Roma Sparita, Rome

Incredible Cacio e Pepe.  The best I've had to date.  Light and very peppery as opposed to Da Felice, which was heavy and soupy.  Served in a cheese bowl??  Are you kidding.  A simple dish that delivers incredible flavor.  Everyone in the restaurant had this on their table. Other dishes here were very good too including the pizza.  Nice wine list and the reds are actually served at cellar temperature (rare in Italy).  The setting is in a quiet Piazza in the colorful Trastevere neighborhood.  Thanks for the tip Tony Bourdain!

On to Orvieto

Had a good full day in Roma yesterday.  Lots of walking and a couple good meals.  Roma Sparita was awesome.  Cacio e pepe was better than Da Felice.  Da Felice is really soupy, which is good but on the heavy side.  Sparita is lighter with lots of cracked pepper and the clincher is the cheese bowl that it is served in.  Incredible dish.  Thanks to Tony Bourdain for the find.  Nice spot in a quiet piazza in Trastevre.  Good pizza too.

Picked up the car this morning and drove to Orvieto.  Good drive and the countryside is beautiful in Umbria.  Nice town too.  Took some good pictures.  Off to Montalcino and tasting at Valdicava in the morning.

First day in Rome

Had a good first day in Rome that consisted of two naps and lots of walking.  Once Dave got in we had a killer lunch near the Piazza Novona.  A little pizza place that was in the Rick Steves guide - pizza was OTC and spaghetti carbonara also very good.  Had a glass of wine afterwards at Cul de Sac - kick ass wine bar also near the Piazza Novona.  Walked around after lunch and passed by most of the big Rome sights.  Tons of and tons of tourists in Rome.  It seems that there always is but I thought this was the 'shoulder season'.  Dinner last night at Da Felice.  Totally different vibe the second time around.  Very friendly and English was widely spoken.  Food was very good.

Up rather early today.  Planning on visiting the catacombs and then Vatican in the afternoon.

Landing feet first in Rome

Easy flight from Newark to Rome last night and into this morning.  No ground delays despite fog and light rain.  We quickly climbed through the fog and clouds and were soaring through blue skies within a minute of liftoff.  My seatmate was a hip older gentleman that was going on two separate cruises leaving from Rome.  More than 30 days in total.

Dinner was some of the worst airline food I've ever eaten.  Got some sleep (thanks to the Ambian) and enjoyed a great view of the sun rising over the northern coast of France.  On the approach Rome we had a nice flyby from a Alitalia 767 or 777.  He was below us but pretty close.  Nothing dangerous or close enough to trigger TCAS.

Customs in Europe always makes me laugh and this morning was no exception.  The agent looked at my passport for all of about 0.5 seconds and didn't bother to stamp it.  From the aiport I took the train into the city and then a quick walk to my hotel.  Our room isn't ready yet so I'm here waiting for Dave O.  Perfect weather this morning.       

Another Brooks Brother Elbow Blowout

This time it was my most recent purchase from Brooks Brothers, another no iron shirt.  It also happends to be my favorite shirt to wear to work.  This morning I reached down to feel my elbow and I find that the fabric is in shreds.  What kind of crappy ass fabric is Brooks Brothers using in its shirts?  I'm beyond fed up.  You charge $80 for a shirt that is defective?