Continue reading »]]> I HOUGHT HORACE was a sniveler. I mean Quintus Horatius Flaccus, the great Roman poet. What gave me this impression was a satire he wrote about his trip down the Via Appia 2,018 years ago. The Appia was the first and the most famous of Rome’s long-distance military-commercial highways, by which she bound her conquests to her, and it was 275 years old when Horace took his tour in 37 B. C. The Romans called it the Queen of Roads, but it is just a l’il ole road by modern stan­dards. Only 380 Roman miles (360 of ours), it extended from Roma to Brundisium on the Adriatic, and Horace cry-babied all the way.

The mosquitoes are fearless, he wrote, the innkeepers sharp, road rough, water foul, tourists hot-tempered, dust eye-inflaming, bureaucrats pompous, hills sirocco-scorched, bread bad, rain wearying, and natives baffling.

I have now taken this trip myself. My re­spect for Horace as a reporter has risen. In an age when travel for pleasure had only be­gun, he was a pioneer tourist. The peccadil­loes of tourism he recounted are eternal, as I can verify, but they are still as welcome to tourists as they really were to Horace. With­out them, how could he—or we—have an amusing traveler’s tale to tell?

Horace, all in all, seemed to think the Ap­pian game well worth the candle. So did I. The amazing people we both met made it an unforgettable experience. Horace sang of “delightful” friends and their hospitality, which he strained to the utmost, as did I. But I had a further pleasure he unfortunately missed: all those fascinating ruins, which were just plain uninteresting buildings when Horace passed by.

I started from Rome, like Horace, but I started with the ruins of what for him must have been the most grandiose avenue in all Italy. It is ten straight miles of the Via Appia Antica, or “Ancient Appian Way,” that run south from Rome’s ancient boundary at the Porta Capena toward the town of Albano. Today 4.5 of these miles are within Rome’s city limits. Along the Way you can still ride or walk on patches of the huge green-gray volcanic selce stones that Romans paved with. Ruins of Roman tombs line the Appia because rich Romans coveted burial where catacombs, San Sebastiano and San Cal­listo, stretch through ten miles of corridors. Chiefly used in the first four centuries A. D. , the catacombs held not only commonfolk, but, in San Callisto, six of the early popes.

Today, few funerals on the Appia, but many marriages. The big cachet is to be wed on the Appia Antica in the “Pope’s church,” the Church of San Cesareo in Palatio, near the head of the Way. Every cardinal has a “Roman seat,” and this was Cardinal Woj­tyla’s before he became Pope John Paul IL

In excellent Appian restaurants near the Pope’s church occur the huge wedding par­ties Italians favor. My wife, Hannah, and I dropped in on the Quo Vadis for lunch one Sunday as 200 wedding guests—coatless and tieless in the October heat—were roar­ing toasts of “Bacio, bacio!—Kiss, kiss!” Bride and groom stood and responded with deep, serious, very Italianate kisses.

ASIDE FROM WEDDINGS, it was the many other Christian aspects of the urban Appia that most riveted me. The strip is, of course, also littered with pro­vocative Roman ruins—and with provok­ing Roman litter. The Italian government and the city of Rome own different Roman monuments here, but neither has the money to restore or maintain them properly. By contrast, the Vatican owns and beautifully maintains all Christian monuments, such as the Appian catacombs.

In the little church of Domine Quo Vadis, I saw with my own eyes the footprints of Christ. Well, they were a marble copy made in 1830 of purported footprints of Christ in a selce block of Appian pavement near the church. The feet are very narrow and flat.

Today he wouldn’t have a prayer. The traffic and din are horrendous. The Appia has only two and one-eighth lanes, and Roman drivers fantasize it has three. As the would-be passers try to get round into that illusionary third lane, they beep endlessly on shrill horns. If you need to rent a car to go and see for yourself, you can do rental cars comparison and choose the best car for you.

