Christian Baby Saying

P. Theroux past is present * - Flavours of Italy, not only in travel

this time will not be the usual lectures about the holiday, but not silent a few facts and stories. Establish the two books that flew with me to the Eternal City, and are excellent reading, not only on such a trip but also perhaps the motivation for it.

Rome because the city is mostly referred to is probably known to all, but perhaps not everyone knows that this city was founded during the Iron Age, the time frame is difficult to judge because they are different depending on the latitude. However, the emergence of the first Roman Republic dates back to around 750 BC It is a city with a rather checkered history, in which struggle for power waged both aristocrats, emperors and clergy. Destroyed, not only by the passage of time but many revolutions Rome started to lose their wealth, and only today has brought us to the unification of Italy, a significant and important change for the city. After reunification in Rome, the laying out of streets, construction of many buildings that do not always przystawałay to the ancient, ubiquitous walls and tried to more or less "arranged" the streets (though up to now their system is unclear.) An example of the destruction of ancient buildings is controversial Altar of the Fatherland - Vittoriano, the design absorbed not only tons of marble, but also the surrounding ancient buildings.

Vittoriano al. Altar of the Fatherland (Ara della Patria), a gigantic edifice of marble, which commemorates the unification of Italy. Was built between 1884-1911. From the terrace stretches a panorama of Rome.

Vittoriano - the view from the Via dei Fori Imperiali from the Forum Romanum

view of the Colosseum from Via dei Fori Imperiali

You do not need to submit? Colosseum, the Flavian Amphitheatre in fact - the hallmarks of Rome. The building - a symbol whose name comes from standing once 40 meters next to the statue of Colossus, and not, as often mistakenly believed the great size of the building. Originally it was a place of gladiatorial contests, but the past is only part of the whole complex of buildings which includes baths with pools and a reading room (adjacent hill Celio). As an amphitheater located 50 thousand spectators!

Between the continued expansion of Rome, Mussolini, who also accused the further destruction of historical monuments for nearly all new buildings, or streets (including the Via dei Fori Imperiali, the district EUR and the Via della Conciliazione). Rome is also known through films, Federico Fellini and Marcelo Mastroianni, initiated by them and called the Dolce Vita era . But the film La Dolce Vita the streets of Rome, far away. Too much traffic, expansion of new buildings and the whole therefore, the destruction of ancient buildings, exhaust and a big tourist traffic is not conducive to a sense of sweetness and for relaxation. The only hope opamiętaniu authorities and continuous dissemination started in 2000 investment aimed at restoration of monuments and modernize infrastructure. Apparently there is a good time to visit Rome - it either goes to the favorable weather conditions, that is bearable in Rome around 30 degrees and cloudless sky, but it literally overcharging tourists, buses, subways and streets, kilometer-long queues for museums and monuments or on deserted streets and restaurants in the least gloomy 40 degree heat. Personally, I am probably willing to endure the rain and thus escaping tourists if only to surrender to the allure of the city.

The famous Italian sweet life (which is not quite as sweet) book refers Penelope Green Roman dolce vita. It is a story of unfulfilled professional Australian journalist, who tired of the monotonous life rather puts everything on one card and moves to Rome. Thrown into deep water, not knowing the language does not immediately get his dream job and not once acclimatized well and gets along with the Italians. Green describes his trials and tribulations of learning about foreign cultures and people, and this may be useful for people who go on a trip to Italy. What survived the Green may stanowićdobrą school for its followers in the footsteps. Descriptions of meetings with Italian friends in restaurants, at the usual morning coffee and a sweet croissant, descriptions of customs can serve as a rich source of knowledge and help niejednokrotne escaped from oppression (the Italians are a nation very sensitive to gestures, you should first consult with their customs so as not to offend someone unintentionally.) Roman dolce vita is as nieturystyczny guide to the city, a position often better than the dry facts presented in the usual guidebooks for tourists. Knowledge of the mentality Italians should also be complemented by other items of the Italian trilogy Green - North Capri and Naples , my love .

especially recommend that first position, and is especially for those who like Italian food or want to learn it and move to the kitchen (which is what to like!). This is a book full of recipes! The story that revolves around them seems to be lost somewhere. For who will take over amorous perypetiami author in the face of savory pastes, fish and coffee!?

