Poosh de Button....*

We are blasting out of Rome in style! After some serious napping, Connor and Griff set out to conquer Via de Corso, the premier shopping street in Rome. Ben and I headed back up to the area around Trevi Fountain.

Ben and I found this little gourmet shop where they plied us with shots: grappa, limoncello, pistachio liqueur, orange liqueur, wine....Ben was ready to find a barstool and park himself there for the evening. We escaped after spending about 85 Euro..this is what happens when you look at me crooked for spending 5 euro on a small cone of chestnuts from a street vendor.  Ran into Griff, who was successfully outfitting himself a la Italia, and he informed us Connor had headed to the apartment. During the course of our brief conversation Griff remembered he had the keys! OOPS. Hate when that happens. Connor sat across the street for about 45 minutes waiting for someone to come home. At least it was another nice day, and he had hope that someone would eventually show up, unlike a previous evening when C & G thought they might have to sleep in the hall outside the apartment since I had mistakenly locked the door from the inside. Good times.

Anyway, after a short fashion show where C & G showed they can totally rock the Italian style, we decided not to disappoint our fans and go, for our last time, to Pizza Ciro. As we approached, we noted a line out the door. But- no worries for the favored Americans. (Us.) As soon as we were spotted we were motioned in and seated at a table right in the front room. Our server, by now familiar with our preferences, brought Cokes, water, beers, and vino. We told him we wanted rice balls and potato balls - our two favorite appetizers- but he wouldn't hear of it. No, no, no! We must have the Neopolitan platter! So we did, and he was right. Pizza Margherita for Connor of course, and Griff had one too. I had papardelle with porcini, and Ben had what the waiter thought he should have - turned out to be a seafood linguine. Delicious. Griff pulled out his credit card, and we left in a flourish of ciao, arrivederci and perhaps an adios amigos.

Back at the apartment - Ben is speaking to the people of Rome from our window, Griff is explaining how he just cannot operate plastic ice cube trays (another one bites the dust) and Connor is telling a hilarious story, the gist of which will remain in Rome.

Tomorrow: Venice. We get off the train, get tickets for the Vaporetto (water bus) and take the #2 to Rialto. Then, according to the email from our contact: "I will have sign with your name. As a sign of recognition in any case I will have with me a shopper Betty Boop red! See you Sunday, Mirka" Wish us luck with this rendezvous. (I'm sure it will be fine.)

I'm having trouble typing because I'm laughing so hard...and C & G are about to leave for the party at Elia's. They are taking a taxi to his place - they have the Zoolander Is That You God phone and I expect they will be late. They've packed, which is more than I can say for the progress toward departure the Ben and I have made.

I am not sure about internet access in Venice, but if there are no new posts rest assured that I will still create daily blogs, and publish them as soon as we are online.

Rome has been a blast! C & G are awesome to travel with, and we are all excited for the next part of our adventure.

*Title of this blog is an inside joke.