A Walk Through Flaminia
My roommate and I have started exploring our neighborhood the past couple of weekends, although it’s not the best time to do so because weekend nights and Sundays most of the shops and restaurants are closed. But, it’s all the time we’ve had available to do so, and it’s been good to at least see what’s around us. We live in the northern part of the city, and a little west, off of Via Flaminia. Our street is right across Via Flaminia from the stadium.
Just walking a block from our apartment, we have found a number of coffee bars and pastry shops, which is where we have gone for breakfast on the weekends. There are also some pizza places and little shops, as well as a couple of restaurants. There is a lot within walking distance, and we hope to explore more as the weeks go on, and as we look for places to eat on the weekends. There is also a small theatre, called Cinema Tiziando, which shows one movie a night (in Italian), just a few buildings down from us on our street. There is a church there as well, which is where we go for mass on Sundays (very convenient!). I like how close it is—just a five minute walk and we’re at church! The masses we’ve been to so far have all been in Italian, so that will be something to get used to, as well as help us learn the language as we start to memorize the mass parts in Italian.
It’s great to have shops and eateries within walking distance from where I’m living here! I really enjoy being able to walk to places so close by and not having to depend on a car anytime I want to go somewhere, like at my home in the U.S. I like the feel of the city and the proximity of everything here in Rome.
Twice my roommate and I have gone to this restaurant in our neighborhood, called Tiepolo, named for the street its on. It was recommended to me by the director of our school in Rome, and so we’ve gone there for dinner a couple of weekend nights (since our host families don’t supply weekend meals). Tiepolo has more gourmet, mostly vegetarian fare, and is not your typical Italian ristorante. It has a list of salads, appetizers (some interesting baked cheese dishes), baked bread dishes w/ different toppings, as well as a list of “jacket potatoes” which are basically baked potatoes with various toppings. They also have daily specials, a nice wine list, and tasty desserts! One dish that I found interesting and very palatable was the baked feta with honey and rosemary. The food was so creative and delicious; we will definitely be regulars at this close and affordable restaurant!
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