LIVING IN TRASTEVRE, ROME

Rabbit,

Worst restaurant in Rome

Eija, Jyrki and I set off to see the factory and eat at a recommended restaurant near there.  The restaurant was closed so we picked one at random.  Jyrki said at the time, "This is the worst food I have ever tasted".  The picture is of the rabbit I ordered looks decent enough but was mostly bones.  Fortunately, we all have a sense of humor and a sense of adventure.  The name of the restaurant is , Trattoria Zampagna, via Ostiense 179, Roma.

Centrale Montemartini on Via Ostiense 106 is the name and address of the museum in Rome's first power station, that I mentioned in an earlier blog.

Old factory

This is an old electric factory that was out of commission shortly after it was finished.  Instead of demolishing it, they put sculptures that had been recently found under Trastevere and other places in Rome.  They also kept the machines, so the statues and busts are interspersed among the machines.  Since they were found recently, they did not have fig leaves on them, which I learned had been put on the ones in the Vatican museum.  The hand and arm are enormous...a colossus. 

Last day

It has been surprising to me, that because I shop everyday for food and go to the cafe,  I felt sadness saying goodbye to my grocer and my cafe.  Back home in Michigan, going to the grocery store and Target is a chore; I go as little as possible and I can see why.  Although I've had a knack for picking the worst restaurants here, I truly will miss the bread and the fast food pizza and sandwich shops, fresh fruit and vegetables and coffee.  Mostly I will miss the people I have met here.

In my wanderings today, I walked into a fabric shop and had one of those "aha" moments.  It is like wandering into a used book store like KINGS in Detroit, floor to ceiling bolts of beautiful wools, silks and lace in a very old building with lumpy floors that has been there from the beginning of time.  All these fabrics are made in Italy and that is why Italian clothing is so beautiful.  The name of the store is BASSETTI TESSUTI on Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 73.  My computer translation says it means "woven sideburns", but my computer sometimes translates very strangely.  Too bad I don't sew anymore.

I will post the rest of my pictures when I get home.  Caio.

My daily cafe

These are the two owners of the cafe I visit everyday.  It is called Cafe Good in Trastevere, just down the alley from my apartment.  Both men are very gracious and are appreciative of any new Italian I try to use.  I will miss this place.

Contemporary art show

On my way home yesterday, I wandered into a contemporary art exibition  that is in several building all over Rome. Hundreds of artists I have only heard of, but never had the opportunity to see their work, were represented by the gallery owners who represent their work.  One of my very favorites is the by photographer Vanessa Beecroft, who makes pictures that always touch me.  This is one of her photos of the black madonna.  The gallery owner offered what she considered a very good price on a smaller picture for only 15,000 euros.  I think I will have to be satisfied with my memory of it and this copy.

Piazzo di Fiori Market

Leather artist

This is Elisa Nepi, making a beautiful red belt for me.  She designs all of her work and creates purses that are unusual and well made.  Worth a trip to: Artiglanoato in cuilo, via del Chavari 39, 00186, Roma, Italy, Tel.-fax 06-68307297.  It is near Piazza di fiori.  My belt was only 27 euros.

Classmates

Finnish school and embassy