A Room with a View

This was my view this morning when I woke up...  I am staying in a friend's apartment in Rome with the most incredible views imaginable. I have a panoramic view of the city from the 6th floor and there is a huge terrace on which to wander about and breath in the atmosphere. To my right is Piazza Venezia, directly in front is the Colosseum and in the opposite direction is St Peter's Square. I love this place!! Rome has a magical quality about it and I'd be quite happy to stay here pottering about on the terrace, doing a bit of gardening and not venture out into the streets at all... A Lovely Room in Notting Hill has made all this possible for me as I have a reciprocal arrangement with my friend whereby he can stay in my flat if ever wants a little visit to London.

Yesterday I watched the Royal Wedding on tv and enjoyed an italian take on the proceedings. Why is italian tv so unbelievably bad? It's hilarious. In the end I had to turn the commentary off as they were so over the top.  In fact watching the RW on youtube was the best bet as there was no commentary at all. It was all very moving and Kate looked  beautiful. The whole event was planned with such military precision it was awesome. We Brits may have slipped in the world power stakes but we know how to put on a good show. I felt a pang of wishing I was at home in London participating in the excitement with my friends and neighbours but then I looked around me and felt an overwhelming joy at being in Rome.

I set off on foot to see Piazza Navona which I adored the first time I was here. Then I headed towards the River Tiber and crossed over Ponte Umberto I, wandering up to see St Peter's Square before it gets taken over by a few million Catholics all wanting to be present for the beatification of Pope John Paul II on May 1 at the Vatican. Rome is going to be a seething mass of humanity on Sunday and I will probably head to one of the gardens for some peace and tranquility... I let myself meander through the streets on the way home and found myself in countless lovely piazzas, one of which is pictured below

I have received instructions from Michal to research any new gelato recipes in Rome and will be applying myself to this task with great enthusiasm. There's nothing I like more than eating italian icecream than making it. My God it's delicious!!!! In fact I love most Italian food and will have to do a lot of walking for the week that I'm here to work off all those calories... probably best not to think about it.

I have brought sketch books, paints etc and plan to do some sketching while I'm here. Didn't bring a scanner with me (joke!) so any results will be posted on my return to London. Today I am meeting up with an old friend who I haven't seen for years and I am also meeting someone new so I am feeling happy and sociable. La vita è bella! 

Ciao