July 28, p.m, park, piazzas, pasta

Wayne had to be woken up from his siesta which had gone past 4 o'clock. We had decided to explore to the north, and linger in the parks around the Villa Borghese. We took our time ambling past the shops, and eventually came to the twin churches in the Piazza del Populo. It's always a relief coming to these wide open spaces after the very narrow footpaths and crowded shopping streets in central Rome.

An arch led through a massive wall that marked the old Northern boundary. Through we went, and found the park on high ground -

"There is a green hill far away

Without a city wall..."

...except it wasn't too green in this drought. One poplar was dead. We enjoyed a sit down near a pond. Eleanor and Annie sailed leaves on it happily. We hadn't really finished our sit down when we noted the approach of one of the dreaded rose-sellers. We hurriedly moved on. Eleanor noticed several women who had been 'rosified', as she put it.

We walked through the park to this high spot overlooking the city.We were early for our reserved dinner, so we peered through shop windows of the very poshest sort (Armani, Gucci, Dior and so forth). Immaculate young men stood at the glass doors, twitching fingers aching for cigarettes, as I guessed. We walked through perpetual clouds of cigarette smoke all through Italy - even blokes dressed as gladiators for the tourists risked anachronism for their nicotine hit.

Finally we arrived at our restaurant, Casova Taddini, a very quirky place full of plaster statues. One larger-than-life statue of a mounted horseman is behind the reservation desk, as big as an elephant (literally). Our little room had four small tables and was twice as high as its base. A large bust of the Virgin Mary gazed down at me, a huge statue of a blessing Pope was at my base. An athlete breathed down Jack's neck. Many more friezes, busts and statues all over the floor and walls.

Pasta carbonara was the specialty, and everyone tucked in except me. I had a lovely seafood dish. Yum! All excellent.

Then we went off in search of the definitive gelato. Found it... I had peach and lemon. Some Aussie girls heard our accent and took this photo of us.

Back to pack for Venice the next day.