The Vatican and the Jewish Ghetto

It sounds like a tale of two cities, and in some ways it is here in Rome, although the Jewish Ghetto is mostly in name now and happened to be where our dinner restaurant was.

First, the Pantheon.  Built over 2000 years ago, it has survived because it's been a temple/church of some kind continuously.  It's about 50 meters from our apartment, and the square it is in is mobbed during the day.  Since it opens at 8:30, we went in then and it was quite less crowded.

 We had a typical Italian breakfast (standing up at the bar to get the cheaper prices, of course) of coffee/hot chocolate and cornetti (think croissant).  Some orange juice rounded out the economical meal.

 Next, the Vatican. 

From there, we took a taxi to the Vatican Museums, where we met our guide Antionetta.  Does she kind of look like someone we know?

 Lunch was at a restaurant near the Vatican, but 'just far enough away to be good', with daily changing specials and a great house wine:

Lunch was house-made salumi and cheeses (yes, buffala mozzarella again for you-know-who), pasta for Brian, and polpette: meatballs made by Nonna (Grandma) Nina.  When the kids said they were the best meatballs ever I was a little hurt, but knew we were on the right track.  All that was left was the 'scarpetta', wiping up the rest of the sauce with the bread at the table.













After lunch, headed back to the apartment to get another layer of clothes and umbrellas.  It rained for about an hour, including on our way to the Trevi Fountain.

 While Rachel was throwing her coin, Brian thought that he had forgotten to make his wish.  We explained that the 'default wish' for coins in the fountain was to come back to Rome and he was satisfied.

Of course there was gelato again, which you should expect as a default.  Gelateria are like pizza places in New York, with at least one on every street.

Dinner that night was in the Jewish Ghetto at a restaurant famous for its fried artichokes.  It was so-so, and the first 'miss' of the trip, although Brian liked his pasta carbonara.

Finally, it was lights out and the Coniglio di Pasqua came.

Coming next, ancient Rome, lunch in our Food Guide's neighborhood, and pizza (finally).