Put Some Wallpaper on It

Our last hotel is trying to impersonate some of the rooms in the Vatican. They've omitted only two details: the ceiling lacks a creation/judgement/armageddon motif, and the toilet paper isn't embroidered. Otherwise, I give them eight out of ten.

How do they do it?

Tonight we ate at an Italian beer hall and I ended up leaving half of my food on the plate--to the incredible disappointment of our waiter. I have been known to eat a healthy amount, but the food volume here is killing me! How does one consume an antipasti, a primi of pasta, a secondi of protein, then dessert or coffee in one sitting? Granted, I realize the whole meal is intended to take hours, but I still don't get how the Italians can put so much food away, regardless of the time frame. The plate of gnocchi I was served tonight could have fed a large family, but it was intended to only provide the start of the meal for one person. How is it all possible? We spent our meal in awe of the massive appetites of our fellow diners. We are just not worthy..

Crowds in front of Trevi fountain

Trevi fountain view

Back in Rome

We're back in Rome for just one night before heading home. Michael is looking just like one of the locals in his fancy red pants.

Sorrento view

More white billowy clouds of cheesy goodness please!

Can there be such a thing as too much cheese? I never thought I'd be saying this, but yes! We ate at the Inn of Buffalo and shared a mixed antipasti platter that contained a whole fist-size ball of buffalo milk mozzarella. And that was just the warm up act to buffalo milk ricotta stuffed inside my ravioli and served with Michael's buffalo meat ragu. And of course, we ended the evening with gelato--marscapone flavor for me. I fear this trip might actually make me lactose intolerant.