It is no atmosphere for viewing the moody marvels of antiquity, but since the average Italian thinks ruins are to be used or abused, not viewed, little mood remains. Renais­sance men built houses atop the Tomb of the Scipioni and the so-called Tomb of Cotta, or Casal Rotondo, and both are still lived in. Farmers are currently plowing up the Villa of the Quintilii brothers, a place once so lux­urious that Emperor Commodus had the brothers murdered to get it. Trash dumpers ceaselessly swamp the tomb of a lovely lady, Cecilia Metella, who once knew Julius Cae­sar. (Dumpers engulf ruins in a weirdly specialized way: Cecilia attracts almost exclusively dumpers of old tires and defunct medical supplies.) Cars beat up what little ancient polygonal pavement remains, and their exhaust erodes the monuments. Van­dals have whisked away even 300-pound selce polygons, to be sold on the “block” market for quaint driveways.

Continue reading »]]> If you plan to visit Rome, but this is a regular trip and you have already seen all the landmarks that are there to be seen, may be it is time for some shopping and fun in the capital of Rome. This time we will present you several places that you can consider for your free time. The first on our list is called Mercatino dell’Antiquariato which is a wonderful bargain market, set in Pariolo & Flaminio area and open every Sunday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. It is a wonderful vintage market and is set near Piazza della Marina, behind the Building of the Navy Ministry and a short walk from the People’s Square. This vintage market is quite famous and has many interesting clients, including celebrities. Some of the things that are offered here are quite interesting and they used to be very expensive at their time. Actually one can find many items here that are coming from the best European designers. The place is ideal if you are looking for accessories, but also for jackets and blazers.

The second market that is on our list is called Olimpico and it is located in the same district of Pariolo & Flaminio, on Piazza Gentile da Fabriano. This market is opened on Friday from 8 o’clock in the morning until noon. The place is great for those who love to bargain. Among the things that you can find here are shirts and shoes, but also bags and jeans. Some of the items are coming from famous brand names and they are offered at a very low price. The place is great to go around and find little treasures, without being pressed by the time. When you are done with the vintage shopping, you can go to the souvenir store “Libreria Spagnola”, set in the center of the city, on Piazza Navona itself. This souvenir store works every day but on Sunday and offers Spanish books and different souvenirs.  Placed near Bernini Four River Fountain, the store has two librarians who are very kind and who can help you find the right book for a person or for an occasion. Besides books, you can also find here different souvenirs, small gifts, etc. Since the bookstore is located near Piazza Navona, just a few steps from here you can find several nice cafes and restaurants with outdoor sitting area and great menu.

If you are done with this bookstore in Rome, you can go to films bookstore – the Libreria del Cinema, which is a nice place in Trastevere district. It works every day but on Sunday from 2 o’clock in the afternoon until 9 o’clock in the evening. Here you can find bookshelves with DVD’s and everything that has something to do with cinema.

Old movies, books and original scripts – there are so many things that you can find here. The people who work here are quite experienced and know a lot about the movies, so you can ask them for help if you need such.

Continue reading »]]> Today we will focus on several interesting cafes in Rome, which provoked our interest and attention. The first one of them is called “The Milk Bar” and it is placed in the center of the Italian capital. This bar is dedicated to the motherhood and the breastfeeding. It has a modern design and a contemporary approach to the process of breastfeeding and is ideal for the mums that think of themselves as modern. The city of Rome has many stores for baby clothes and accessories, and now it has its own milk bar. Here one can find bottles and specific underwear, and everything else that the mothers need. The place also works as a point for information for pregnant women that want to breastfeed, but do not know how to do it.

The other café that we will present is called Antica Caciara Romana and this is a nice paninoteca place, which is so typical for the city of Rome. The panino served here are very delicious and better than the fast food you will have in New York, for example. This is a great spot for hungry people, who will appreciate the good food and the reasonable price. The panino place is located in Trastevere area and it works every day but on Sundays. Here you can have the best ham and cheese panino, different cured meats, Italian cheeses, and so on.

