Food - Rome Food Tour!

This is definitely a long overdue post on my Food Tour in ROME! Whooops!

I chanced upon this tour when I was researching on the things to do in Rome and they have raving reviews! Hence, I decided to give it try even though it was pretty expensive. It costs me 59 euros then (Now is euro 65)! But trust me, it didn't disappoint.

The location where the tour is conducted - Neighborhood area of Testaccio. Finally, away with the crowds in Rome. =)

A nicely designed "itinerary" with a map of where and what we were going to eat. 

Our lovely guide, Luna. She's an Australian living in Italy, doing a job that she enjoyed!

We were first brought to the Testaccio covered market, stalls here were passed down from generations to generations. At this place, we were going to have our first tasting!

Mozzarella di Bufala which means buffalo milk cheese. (super fresh, from a market, what you expect right!) It was very juicy and flavorful. But, a small piece was just enough for me. hee.

We walked around the market and it was heart warming to see how friendly the locals were. hee. Then we went to a stall and the uncle was selling 40 over types of tomatoes and we were supposed to taste some of them. 

Well, I was never a big fan of tomatoes let alone eating it raw. But, since I have paid I must at least try right??

We tried 5 types of tomatoes and.............. SURPRISE! The tomatoes were FREAKING NICE lor! 

I tried all 5 and my favorite tomato tasted like grape, juicy and sweet oh, and seedless. hahahaha!

Moving out of the market, we went over to a Gourmet Food shop - E. Volpetti. I didn't quite get the idea of "gourmet food" until I saw what the shop sells. Anyway! there we were standing outside the shop, tasting the plate of nicely prepared "gourmet food", there were ham, salami, cow milk cheese and sheep milk cheese.

I love the ham the most, thinly sliced and it melts in my mouth. =D

I really don't know how to appreciate the cheese even though there was one that has truffle in it, the taste was too strong for me. I cannot bring myself to finish the cheese after one small bite.

Then a lady in my tour asked me: You don't want? I said: You want to have it? She took it and pop it into her mouth like some sweets~ -_-||| Solid.

After tasting the food, we went into the shop to take a look! wooooahhhhhh! Eye opener for me. First time seeing meat placed in racks like that and those hanging ones.... lol...

The guy holding a basket of truffle, 290 euros per kg. *gasps*

Seriously, people will buy this whole thing home?

After E. Volpetti, we were going to Barberini which is a legendary pastry shop. We were going to taste cornetti and tiramisu! Super excited! 

Irresistible! 

Cornetti

Tiramisu in a small chocolate cup.

What I liked about this tour was that, besides eating and eating we also had a chance to walk around the neighborhood area. 

Pyramid, the reason why the station we alighted is called Piramide Station. =)

Used to be a slaughter house.

Then we went over to 00100 Pizza to try Rome's famous fried rice croquet! Suppli alla Genovese.

So excited to be able to eat rice! hahahaha.

Freshly fried for us! Yums!

What is coming to Italy without Pasta right?! I must say the 2 pastas I had in this shop were the best I had during my time in Italy! Da Bucatino is the shop name.

There I also learned that the bread is to scoop up the remaining sauce from the pasta! hee.

Finally, our tour ended with what else but GELATO from Giolitti! Each of us chose 2 flavors. A sweet sweet ending to our tour and I love it! I would recommend this tour if you are going Rome! =D

I must say my tour in Rome was made a little unique because of this tour. Besides those magnificent architecture, I get to know a little more about the place through their food culture. =))

http://www.eatingitalyfoodtours.com/tours/romefoodtours/

Purposeful Traveller - Good tours to share!

Travel - Vatican City

Matthew 16: 18 - 19 (KJV)

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Saint Peter was believed to be the first Pope in history and that the symbol of Vatican City has 2 keys. The verse above explains the keys. 

An overview of Vatican City, a state on its own.

A view of Saint Peter Church from far.

A view of Rome from Vatican City.

This statue was highlighted because of  how (almost) perfect it was when it was found. This sculpture has so fine details that you can see the muscles and even the bulging veins that shows the strength exerted.

(thousands of small) Mosaic tiles that form this picture.

Symbol of Vatican City.

The guide highlighted this to us. She asked us to focus on the eyes of Jesus and as you walk you will realize that His eyes follows you and His body seems to be shifting as well. It really did. I know you wouldn't believe, see it yourself and you will know what I meant!! I am amazed totally by the art pieces!!