As far as eating them happy przeniosłabym Polish. Excellent fit to the aromatic herbs, fresh vegetables, tomatoes and heavenly scented olives. How wonderful to be able to enjoy, all in the kitchen house where we lived. Fresh herbs from the garden, evening talks and marvelous food, but equally great to sit in one of the cafes on the climate of the Roman street, and overlooking the monument to eat any of the flavor prepared by Italian chefs (must be Italian) lunch. And for dessert .... truest in the world ice cream (ice cream tasted good only in Croatia and now in Rome). Through this experience the book Penelope Green, which even before you leave me terribly nervous about teasing my senses became affordable reading, which of course can find a place in my kitchen.

One of the many streets with restaurants, but one of the few sparsely populated. We managed to grab the right moment!

A be a tourist in Italy is pure fun - those are treated with sympathy and understanding, but not always on the language, or are looking for clues to the location, but you do not have anything to fear. Maybe only if someone like me does not like the street traders should abstain from spreading in a variety of stalls whose owners (or rather not native Italians), a loud voice, to encourage purchases - if someone can tell me when they are not there, we are happy to visiting Rome again.

It is nice to be listened to talk of Italians - it's their element, that unless they live. When I talk to do not seem to see the rest of the world, have no regard for the surrounding crowd, not terribly much lower their voice while gesturing (may just not behind the wheel.) Their style of conversation is completely different from their approach to work. Spontaneity, przypisałabym that Italy as a characteristic of expression visible at first glance, as if they lose when they are at work (not on the parade strikes are called Italian). The slow movement, at least talk to the client, in addition, if time was of the rubber can be annoying at times, especially when the tourist rush to the plane. Ingeniously they can also simply avoid the angry customer, especially when the plane is delayed horrendous, no one knows what's going on, and travelers would have to be some explanation. Award for the Italians for an excellent leader of sight so as not to stumble on either one of the thousands of tourists gathered at the airport! The prize for traveling without trzymanki! Ride, after which you want to just thank God that he escaped with life! On the streets and in cars (and buses) is manifested their temperament - many gestures, and the cacophony of screaming horns are the only of its kind. Probably no one, like the Italians, with such grace can not be mad at the wheel;) Nowhere are there more as soon as I felt in Rome do not need to wear a seat belt buses, and nowhere more so thank you for it. However, even though its own car, I would not go there, is such a driving style I personally do not bother, rather than worry rozweselał.

This is not a procession, visitors gathered in front of a fountain - an inconspicuous access to it I was very surprised, like the sculpture itself, affixed to one of the townhouses. An interesting fact is that the water fountain comes from an ancient aqueduct 20 miles long.

Trevi Fountain - an example of "pressing" and "sticking" to the monuments of modern buildings

small sample great detail of the fountain.

unique atmosphere of the Piazza Navona and the amazing, reportedly the world's only such a truffle ice cream;)

Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi - Four Rivers fountain

house near the Pantheon

Stairs English. In the foreground is the fountain of La Barcaccia of a barge that brought the water up here wylewającego Tiber. At the top of the stairs - older by two centuries of their church Trinita dei Monti.

shop, from which the heavily O-Bartolucci

summary: charge of infrastructure development while zatracaniu beauty - I put an unsatisfactory grade for the list is not harvested in the autumn, which sometimes can be lifted sufficiently, and the mentality (of this joyous hand, there żółwiego work rate) and the food is not wystracza my scale! For me, Italy (though it says a lot when I suddenly saw a piece of Rome and the surrounding area) is the flavor! The unique flavors of pasta, wines, cheeses and olives piccy - this especially because-made and sold under that name throughout the world, but not the whole tasting like there! I have a dream to go to Rome again, and that there were no dealers already mentioned, and yet so many tourists and all the houses around the wonderful sights. Yes, so you can admire their beauty in all its glory. But I am afraid that if something would rather just niszczało sights - but on the other hand, if you have survived so many centuries, is a small earthquake is able to be leveled?

* (Lawrence Magnificent Medici)

copy photos without my permission is forbidden!