Pizza Night, Weekend, and Shoutouts

Picture of Dar Poeta

            Two nights ago my roommate Marni’s parents were in town.  They are the second parents to visit and basically everyone in the program has parents that are coming to visit.  They took all of our roommates out for pizza.  Mother and Father it looks like you have an expectation to live up to.  My roommate Tara parents are getting in this weekend and my other roommate Maddy her parents are getting in the next week.  We went to a really good pizza place called Dar Poeta.  It is located in Trastevere and it is listed in the Rick Steves guide so it is really popular.  Luckily, we went early around 6:30 so we did not have trouble finding a table.  I still have not adopted the Italian late dinner routine.  I get way to hungry to wait until 8 or 9 at night.  On the menu they gave a brief description of the pizza.  Many people take credit for the origin of pizza.  At the Last Supper Jesus broke the bread, at that time it had to form focaccia.  The Romans prepare the “mense” kneading spelt flour with water and without yeast.  Than they cooked it on the red-hot stones.  With the conquest of Egypt, the Romans imported the yeast that was added to the dough of “mense” obtaining a product like present pizza.  The word pizza is derives from “pinsa,” which comes from the Latin verb pinsere, that mean to crush, break, and mince.  The pizza has its origin in Naples back in June 1889, when Raffeale Espositio owner of the pizza restaurant “Pietro il Pizzaido” cooked a pizza from Kind Umberto and Queen Margherita with colors of the Italian flag: green (basil), white (mozzarella cheese) and red (tomato).  In honor of the Queen he names it “pizza margherita.”  Needless to say the pizza was delicious we ordered five different kinds for the table along with salad and wine.  The pizzas were called Parmigiana (tomato, mozzarella, auberhines, parmesan cheese), Bascaiola (mozzarella, mushrooms, sausage), Patafoccia (mozzarella, potatoes, sausage, cheese cream), and the Bufala (tomato, pachino, raw bufaloa cheese, basil.)  Needless to say the meal was delicious and received my stamp of approval.  It was weird seeing green aka salad on my plate for an appetizer because I have not eaten salad since I have been here!  Although it is just never as satisfying without ranch dressing.  I love ranch dressing and which I could dip it in my pizza but that is a really American thing to do.  Yesterday I went to the Spanish steps with my friend Matty and she got a pair of black boots.  The newest fashion is over the knee boots.  I am not able to pull it off but some fashionistas look really cute in them.

             I have finally figured out the bus system here in Rome.  Driving and parking in Rome can be quite difficult. The best solution for getting around Rome, when you're not walking, is to use public transportation. The bus lines cover the entire city.  The metro can be useful if you're staying near a station. The 2 lines don't cover much of the city but it can be a very fast way of getting around if you happen to be going near a station. The metro also connects with some of the train stations and the Cotral buses that go out of town.  As in any big city, there are pickpockets working the buses and metro in Rome. Some buses are notorious, such as Bus 64 that goes from the main train station, Termini, to the Vatican.  Buses and the metro can be quite crowded making it easier for the thieves to work. If you're carrying a purse, keep your arm over it. A backpack should be placed on your chest or carried by hand, not on your shoulders. In general, you have to be aware of who is around you and try to keep a hand over your wallet or purse.

            I will be heading off to Sicily tomorrow and will leaving my apartment at 11:00 am.  We will be flying and landing in Siracusa and check into our hotel.  I have more exact details of landing time and where I will be staying but it is not good to post that type of information on the internet.  You never know who could be reading this!  Throughout the weekend I with be going to the Ortigia Market for a Tour and Tasting, Pantalica Valley, and the Siracusa Archeological Park.  I looked up the weather and it is supposed to partly cloudy and sunny which is a whole lot better than rain!  I don’t know too much information on Sicily right now except for what I have learned in my history class this quarter.  I do know that Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.  Through history Sicily is considered a crucial strategic location because its strategic location die in large part to its importance of Mediterranean trade routes.  The island was once its own nations known as the Kingdom of Sicily and then in 1860 when there was the Italian unification the kingdom was overtaken and became part of the region of Italy.  One last thing I know about Sicily is that it is sometimes referred to as “Gods Kitchen” and every region of Sicily has its own specialty.  One of the most well know cuisines from there is a dessert called a Canoli which is a fried pastry dough filled with yummyness.  I am sure I will know more about the culture when I get back.  The weather this week in Rome has been beautiful.  I am starting to see a decline in tourism as we head into October.  I have been asked several times in the past week for directions.  That means I am fitting in and look like a local right? Haha

             I also want to thank everyone for commenting my blog and it provides motivation to do the next one.  BOY DO I WISH MY BROTHERS TIM AND PITT WOULD COMMENT MORE.  HINT HINT COUGH COUGH.  Grandma and Grandpa I am excited that we are going to be neighbors.  Walnut Creek is a great city and Broadway plaza is such an ideal location.  Uncle Steve thanks for the updates.  I know the niners and notre dame is not doing to hott but how bout them Giants?  They just clinched the title.  Hopefully they do well against the Diamondback this week.  HUMMMM BABYY.  Two of my best friends here both go to Baylor.  I have been hearing YALL so much!  That is a dead Texas give away.  Mom and Dad I can’t wait for you to visit.  So remember that cooking class I took.  It turns out that the teacher is actually world famous and just teaches these classes for fun.  He has a 3 month reservation wait at his restaurant here in Rome but since I am a college student and went to his class I got us a reservation on November 1^st!

Love, Malia