Same picture after we have walked to another side.

Beautiful artwork everywhere

After all the long stroll, we entered into Sistine Chapel and was given 15 minutes on our own to just admire the entire artwork. Our tour guide has already explained and highlighted to us some parts way before reaching there. I love it totally. It was dim and no photos are allowed (the photos are taken from the posters)

On the ceiling are the Creation, and Noah's story (drew by Michelangelo). On the sides were life of Jesus and life of Moses and right in front was the Judgement Day (drew by Michelangelo). 

I was blown away by how much he was thinking when he drew this. Totally amazed.

Then we went to St Peter. Huge. But I still love Sistine Chapel. lol.

The Holy Door that opens only once every 25 years on the Year of Jubilee.

St Peter from the outside.

Purposeful Traveller - Vatican City visited. A wish come true.

Travel - Preparation For D Europe Trip

Going Europe is one of my goal for 2012 and it is my dream to go as well. I started planning since last year and it was really a headache because I don't know where to go besides Munich (for the concentration camp) & Rome (Vatican City of course!) >.<

I thought of many places but they were all over Europe, I literally had to look at Europe map and think of which route should I take! So places like UK, Nethelands (Amsterdam), Begium, Switzerland all came across my mind and itinerary.

 I have never studied a map so hard, think my Geography becomes better after this whole lot of planning.

Almost wanted to give up this free & easy trip and just take a Europe tour because I was so tired of planning and reading! lol. Then an idea struck as I look through the route again.

Munich (3 days) - Switzerland (4 days) - Italy (7 days) were originally on my "confirmed" itinerary BUT it was pretty expensive because of Switzerland. The budget came up to almost S$8,000. If I really do it this way, I really need to come back and eat grass...

After some advises from some friends, I decided to take Switzerland out from the itinerary and the revised budget is halved.. Reasonable for a 14 days trip. =))

So bye bye Switzerland, I will definitely visit you. Wait for Mama!

I decided to stay in Munich for 7 days 6 nights, focusing on the Bavaria region, but included a 1 day trip to Salzburg (Austria)! Why Salzburg? Because it is only 2 hours away from Munich, it is where the Sound of Music was filmed and it is the birthplace of Mozart!

I hope it will be this beautiful! =)

So yeah! I am still going to THREE countries afterall! hahahaha. Then I will be heading to Italy (Venice, Florence then Rome)

Once the places were decided, I was ready to go in depth into planning and booking. 

Air Ticket

Fly Qatar Airways! 

A recommendation from a friend. It is also a 5 star airways okay - I did research hor. I got my ticket to Munich and back from Rome for $1178! =D I thought it was quite a reasonable price! hehe.

Accommodation

Stay Hostel! 

This is a photo of the hostel I will be staying in Munich. (Come back then tell you whether it is really what the photo show, lol) So the whole trip's accommodation will cost me about Euro 400 (with whatever tourist taxes added) which is about S$660 for 12 nights (1 night will be travelling on train - another way to save money) This meant on average it is $55/night Reasonable as well. hee.

Train Tickets

For long distance regional travel which in my case is Munich to Venice (9hrs~), book the ticket early. Don't be like me, procrastinate like don't know what. Ticket price from S$93 rose to S$162 then want to buy. >.<

As for short distance travel within a country, my friend told me to buy there. So I shall heed his advice, if advise no good I will hit him when I come back. LOL.

Hence the train tickets will be about S$350~

Tours

In Munich, I will be booking with this tour agency - Radius Tours. Hope it will be good. (Did hell lot of read up in tripadvisor)

In Venice, free and easy.

In Florence, I will be doing 1 day F&E and another day tour to Pisa, Siena & Chianti as recommended by my dear friend.

In Rome, I will be doing Vatican City tours with Maximus, recommended by my friend as well, another tour with When In Rome and one Eating Tour in Italy! Muahahaha! GELATO!!

And so.. I really work out how each single EURO will be spent.

Did a excel spreadsheet to tabulate the costs!

I don't have 1 million dollars in my bank so I have to be very prudent! And so.... the whole trip will cost me about $4000.

Also, I thought it is very important to read up, so on and off when I am free, I will read this website in particular for more information http://europeforvisitors.com/ 

Personally I thought they provide quite handy information.=)

Planning this trip is really a good learning, it made me read up more, think hard and plan carefully as well.

Purposeful Traveller - Making my dream come true