Use Thy Feet

For the past two blogs, we've all been talking about food in Rome. If you've done that (or if you could just imagine we did all those food trips), you probably have gone way too far your waistline. Oops!

So we do hope that you don't mind a little "exercise" to that. Probably with food and a bit of exercise combined, you wouldn't worry about your clothes shrinking on you. It just so happened that, aside from great food, Rome is also famous for one of the best tourist activities one should enjoy.

If you want a well-guided but fun and enjoyable tours around the city of Rome, you could use your feet. Yes, you heard that right - FEET. For in Rome, cycling and walking around the city to discover its beautiful sceneries is one of the things tourists enjoy.

Let's say you have stay in a great accommodation in Rome. You can start from there and go on a tour like you have never imagined it. There are tour agencies which offers you a biking tour around the city. You could choose between going around the city in a guided tour with a group of tourists or you could go and rent a bike and just go cycling around the city yourself.

What's good about the guided bike tour is that you will never get lost in the outskirts of Rome. You are with a group of people and you have a tour guide that would take you to key destinations of the city. It's basically like an ordinary guided city tour - but on bicycle.

But biking by yourself has an advantage, too. You are the boss of your own time and the boss of your own itinerary. If you know how to read maps or if you've been to the place before, you can surely make your way around the city without getting lost. Or (if in case you will indeed get lost - we hope not!) you could discover new twists and turns around the city. Who knows, you would discover a short cut!

Aside from biking around Rome, walking is also one of the famous activities in the city. People who just want to walk around from point to point can simple enjoy the breathtaking view of the city without compromising to traffic jams. Plus, it's a good amount of exercise, too.

So now you have many options on what to do in Rome. If you got a Rome apartment in Campo de Fiori, there are a lot of bikes for rent near there. Rome apartment rentals in Campo de Fiori are of acceptable and reasonable price - perfect enough for that budget-tight getaway to fit with your biking or hiking experience.

Torn Between Two... Sauces?

Last week, we talked about the famous pastas, pasta ingredients and pasta recipes in Rome. We started the post telling the people of how Italy has influenced global dining with two sumptuous foods that they offered the world. Pizza and Pasta. Since we’re done talking about pasta, we’ll talk about pizza this time.

Although pizza is also known in the vast United States, it is made popular in Italy. It’s true, the Americans are huge consumers of pizza. They order tons of them when they have a movie (with pizza) night, sleepovers, or if they totally feel depressed and heartbroken that they need to shove a slice down their throats. Kidding!

But yeah, pizza is famous anywhere. People make different sort of variety and kinds and probably… sizes. However, people would surely agree that Italy’s pizzas are the best. They are served fresh and the ingredients are really healthy. There are no other artificial ingredients on it whatsoever. So pizzas in Italy are simply the best.

So we go to Rome and what it could offer – no question they could offer you the best pizza. So what’s the best pizza to get in Rome?

When you order pizza in a pizzeria around Rome, they’re probably going to ask… Rossa or Bianca? Let me bring to you the bad news, though, that they are not referring to women (sorry). Rossa and Bianca are two sauces they use in their pasta – rossa is red sauce, and bianca is white sauce. This is important since some pizza toppings would not match to the taste of tomato sauce. Cheeses, for example, are best without tomato sauce.

Another pizza that you might want to try is Pizza al Taglio. This pizza is more of elongated and with thicker crust. When you look for one in Rome, usually it’s those smaller shops with longer lines. But I’m telling you, it is worth the standing and waiting.

So if you want the best and healthiest pizza, try the ones in Rome. There are a lot of pizzerias in the entire city so you don’t need to worry on where to go. When you’re on a vacation and when you’re touring, when your tummy rumbles, then go get a pizza.

And if you’re staying overnight in the city, you can check out a lot of vacation rentals in Rome. There are a lot of great vacation rentals in Paris in Piazza Navona which are affordable and nice. (FYI there are a lot of great pizzeria in Piazza Navona).  Some Rome holiday apartment in Piazza Navona also would make you feel comfortable and at home while staying at the place.

So go visit Rome now and enjoy an delicious slice of pizza on your stay.

Hmmmmamma Mia!

Food. That's always one thing people look forward to when visiting a place. Aside from tourist spots, events, and the rest of the country's culture, food is one of the things a country or city could offer to its tourists that would keep them coming back for more.

As for Rome, a city in Italy, the great tasting food was never a question. Italy is rich in sumptuous meals, anyway. So when you visit Rome, always, always try the food.

Two of the most famous specialties that Italy brought to the world are pizza and pasta. Imagine the influence of pizza anywhere in the worlds. Imagine how many people would love to eat them, would love to have one being delivered to their doorstep, would love to just take a slice and more and more.

And imagine how huge pasta has been. There's not only one kind - there are many. Aside from different pastas, there are also different kinds of sauces that comes with it. And oh! Don't forget. There are many ways to cook a pasta.

But food in Italy would depend on which part of the country you are in. Each city would have their delicacy out of what is Italy best known for. In the case for Rome, there’s a different kind of pasta that Rome serves best.

There are certain kinds of pastas that is prevalent in Rome – bucatini and tonnarelli. Tonnarelli is a thicker version of spaghetti while bucatini is a long pasta (still a bit thicker than spaghetti but has a hole in the center). These two pastas are what Rome serves best. If you can find a restaurant that serves these pastas, then you better get this.