Since we are in Trastevere, you can also check the Baylon Café. This nice bar offers relaxing atmosphere and works from early morning until after midnight. This bar offers delicious snacks of great variety that go well with a good drink. Another similar place is Caffe Propaganda, however it is located in the center of Rome. This bar opens for lunch time and closes after midnight. It offers views to the Colisseum and provides excellent snacks. There are two chefs that work here and the menu is quite extensive. The sandwiches offered are excellent, while the main courses are made following traditional Roman recipes.

The last place that we will present today is called “Green T”. This is a nice Chinese restaurant placed in the center of the city. It works every day except on Sundays and it opens for lunch time and then for dinner. The place is ideal for bringing date. It seems that this place is the best Chinese restaurant in the city of Rome.

During the lunch time the restaurant works with a fixed menu, but it also offers dishes from the main menu. Besides food, the place also offers tea and different Chinese objects, including clothing and books as well. The pace is interesting and will add some charm to your trip to the city of Rome, especially if you are here for more days and what to try something different than just pasta pizza and cheese. Not that there is anything wrong with them anyway.

Continue reading »]]> The month of April has plenty of reasons for celebration in Rome. The Eternal City is visited by thousands of tourists for the Holy Week and Easter, as people want to be in Vatican City in that period of the year and go to the Via Crucis procession or at the services on Good Friday. People often come in Rome in April to listen to the Sunday Mass at the Saint Peter’s Square… well, Easter can be absolutely unforgettable experience in that part of the world. Another celebration that needs to be presented here is also La Pasquetta holidau  on the day after Easter when people go out on picnics and there are fireworks in the evening.

Among the other events in April that are organized in the city of Rome are the spring festival on the Spanish Steps which are decorated with pink azaleas and is associated with different concerts as well as the Cultural week, during which the national museums and the archeological sites are open for public for free, including the Capitoline Museums, the National Roman Museum, etc. Another day that is celebrated is the Liberation Day, which marks the day when Italy and the city of Rome in particular have been liberated at the end of the Second World War.

Before that day however, on April 21st, is being celebrated the birthday of Rome or in other words, the founding of Rome. As the story goes, the birth of the city of Rome is connected with a love story. According to this story the pagan god Mars fell in love with a Vestal virgin and disgraced her. She gave birth to two twin boys that were quite big and beautiful, but the tribal king ordered them to be thrown into the Tiber River. The cradle with the babies was thrown into the water but was washed to the shore near the Palatine hill and a she wolf found the boys and suckled them. Thus survived Romulus and Remus, who grow into strong men that later build a town on the banks of the Tiber River that grew into a strong empire.

Usually this celebration is held on the Sunday before the date and it goes on with concerts and festivals, gladiators displays and a lot of fireworks.  In case that you happen to visit the city of Rome in the week of celebrations, you will find plenty of events and the ancient sites being beautifully illuminated at night and open to public during the day. No matter if you are visiting the fantastic city of Rome for the first or the tenth time, you will be happy to see the place so lively and festive. Note that like in every other country and city that you go, if you know the language or at least try to say a word or two, you will be well appreciated and welcomed. After all the Italian language is very pleasant to the ear and is not that difficult to learn.

Continue reading »]]> Italians love to celebrate all Christian festivals and Easter is one of fests they love most, along with Christmas. Easter is being one of the main festivals in the country and is widely celebrated in the capital Rome and in the whole country. On that day, the people in Italy commemorate the resurrection of Jesus and for that reason the day is considered holy. The Easter celebrations in the country are associated with many festivals, driven by the deep tradition and the Italian culture. Easter in Italy is known as La Pasqua and it is celebrated with various rites that are arranged in the country, some of which rituals are having ancient pagan roots. The celebrations for the Holy Week reflect the regional differences in the country, but have one general appeal. On the Palm Sunday people bring to the churches baskets with olive and palm branches, which are left there for the priests to bless them. Then people gather at the St. Peter’s Square to receive the blessed palm branches, once the Mass has ended. On the Holy Friday many churches present the ceremony of washing the feet of Jesus at the altar.

