~~ An EaSy, BreEzY EaStEr daY iN iTaLy ~~

Yesterday I woke up late. BUMMER! I wanted to get up early and get on with my sightseeing. Instead, I took my time getting ready to go, and then headed off to the Botanical Gardens. I didn't have much of a hard time finding it which left me enough time for me to enjoy my day there. I got a map and guide, which was actually in English woohoooo, and went on my way. I followed the walking tour that was on the guide which was really helpful It was quiet, breezy, and sunny. I think I should have waited to visit here for a couple more weeks since a lot of the flowers weren't in bloom yet, so everything was just a blanket of green, which was still beautiful. There were two ponds. One, with two ducks diving under the water for food and the other pond down the hill a ways had two momma ducks and 18 little ducklings. It reminded me of springtime in Madison.

After the pond, I was in spot 16 of 20 which is the suucculents greenhouse. I peaked in the windows and wished I could have went in but the sheet said that they closed at 1 and it was already 4, but when I came around to the door it was open so I went in. I was way in the back when a lady yelled "Senora" and then something else in Italian. I figured it meant I wasn't supposed to be in there. It turns out that they were still open when I got there. I was bummed because I really wanted to see in the Orchid greenhouse the most. I missed it by like 10 minutes. Oh well...guess I shouldn't have stopped for a cracker break and feed the ducks...

After the Botanical Gardens, I was getting tired and hungry so I headed home. It took me a little over an hour from where I was on the river to home. I did stop at the Supermercati Garbatella when I got off the subway for some potato chips and San Pelligrino (I had a craving). A big bag was only $.49 Euros.

Around 6:15 I had to go back where I was earlier to meet some friends for a few cocktails. I met them in Trastevere at the Piazza Della Malva. I had 2 glasses of an Italian version of cheap champagne which was pretty good. We snacked on FREE finger sandwiches (mozzarella and tomato, salami and cheese, artichoke and some sauce) and in the shell peanuts...that's normal here in Italy for what we might call happy hour from about 7-8:30. How cool is that. At around 10 I left Trastevere for my long walk home. It was a beautiful, clear night about 60 degrees and there were hardly any people around. I was the only person on both sides of the subway sitting and waiting at the station.

When I got home I fed the cats, talked to mom on skype, and went to bed. I was exhausted.

Link to Pictures of my sightseeing on Good Friday!

http://picasaweb.google.com/karudy/ItalySightseeing41009?authkey=Gv1sRgCLuPxo3Bqr7hTQ&feat=directlink

Link to pictures of the Botanical Gardens:

http://picasaweb.google.com/karudy/ItalySightseeing41109?authkey=Gv1sRgCMCO_5io-qrUNg



~~~~~ HaPpY EaStEr!!! ~~~~~
I woke up this morning...thinking I had time to relax, but for got I was going to Giulio's parents house for Easter Breakfast. I quickly got ready when I got a phone call saying Giorgio was going to be here in ten minutes...whoops!

On the way there Giorgio told me that he was the one who designed their building that their flat is in. It was pretty neat from the outside but the inside was even better. The lines of the outside echoed the lines of the inside. Their fireplace wall mirrored the library wall with angular bookcases and an angular mantle. Their furniture was clean lines with a contemporary feel. Everything was accented with pieces that looked like things they got on vacations around the world.

For Breakfast, it was me, Giorgio and his wife, his newphew and his mom. The table was setup nicely with lots of breads and meats. We had espresso, tea, wine, and water to drink. They drink water with their meals like we drink milk, so I miss the milk part of my meal a lot. Oh we had harboiled eggs too. And for dessert, we had a typical Italian cake/bread shaped like a dove with almonds and some white stuff on top and a large, football sized chocolate egg, with a suprise inside. I got to keep the suprise. It was a silver keychain and a chocolate. :)


They don't spend all day with their families on holidays like we do so I was back home around 11:30. Giulio's cousin brought me home since he lives in the same condo area that we do. Now I am just uploading pictures, doing laundry, and cleaning a little. I am thinking about a nap soon. I am tired. Ciao!