Other than pastas, there are also some secret ingredients that Roman pasta has. These are pecorino (a Roman cheese made from sheep’s milk) and guanciale (meet from a pig’s cheek). You might want these ingredients on your pasta for that perfect Roman pasta.

Moreover, there are certain great pasta recipes which are served in various restaurants in Rome. So if you’re planning to visit the city, try to have Bucatini all’ Amatriciana, Bucatini alla gricia, Rigatoni con Pajata , Pasta alla Coda Vaccinara and many more pasta recipes that are bestsellers in Rome.

And if you’re visiting the place, why not look for the best accommodations in Rome? Try this accommodation in Rome in Trastevere. It's clean, safe, affordable, and with great service. This Rome apartment in Trastevere would surely bring you a great time in the city.

P.S.

You might be looking for the “pizza” part… let’s save that talk for next week’s blog. J

Are you ready to rock in Rome?

Rock. Band. In. Rome. - What else could be better than that?

So we thought of posting an upcoming event in Rome (since we haven't done so yet). Maybe this would interest all of you, that is if you find rock bands interesting. So here we are... and here we go. Are you ready? 5... 4... 3... 2... 1 - hold your breath and hold it still!

Interpol is coming to Rome! Yes, you heard that right. Interpol. Rocking. Rome. Isn't that cool?

Okay, so you might be interested in rock... but if you don't know Interpol, here's a little info about them.

Interpol is a rock band from New York City in America. They were formed around 1997 with Paul Banks (vocals, guitar), Daniel Kessler (guitar, vocals), Carlos Dengler (bass guitar, keyboards) and Greg Drudy (drums, percussion) as the original line-up. In 2000, Drudy left the band and was replaced by Sam Fogarino who also left the band in 2010 after they finished their 4th album.

So if Interpol was a great rock band and has been there for long, why haven't all people heard about their musical geniuses? That's because the band takes the pride of being one of the most famous indie bands in New York.

Being just a few of those bands who made the post-punk revival in 2000s, the bands sound is a mixture of staccato bass and rhythmic, harmonized guitar, with a snare heavy mix. This mix of sound might be familiar, yes, since it would be closely comparable to Joy Division and The Chameleons. The band also take pride of writing their song lyrics for themselves and not depending on just any songwriters.

Interpol was made famous with lots of their albums and singles that features their punk-rock taste and their cool music that just suits everybody's ears. They debuted with their album Turn on the Bright Lights in 2002 and their latest was a self-titled album last September 2010.

So enough about the band. Now you know them, it's time for details of the show. Their concert would be on May 30, 2010 (about 2 weeks from now), Monday, 9:00 PM at Atlantico Live (ex Palacisalfa) in Rome, Italy. Tickets could be booked in advance and costs 28.09 to 44.90 GBP.

If you would like to watch the concert, go book tickets for yourselves now. You might also want to book flights and come to Rome - stop by and see more than just the concert. If you are from other places (aside from Rome) and would love to stay in for a while, why don't you rent some vacation rentals in Rome? Try this accommodation in Rome in Trastevere. It's clean, safe, affordable, and with great service. This Rome apartment in Trastevere would surely bring you a great time while you are in the city enjoying some rocking, headbanging, Interpol concert. Enjoy!

The Colosseum that Stands Strong

When you think of Rome, there are a lot of things that would come in your mind. If you'll ask me personally, I think of the Pope and St. Peter's Square. Or probably some men cladding in old Roman's clothes (the one that looks like a tapestry plus gladiator sandals). But there's more to Rome than just my imagination or the first things that came in my mind. Nor should it be limited to your thinking and imagination. Rome is a many splendor thing. There's more than just Rome, it's name, and the city being in the famous Italy.

One of the most famous landmarks in Rome is the Colosseum. It stands at the heart of Rome and is one of most famous and most beautiful amphitheaters in the world. Built about 1920 years ago, the building stands tall staying true to the words of what grandeur the city has.

When you take a look at it, it might look like a building which some parts has been chewed upon - like a cake that somebody had stepped on. But this amazing architecture and design is what makes the Colosseum a one-of-a-kind, must-see tourist spot.

The history behind the Colosseum is very rich. In fact, it dated back AD 72 when the construction started during the Flavian Dynasty under the rule of Emperor Vespasian. The building was finished in AD 80 just right after Emperor Vespasian's death. The building measures 188 by 156 meters with the height of almost 48 meters. This huge amphitheater can accommodate 55,000 people.

Today, the Colosseum still stands there where history lies and history crosses the present. This spectacle has been visited by most people and are often open within a span of hours in a day... just like how a museum operates. This beautiful piece of (a combination of) history and art still stands still and strong in the middle of a crowd-attracting city.

If you're planning to visit Italy, don't forget about Rome. Most especially, don't forget to visit the Colosseum. Entrance to the Colosseum can be booked early in case you want to be assured of an entrance among the thousands who wants to see this spectacular place.

And if you want to have a hassle-free visit, make sure you can book your Rome accommodation earlier. Check out Colosseum apartments and Rome accommodation with Lodjee. A good accommodation and would surely assure you of a clean and peaceful resting environment while you're in Rome. This room (Rome apartment rental in Colosseum - Vincoli with Lodjee) would just be as perfect as you would want your visit to be.