ROMAN HOLIDAY - ROME, ITALY - DAY 29

Before I begin, I’d like to dedicate his email to Dad...You’ll understand very soon. *(My Dad is a huge foodie- It's a running joke amongst his family and friends).

What an unexpected turn of events! The weather on the East Coast has prevented me from returning home until Friday. I also partially made the decision to stay in Rome. Mom said it best, “you never really GET STUCK in Rome”. My Global Family has my back all the way, and I get to just stuff my face with Italian food for a few more days. Who could possibly be upset about that?

Kay and the boys come in tomorrow night- Even better! As of a few hours ago, I already have a few small errands to run tomorrow, and perhaps I can even go see an Italian movie! Very interested in a particular one.

I woke up early this morning. Marcello and Agneta get up at 10AM, but with Kay’s regimen, I’m up every morning before my alarm. I got up at 7AM, and left the apartment for my day of food, and filming at 8:30AM. It rained ALL. DAY. and at the end of it, I was drenched.

I started at the Spanish steps, then wandered down to the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. The pizza place wasn’t open yet, so I walked in the rain from the Pantheon, all the way to the Colosseum and San Giovanni Laterano, and then back to the Pantheon. I had skipped breakfast this morning, primarily because I was still full from last night. (Agneta offered a free breakfast of course, but I wanted to keep room for all of my favorites). I was a little rusty with my knowledge of where everything is, but I remembered quickly and even gave some other tourists directions to "The Wedding Cake", (a building erected by and for Benito Mussolini). *The Italians hate this building, but it's remains a popular tourist attraction.

After having my favorite pizza at Pizza-R-Us, I began my trek over to the Vatican for my favorite pasta place. After shooting the Vatican, I went to get my vongole veraci, but was quickly devastated. The restaurant IS ONLY CLOSED ON TUESDAYS. I learned this from the cafe next door, who is friends with the owners of the restaurant. I internalized a MASSIVE tantrum. *(At that time, I was still certain I was only in Rome for today and I couldn’t get my special pasta, and amaro del brazo). What a disaster. I began to head back to the apartment, honestly shaken up a bit, and ate my feelings with gelato from the Old Bridge Gelateria by the Vatican. On my way back, I HAPPENED to stumble upon Kay’s recommendation for gelato in Piazza Nuovono called, GROM. There, I took her suggestion for the Mango gelato, their custom Crema with chocolate and nuts, and then tried an affogato for the first time with dark chocolate. I drank / ate the affogato while walking all the way home.

I was so drenched, the water went through my raincoat, and I hung all of my clothes, wallet, and euro bills on all three heaters in the apartment. I took a hot shower and made some tea to offset my massive sugar intake, while staying under the covers to warm up. After getting warm and having dry clothes to wear again, I met Agneta and Thelma for dinner. We had a starter with honey, apple and Gorgonzola pizza, and then ate steak flanks, potatoes and jalepeño spinach. I was so full, but it was ABSOLUTELY delicious! I wanted to take it back to the apartment, but Agneta wouldn’t let me because she was going to feed me more tomorrow with everything fresh!! I didn’t want to waste it, so my only other option was to force feed myself.

My stomach is about two sizes bigger. I feel chubby and content, but my stomach also hurts. I never eat anywhere in the world the way I eat in Rome. I ate a lot with the boys in Croatia, but those were three big meals each day. Here, it’s multiple big meals, and you eat throughout the day- I ate about every two hours. We completed dinner with lots of Amarino dry wine, and more fresh lemon sorbet with berries. I don’t think I’ll need to eat at all tomorrow until dinner again, just to even things out haha! I’ll let the photos speak for themselves. Happy to take it extra slow in Europe and stay in Roma. Do as the Romans do!

See you Friday instead. Xoxoxoxox

-eM