Before the Lent in Italy is being organized a carnival with masques, a lot of music and dances. This carnival in Italy starts in January and lasts until Ash Wednesday. The Lent season however is quieter period. The next celebration is the Easter dinner, when the table is arranged with lovely and very tasty delicacies. Among the finest dishes on that Easter dinner is called Agnellino, which is a roasted small lamb. Eggs are also widely present, as well as the soups like Brodetto Pasquale, the Easter soup and all kinds of breads. The most famous dessert for Easter in Italy is called Pannetone and this sweet bread is also given as a gift. Kids also receive chocolate eggs with a surprise inside. Of course, the recipes are a great part of the Easter holiday, as all meals are based on old family receipts, some of them being secret.

The traditional recipes include chocolate bunny cakes, cookies with peanut butter, and also lamb. The Easter recipes are easy to make and they do not take a lot of time. The chocolate Easter Eggs are also a great part of the holiday. Among the other dishes that deserve to be mentioned is the Easter Ham, which is smoked and comes with spices, as well as the special Easter desserts like the famous Pannetonne. On Easter Day is organized a traditional lunch, which is a great occasion to gather the family and your friends and have lovely time. During the Easter lunch the kids play different games like matching the eggs. As a symbol of the holiday comes also the Easter Bunny, which brings colored eggs that symbolize the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Italians love the holiday and everything that it symbolizes and take part in all activities.

Continue reading »]]> There are so many things to be seen in the Eternal City that most probably you will not want to waste your time cooking at your holiday apartment and will also do not wish to spend too much time eating at fancy restaurants and paying a lot of money for that. That is why you have a good choice of snack bars, where you can have a quick bite or a drink, pay a normal price and enjoy yourself.  I have selected several of these snack places that I like most. The one that comes first to my mind is the Boccone place, which is located in the center of Rome, near Piazza di Pietra, the Hadrian’s Temple and the Pantheon. It works every day from 10 a.m until 7.30 p.m. and it offers sandwiches and Panini that come in different flavors. Some of the ingredients could be mozzarella, tuna and fresh salmon, salad and cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes and so on. The types of bread are also different; the selection of drinks, soups, salads and fresh fruits is great as well.

The second snack bar that I can think of is called Dar Filettaro a Santa Barbara and it is also located in the center of the city. The place works every day except on Sundays and it opens and 6.30 p.m. The bar is placed at one of the small squares in Rome near Campo de’ Fiori and the small church of St. Barbara. It is famous with the great cuisine and the variety of the sandwiches offered. You can either sit here or just buy something to eat and go. The third snack bar that I find adorable is called Mondi and it is placed in Parioli & Flaminio district, working every day but on Mondays. Here one can get pastries and ice cream of different flavors. The curious thing is that they use fresh ingredients and everything tastes just as it should! In case that you travel with your children, you can count on that place, as the kids will absolutely adore it.

If you love to drink wine, probably you know that the local wines are incredible. The city of Rome features many lovely wine bars and Cavour 313 is one of them. Situated near the Colosseum in the center of the city, this wine bar has great atmosphere. Here you can buy some wine to bring back home or you can ask for a table and enjoy a glass of wine or two right on the spot. The selection of wines here is fantastic as you can choose from more than 1000 labels of wine. The dishes that come with the wine are fabulous as well, and they could be different types of cheese, salami, salmon, herring and so on. Another nice spot in Rome to get good wine and sip it while listening to jazz music is called Al Grammelot. This bar is located in Trastevere district and it works every day of the week. Besides great wine you will get good good as well including cheese and meat, as well as oysters.

Continue reading »]]> Almost all women look for options to preserve and enhance the beauty of their hair. Most of them also spend a lot of money as well as time behind this process. It is a well known fact that hair makes women look beautiful. However, these days, a lot of people are facing different hair related problems.

