When in Rome (or anywhere outside of Denmark), shopping is high on our list of priorities, so we headed to Via Cola di Rienzo,
which is where the locals shop. There were some recognizable chains, but mostly small shops selling Italian-styled clothes. So many
pretty things I would've liked to have bought, but all were incompatible
with the dreadful Scandinavian climate!
We browsed the length of Via
Cola di Rienzo to Piazza del Popolo, then nipped down Via del Corso,
which is one of the main tourist shopping streets. There were far too
many familiar shops and far too many people in this street, so we turned
off into the oddly enough, less crowded tourist track which took us
through Piazza Navona.
Piazza
Navona was one of my favorite sights last time I was in Rome and I was looking forward to sharing it with Robert, but unfortunately,
there was a Christmas Market still going on, so it was very crowded, and
difficult to appreciate, but I think its fountains and sculptures are
the most beautiful in Rome. If I'm ever filthy rich, an apartment
overlooking this Piazza is high on my wish list ;-)
From
there, we just wandered the back streets of Rome, hitting the Pantheon,
and Trevi Fountain, until Robert, the caffeine junkie, needed a fix,
and we started looking for a café. One of the more annoying aspects of
traveling with me is that I hate being ripped off even more than the average
person. I'd rather collapse from hunger or thirst than be swindled in a tourist
trap! So it took us awhile to find a café I approved of.
By
happy accident, we found a lovely and tiny café on Via dell'Orso,
which had coffee and table service for the unheard of price of €1.50!
It had three outdoor tables, owners who didn't speak English, and a
local clientele... perfect! One coffee turned into two, which turned
into a light meal, all for around just €13! We've marked it on our map, and we will be back :)
Heading
back to the hotel, we passed a shop on Via Arenula that had my name written all over the
display window. I came out with a dress and two coats, which had also
been discounted 30%... all in all, a great shopping day!
Longtime readers of my blog might remember me having to pay 285 zloty for a RyanAir boarding pass in Krakow. I found myself in a similar predicament in Rome. Robert had watched me put the boarding passes into my handbag, but I somehow managed to lose them between checking out at the hotel reception and checking in at the airport. In my defense, we had a 7 am flight, and as Robert has pointed out, Louis (Vuitton) was probably none too chuffed at having to fly RyanAir ;-)
After waiting in line to get the naughty slip that needed to be brought to another desk where we'd be fleeced for reprints of our boarding passes, I got the bright idea that perhaps someone at one of the currency exchange desks might be willing to help us out for a few Euros. I shared my devious idea with Robert, who used his sexy British charm to close the deal. Luckily, the Krakow incident taught me to always keep PDFs of my boarding passes on my phone, and I was able to email the files to our good samaritan who not only printed them out, but who wouldn't accept anything in return. I know karma will repay her :)
Labels: italy, travel
