Feelings of the Day: There is always something else to choose from. Different ways to travel, foods to consume, and places to explore. Why be angry and upset when a so-called barrier is placed before you when you can bring your head up, look around, and see another thing to attract your attention. You never know if it could be better than what was planned, unless you try.
Full Day’s Events: The full sun was on display when we woke. As we prepared our oatmeal and coffee, we went over what we proposed to do and how to do it. The incoming dark clouds must have heard us and decided to limit our decisions by dumping continuous rain. Lots of rain.
With a pastry bite and a cappuccino at the Smash Cafe, we looked for a place to buy bus tickets. Directed to a tiny tobacconist store we were greeted by an older lady who was not going to let her years since birth stop her from looking 80’s era glamorous. Think Elizabeth Taylor in the Dynasty TV show. Her little dog, not wanting to be left out, was also glam’d up and on a shockingly pink cushion. Smiles now on our faces, my wife and I left for the bus stop as it was time to clean our clothes.
A 14-minute bus ride South, to the seaside Lido Ostia, we got off among very tall apartment and office buildings beside a park with gigantic trees. Three minutes of walking made us both realize the weatherproofing my wife had done, to our old rain jackets before the trip, was no longer effective. However, the walk did bring us to the dry and empty Onda Blue Lavanderie Fast Service. With signs in English, and a helpful staff member who came out of the back, the business was as advertised because in just over an hour (and 17 euros) all our darks and whites were washed and dried except for that which had to be hung to dry. That was good because we were about to get wet again.
With a quick stop at a Conad supermarket, we took the bus back to our accommodations, hung what needed to be hung, and set off for Pizza at a place a little further away from us. For whatever reason, perhaps the rain-soaked streets that almost devoured a few small cars, they were closed. Therefore, we made the short walk to what was to be a future place to eat, Coccode Pasta all’uovo & Bistro. Here they make many kinds of pasta and also serve it. We ordered two of the specials to share: fried polenta sticks with a gorgonzola and mushroom cream sauce as well as spiral long maccheroni with asparagus and gorgonzola. This was lovingly consumed with a Syrah from Italy. After our meal, but before the bill, we ordered to take away some prepared and dried ravioli with manicotti and spinach inside.
On the way back we stopped at a local coffee roaster, Picapau, as our beans from home had run out, and retreated into our place for some rest from the rain. For supper we had half the raviolis, with tomatoes and veggies we had bought, and opened some chocolate R&J had gotten for us in Spain. It was unique as it was dark chocolate with torreznos in it, which is…the outer part of the belly of a pig that has been marinated, cured, and chopped into bits to be fried. The crunchy belly texture with the chocolate was enjoyable and no more than a square was needed. A nice way to end the day. 4 km walked and 6 flights of stairs climbed.
No comments:
Post a Comment