The problems women face includes hair thinning, balding, hair fall as well as other hair damages. Even though, one will be able to find various products provided in the market to preserve the beauty and health of the hair, not all of them can provide good results. However, this is not the case with Moroccan oil. It does not matter what type of hair you have, you can improve its health and beauty with this oil.

moroccanoil

Moroccan oil, which is also known as argan oilis one of the best natural hair and skin products. This oil is extracted from the argan trees that are usually found in the Morocco area. They come with different properties that can ensure healthy growth of your hair. Moreover, applying this oil regularly on your skin will improve its elasticity. The oil can help you to get rid of different scars and stretch marks from your body. You just have to look for 100% pure oil. According to the studies, it has been proved that argan oil is suitable for all types of hair. It contains rich vitamins as well as free radical neutralizers in it.

Argan oil

When you apply this oil in your hair, it will be easily absorbed by the hair, which will make it silky and shiny. Apart from these, there are also many other reasons why Morocco oil is used in the market. For instance, it is also used for treating different aging symptoms like fine line as well as wrinkles from the skin. They remove the scars from the skin and make it look younger and healthy.

One other fabulous oil for great health found in the market today is Krill oil. This oil comes with many health benefits when compared to other oils obtainable in the market. It is available in the form of capsules and supplements. Although this is a hundred percent natural product, it is very important to consult an expert before you use any type of capsules or supplements of Krill oil. This will help you to know the effects it will have on your body.

Krill Oil

Continue reading »]]> I love to go to Rome. I can go there every month and stay for at least a week. Unfortunately, this is not what happens. The good thing is that every time I go to Rome I find new dining places that I like so much that they became my favorite at least until the next time, when I am stunned by another cozy restaurant. The places that I will describe today are a nice Italian restaurant near the Spanish Steps, which is called “Pactificio”, which serves fantastic meals at a very, very normal price. I am mentioning this place, since there are not many of that kind in this posh shopping zone of the Italian capital. Open each day of the working week for lunch and for early dinner, the restaurant also serves as a shop, wherefrom one could buy nice things and prepare a meal, if staying at one of the serviced apartments in Rome or Apartments in Milan that come with equipped kitchens.

This photo of Il Bacaro

The other restaurant, which I came across in the center of Rome and would like to share with you is the romantic spot “Il Bacaro”, which is placed near the Pantheon. It opens for lunch and for dinner every day but on Sunday. The place is quite cozy, so it is definitely a place to go to, if you visit Rome as a couple. The selection of wines is incredible and features a choice of more than 400 different types of vine, while the food is more than delicious and there are meals with truffles… just to mention it. Of course, the service is excellent, just as it should be. Another place that I want to mention is the Sancafe, which is situated in the district of Vatican and Prati and works every day of the week, except on Sundays. This is a modern restaurant that offers meals prepared according to the healthy regulations and with fresh and organic ingredients. The wines offered are also organic. In addition there is a juice bar and a selection of coffee blends. The atmosphere in the Sancafe is very pleasant and the staff is brilliant.

Angelo Feroci

For those travelers that want to prepare a meal on their own in the equipped kitchen of the holiday apartment they have rented, there is this place called “Angelo Feroci” in the center of Rome, which is a butchers shop where one could buy meat cuts of highest quality. Lamb, beef, veal, poultry and game, it seems that here one can find everything to prepare a nice meal. The butchers here are great experts and they will not only hand you the meat, but they will explain how to cook it wisely, in order to get the taste that you want. There are also nicely prepared dishes, if you do not have time to cook. The prices are above the average, but one should expect that if one is in search of a great quality.

Continue reading »]]> St. Valentine is another holiday that is celebrated in the city of Rome, which loves festivals and festivities of any kind and duration. Thus if you happen to be in Rome for a romantic Valentine’s holiday, there will be plenty to do and experience with that special someone who makes everything different and far more pleasant. The first to start with is that the Italian capital is a very romantic place with plenty of nice squares and places for walking, numerous romantic parks and tiny restaurants, plenty of fountains that can take your breath away. You can find easier apartment in Rome than Apartment in Vienna. Whatever you decide to do around St. Valentine’s Day in Rome, try to stay away from the crowds and get those romantic corners and hidden tiny squares, which are known only to the locals and to you. Often, these places are as close to the major sites of interest that you will be really amazed by that fact.

