BZU's Roman Holiday
BZU decided to spend Easter in Rome, a trip that has left us fulfilled, both on a spiritual and gastro level. Some were surprised as to why we would visit a city that both of us had been to before, considering our limited time here in Europe.
Why Rome?
Let's cut to the chase. Here are the 3 main reasons why we chose to spend Easter weekend in Roma:
1. Rome is the center of the Catholic faith- that is where the Holy See is, where the Vatican is and where Pope Francis lives. What better place is there to celebrate the greatest Catholic Holiday than Rome?
1. Rome is the center of the Catholic faith- that is where the Holy See is, where the Vatican is and where Pope Francis lives. What better place is there to celebrate the greatest Catholic Holiday than Rome?
2. Italy= Eataly. We would be lying if we said that the culinary scene wasn't an enticing component of a trip to Rome. I'm not saying that we are crazy foodies and that it's all we ever think of (since we only do so most of the time), but who can deny Italian pizza, pasta, wine, and gelato?
Not us.
Not us.
3. Sunny weather. I don't like complaining about the weather because that seems like a cliché thing to do, but spring in Warsaw is a lot like winter- grey. If you get an hour of sunshine- usually between 9-10 am, then you are lucky. The weather gyspsy for Rome was conjuring up days and days of sun and temperatures in the high teens and low 20's.
So how was spending Easter in Rome?
Though we didn't make it for the Way of the Cross with Pope Francis, we did manage to get tickets for Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square. A slightly odd Swiss guard pulled them out of his pocket for us when we asked about them on Saturday.
I had never seen a Pope in real life before and it was strangely moving when I saw him zip through the crowds on the Popemobile. Pope Francis is so full of love, faith and happiness, that I can't think of anyone who could dislike him. The night before, we celebrated Easter Vigil Mass at St. Stanislaw Church, the oldest Polish parish in Rome. Though it was a small sanctuary, it was full to the brim and we had an incredible spiritual experience. It was comforting to celebrate this important mass in Polish, a language that both B and I grew up with.
I had never seen a Pope in real life before and it was strangely moving when I saw him zip through the crowds on the Popemobile. Pope Francis is so full of love, faith and happiness, that I can't think of anyone who could dislike him. The night before, we celebrated Easter Vigil Mass at St. Stanislaw Church, the oldest Polish parish in Rome. Though it was a small sanctuary, it was full to the brim and we had an incredible spiritual experience. It was comforting to celebrate this important mass in Polish, a language that both B and I grew up with.
The food was good. Though there were some misses, we mostly scored culinary hits. We hit up the outdoor market in Campo de Fiori, dined in the food district of Travestere and discovered some hole in the wall places in Monti. In addition to the goodies that we mentioned before, we wanted to try some of the traditional Easter dishes that Romans prepared and ate. One such experiment was the "colomba", a cake shaped like a dove (let's face it, that is one obese dove, or else it's just a sloppy cross) that tastes a lot like Italian pannettone, that sweet bread fruitcake Italians eat for Christmas. In addition to the different shape, a traditional colomba is topped with almonds and this strange candy garnish. It was good, but I would not go out of my way to try it again. I'd take a cannoli over that every time.
Since we knew that a lot of restaurants and stores would be closed on Sunday, we planned to prepare a traditionally Polish Easter dinner of zurek with kielbasa and chrzan. Zurek is a soup based on sourdough starter, also known as white barszcz, that is served with boiled eggs, kielbasa chunks, and some horseradish for heat. We supplemented this with Italian ciabatta and wine, and celebrated our good fortune of having such lovely things to eat, in this amazing city, and most importantly, together.
The weather was just the cherry on top of the entire trip. It is impossible to be in a bad mood when the sun is shining, there's a slight breeze, and the temperature is just right for a light coat. Especially to a couple that is comprised of a sun worshipper and a vampire. In my trusty totebag, you could always find a pair of sunnies, an extra layer for the evening, and a little tube of sunscreen for my beloved albino.
Anyways, the weather was perfect for seeing all the outdoor tourist attractions, so our feet were slightly abused but got us to all the romantic spots that we wanted to see like Piazza Navona, the Trevi fountain, the Pantheon, the Coliseum, Piazza de Republic and more. On Sunday, after being on our feet from the early morning in order to get a spot in St. Peter's Square and standing throughout the mass, we decided to do as the Romans do. We grabbed a blanket from our BnB, some snacks that we bought the day before, and picnic-ed in lovely Villa Doria Pamphili park. It was the perfect way to spend an Easter afternoon- people watching, eating, resting, and just enjoying the sun.
On Monday we covered the remaining parts of Rome before leaving back for Warsaw. The weather was starting to sour a little but it just made our return to Warsaw a tad easier.
This was truly an amazing Roman Holiday and beautiful way to spend Easter.
Bisouxxx,
B[ZU]
This was truly an amazing Roman Holiday and beautiful way to spend Easter.
Bisouxxx,
B[ZU]