O Tempora O Mores

I can’t believe it but Rome is dangerously close to edging Florence out of my list of favourite places in Italy. For a start, the food is cheaper and the people are better-dressed. They’re not as chic as the Milanese, but then who is? Milanese policewoman wear high-heeled boots for crying out loud. It must be a thief’s paradise – equality, si. But let’s not get carried away – we draw the line at hideous, clumpy shoes 🙂 The macaroons are from the Cafe Trevi gelateria which is so popular that you’ve got to get a ticket and queue. I draw the line at queueing for gelato in Italy; how good  can theirs be? It’s a lovely place though, with two stores on opposite sides of the street. The chocolate shoes are from the ridiculously lovely new Rinascente store; those chocolate shoes are size 5. Even I couldn’ t eat that much chocolate. I visited the Rinascente store on the one day it was chucking it down with rain and this extremely elegant doorman was there to give me an umbrella bag so I don’t track water all over their shiny marble floors. That’s posh, innit? The wretched store is so beautiful and smelt so good, I would very much like to move in. I’m determined to get AlaraApothecary products in there. From my mouth to God’s ears…..

I also really liked Marco Bicego’s lovely black diamond and rose gold jewellery. The fresco is one of those from the Carta Geografica room in the Vatican. As for the street sign; so, I’m sheltering under an awning when I spot this sign across the road. With my dodgy eyesight, I read it as ‘Via del Trafford’. I start wondering, why does the Old Trafford have a street named after it in the middle of Rome, the stronghold of A.S Roma and Lazio? Then I thought, ‘why not? There should be an Old Trafford Road in every city in the world!’ If that doesn’t make me a diehard Man U fan, I don’t know what does.

Rome? I highly recommend it. I didn’t make it to the Colosseum this time but I wasn’t bothered. I’m  not that keen on treading the ground where so many Christians lost their lives anyway. But then I had a thought– 2017: 2,1oo,ooo,ooo Christians worldwide, Number of Roman emperors, zero. So I guess we win. Jackasses. Bearing a grudge 2000 years later? You bet 🙂 In the spirit of conciliation, I leave you with one of the best knock, knock jokes I’ve ever heard:

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Cash.

Cash who?

No thank you. But I will have some of those peanuts.

Have a terrific week.