This photo of Etabli caffe, winebar, ristorante

This photo of Etabli caffe, winebar, ristorante

This photo of Etabli caffe, winebar, ristorante
The other important thing to decide and arrange is where you will dine while in Rome for your St. Valentine’s holiday. Without doubt you can start a nice tradition here, by finding a nice restaurant to come back to year after a year. You can find some good offers by reading the comments of the people who have recently been to Rome and try a few placed until you choose that special one where you will both feel great and where you will be delighted by the professional service, the delicious meals and the excellent wine. After all you should not forget that it is the good memory that makes a certain place special, even if it is just a small pizzeria, a bakery or an ice-cream shop. A good tip to take is to explore the Trastevere district with its cozy dining places at the narrow streets and lovely lanes near the river, as well as the restaurants along the river promenade itself. Another favorite place is Piazza Navona and the restaurants there, though the year could be quite tourist oriented, yet still one can enjoy a glass of good wine and some cheese.

If you plan to go on a special dinner in Rome, you have to know that you will need a reservation and that the dinner usually starts at 7 p.m. If you get bread on the table, know that you will have to pay for it afterwards. Another thing to know is that most probably you will sit very close to the other people in the restaurant, but this is normal for the small dining places. Among the good dining options are the small restaurants on Via di Tor Millina and along Via del Governo Vechio, as well as in the area of Campo dei’ Fiori. A good restaurant to consider is Etabli, which has a great atmosphere, as well as the enoteca Cul de Sac, which offers an impressive selection of wines and several dishes. If you love pasta, then go to Pastarito, they have several restaurants in the center of Rome and they are all incredible.

Continue reading »]]> Vacations with dogs seem like a great idea. It can be fulfilled and amusing. You would be amazed to see how well your dog would respond to the change of place and weather. Dogs are strong animals and can survive in extreme cold and heat as they have a great immune system and body mechanism. Due to this, either people always plan to take their dogs along with them on vacations or they travel around just to make sure they have best friend together. If you plan to leave the dog home, you can always install an indoor dog fences to keep dog of furniture. These dog fence systems for indoors are portable and easy to travel with.

dog and cats

Indoor dog fence is affordable and easy to make and order. All you have to do is, train your dog to stay within a certain boundary when told do. However, if the authorities and management allows your dog to stay in the hotel or vacation spot premises then you can always take along your dogs in vacation and always feel at ease. If you are travelling alone or with a family, your kids would never get bored at beaches and hotels if they have their dogs with them, as they would always get a chance to love them, hug them and be near them as they do back home.

dog vacation

Vacations with dogs can be a little problem if the hotels do not have an electric dog fence or wireless dog fence. As sometimes dogs are not allowed to stay with you inside a room and they are kept safely in another room, the electric dog fence and wireless dog fence can help you stay carefree, as there would be no chances of your dog running away from the room. Many times due to absence of wireless dog fence and electric dog fence dogs have ran away from the vacation spots in search of their owners.

You need to make sure you take along all the supplies of your dogs along with you on vacations. There is special tin food for dogs and dog biscuits. You can take along a good stock of both so that you would not have to keep your dog hungry until you find some place to eat yourself and your dog would have enough to eat staying healthy and active all the time. You must take along a strong leash and hang a bell in the collar of your dog just to know where the dog is running and going.

It is always good to have your dogs with you during your vacations but you need to know that dogs must not be pushed far from their limit to bear the travelling time. You must only take your dogs along with you if you are sure that your dog is healthy and fit to bear the environment and temperature change. If you see your dog showing signs of being unwell, never think about curing the dog and forcing to take him along since it can further harm their health. If your dog is fine and healthy, you will never miss the company of him and must do something to take him along.  http://www.electricdogfence.com/ is a great way to find dog fence systems for all your travel containment solutions.