Porta Romana

I had a great first full weekend. Saturday's lunch with the Italian family went great. I walked to their home in Porta Romana. Of course, their house was gorgeous. The grandmother lives on the first floor, while the family lives upstairs. The best part was their balcony, overlooking their olive trees. In the backyard they grow every kind of fruit and vegetable I can think of: pears, apples, apricots, peaches, artichokes, basil, rosemary, mint, squash, KIWI. I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

Porta Romana

View from the balcony

Olive trees

The family was incredibly nice. None of them speak any English, except for the oldest daughter (16) who has learned a few phrases in High School. We spoke in Italian the entire afternoon. And we ate....a lot.

I wish I took pictures, but I didn't want to be rude during the meal. Pasta with pumpkin sauce, a frittata, chick peas, potatoes. Followed by a fruit basket with fruit and nuts from the backyard and of course...dolce. Chocolate panforte. Amazing. I've never been so full after a meal, but it was worth it. They invited me back next week to practice speaking more, as well as work on English with the girls.

For dinner, we went to a pizzeria. I was so full from lunch, that I got a lighter meal but it was delicious just the same!

Salmone, zucchine e funghi

My friends' pizze looked delcious, I may need to go back...

Finally, the gelato. In a perfect world, I would eat this every day. Oh wait, I can!

Now time for another grueling week of class comforted only by the fact that when it's over at 1:30, I'm in an Italian paradise. Ciao!