiced hands;
Try it at -
And try the Suppli - the fried, stuffed balls of rice, categorically Roman - no different to the the Sicilian arancini for the uninitiated.
try it at Suppli in the beautiful Trastevere district - https://goo.gl/maps/UQ1WWxc8uaWDZcHK9
For a digestive, make a fleeting, non fussed Al banco visit to the bar for a caffé- a single shot of strong espresso so short it almost resembles a ristertto and needs water as a chaser, served by bow tied or aproned baristas.
Take the heavily graffitied metropolitan train - a suitable representation of defaced urban Rome - with its ancient, rickety and frankly dangerous doors; there's a high probability of missing your optional stop, unless you notice the asterisk on your stop's name, and press the solitary, incongruous red button near the doors hoping it's not for emergencies.
Explore the supermarkets, of course, arguably affording the best insight into a people's everyday - observe the emphasis on and variety of Parmigiano-Reggiano, the mozzarella, the hand carved porchetta and ham, the cheap good wine, the tortellini.
Rummage through bric-a-brac at the many ad-hoc flee markets.
To round off the evening, head to the local bar and indulge in an aperitivo - an aperol spritz, a campari or a stiffer Negroni, at the bar, with a complimentary side of snacks, again al banco - standing at the bar- avoiding the service charge ( alla tavola) (when traveling on a budget) , sharing the counter with other like minded Italians not interested in the more comfortable tabled option.
Try it at Vigna Stelluti in the idylical neighborhood of Via Monteros, conveniently located far away from the centre, near the colony hotel, our accommodation for the weekend.
Then explore ancient Rome, of course. #keepexploring #traveldeeper
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