It has been a long time since I posted to Good Day Rome. How to catch you up on our busy month?
We started with an outing on Ognisanti (All Saints’ Day) November 1. It was a spring-like start to November and we were not alone, but it was divine to walk among the ancient aqueducts yet be so close to home. Click on any picture for a larger view.
-
-
Parco dei Acquedotti, Nov 1 2014.
-
-
From afar, disconnected arches of an ancient aqueduct. Closer, an even older, now-buried aqueduct, appears as a stream.
-
-
Just as massive as you would imagine.
-
-
Walks, runners, cyclists all enjoy the day.
-
-
A waterfall that originates in the stream of one of the ancient aqueducts.
Ric had a couple of eye doctor appointments, including one with a doctor who specializes in the vitreous gel of the eye and the retina. (Narrow focus.) This doctor said no further treatment was needed (yea!) but that he should have frequent check-ups. Va bene.
In sharp contrast to last year’s memorable and wonderful event, we choose to spend a quiet Thanksgiving this year: no cooking. I made a turkey breast on Sunday prior and we ate some excellent meals during the week, but on The Day we ate a decidedly Italian lunch at our favorite trattoria, following a visit to the Norman Rockwell exhibition that is currently in Rome.
-
-
Outdoor dining, Thanksgiving 2014. Salute!
-
-
‘Tis the season for artichokes, here “all giudia” quick fried and crunchy.
-
-
Roast lamb – a nice change after three days of turkey, at Antica Taverna.
We hardly recognized Antica Taverna when we arrived for lunch on Thursday! We have been eating there for years, 90% of the time in their delightful outdoor area, under the sky in summer and in the enclosed, heated “annex” in winter or rain. The Mayor of Rome, Sindaco Marino, has waged war on what they call tavolino selvaggio or “wild tables,” and has made the restaurants in the centro storico pull their tables to a minimal protuberance. The motorini can go through and cars can pass through the ZTL practically knocking pedestrians out of their way, but the tables have to be cut back. Even in Piazza Navona they have receded. This new regulation severely restricts the small restaurants like AT that have more than 50% of their seating outside. Jobs were lost in this stupid move, but I doubt Marino will be mayor for long so perhaps the tables will go wild again.
I also started a new blog, Our Weekly Pizza, to chronicle our ongoing mission. Please take a look. If you like you can subscribe, or you can find it on Facebook , Google+ and Twitter.
We are wrapping up November with Christmas preparations. The holiday movie season kicked off with our annual viewing of “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” on Wednesday, and our extensive collection (I think 28) Christmas movies is queued for viewing. The apartment is decorated except we do not yet have a tree. Hope to pick one up tomorrow. (Much more of a challenge than you might think.) We have two trips coming up as well: Venice in early December and hiking in the Dolomites over Christmas. I will be sure to post some photos from those expeditions.
What have all of you been up to?
Tags: food, Lunch, medical, Norman Rockwell, Parco dei Aquedotti, Rome, Tavolino selvaggio, Thanksgiving, turkey
Girovaga 
My mouth is watering reading your pizza reviews! Thanks for the link, Laurel.
LikeLike
A couple of years ago we went to eat at one of our favorite restaurants in Rome, Hostaria La Nuova Campannina, only to find that most of the tables that had once filled the piazza had now been moved up onto a small wooden platform. Now, instead of several waiters working there, there is only the family to cook and wait on tables and instead of enjoying the convivial crowd of diners in the piazza, it is now filled with ugly motorinos, which roar in and out. What a shame when politicians feel that they know better than what has worked well for years.
LikeLike
Hi Chloe. In a city and country that is suffering from horrible unemployment, this was a stupid move at best. I saw video online of the vigili actually overturning tables and chairs as they “enforce” the law. Laws are laws, but with all the regulations that are NOT enforced, it’s insane to focus on this one. Maybe the vigili could write parking tickets for those who block the crosswalks instead.
LikeLike
Your trips to Venice and then hiking in the Dolomites sounds just fantastic. I can’t imagine how beautiful Rome must be during December. Thank you for always including the food stories…..I love that!
LikeLike
Ciao Marcia! We are so pleased you are following along! You should come over and try the food with us some time. We know places….
LikeLike