We arrived in Rome on the 10th of October, anticipating the sites, smells and tastes we were going to experience in the next 48 hours. Having less than 2 days to get a first time view of Rome is a daunting task. But we were up for the challenge. So sit back and take the whirlwind trip that we did and enjoy our adventure with us.
The Spanish Steps was our first stop on our Rome By Night Tour on our first night. I am not sure why, but this area attracts thousands of tourists every year. It was great to experience it, but I am not that sure why it is so popular. But it is, and we came, just like the rest of them.
Trevi Fountain is a different story all together. This is just the most iconic spot I have seen in Europe to date. We had to throw the coins in the fountain over our right shoulders, just like in the movie Three Coins In The Fountain. Totally cool.
One of the many restaurants by the Trevi Fountain. So many cute shops, cafes and wine stores.
Our last stop of the night was at Circus Maximus. Quite cool, and our driver had a bottle or Preseco waiting for us when we got done sightseeing. Nice touch!!
Day 2 was all about food. We scheduled a cooking class in the countryside and it was so much fun!! First off, we had coffee and pastries next to the tour office, which was great! Then after Mr. Toads Wild Ride, we ended up in a quaint little village where we met the Chef and Assistants and we were off on another adventure.
First stop in town was the meat market. There was all kinds of meat to choose from. Rabbit, chicken, turkey, sheeps head. Interesting array of choices. We got fresh sausage, prosciutto and lamb shoulder for our cooking lesson.
Jack and Myazz got in on the action. The kitchen was totally cozy and intimate, and the 6 of us that were on the tour became fast friends. Lots of wine was poured and drank while we learned about making pasta, slicing meats and the proper methods of making Pesto Sauce.
Then a quick stop at the mini market for fresh veggies and herbs. Boy it smelled awesome in there! Everything you could think of – even locally made wines in 50 gallon barrels with spouts to fill gallon jugs with. We need these in the states!
Here is our first masterpiece – Ravioli with spinach and ricotta stuffing. O.M.G. it was #AMAZING!!! Boiled for about 2 minutes and then sauteed in butter, white wine and sage for a brief second before plating. It was the first of many courses and totally delicious!
I know this short and sweet, but I will tell you that nothing is better than attending a cooking class in the Tuscany Countryside. We passed lots of small vineyards and farm houses. Sheep in the pastures surrounded by rolling hillsides. It was a day I will not soon forget. Many glasses of wine were drank and many laughs were had. It was fun, it was educational and it was a great day. Tomorrow we board Seabourn Odyssey for the next chapter in the book. Check back for an update tomorrow.