SALT LAKE CITY FRIENDS MEET UP IN ROME!

My friends Karen, Gayle, Hollie, Julie and Dian - a Von Boyage Toast!!

I got a facebook note that my old friend Karen Johnson was going to be leaving on a cruise out of Rome of all places with three friends,Gayle, Julie and Hollie all living in Salt Lake City.

We all met up for dinner with my friend Diane Sandman who was visiting from Denver for World Food Day. Diane is on the Board of Directors for the Comfort Cafe, a community kitchen out of Denver.

What a small world. We all had a wonderful visit and a Bon Voyage toast to my Salt Lake friends!!!

Community in Rome * * * * * ( due to old friends in a new pace)

Food waste reduction * * * * * ( we cleaned our plates!! and shared!!!!)

PIAZZA NAVONA

I hope I never forget the moment I first laid eyes on Piazza Navona and the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi ( Fountain of the 4 Rivers) by Gianlorenzo Bernini. The sculpture has 4 Gods which correspond/represent the 4 main rivers known at that time: Ganges, Danube Plate, and the Nile.

Absolutely breathtaking!!

COMMUNITY IN ROME!!!!

Emanuele Stangoni and Joseph Mallari taken right after we realized we all knew each other!

Today I found an apartment. Not just any apartment, but one that I am sure to remember for a long time!

I have been looking for days. Joseph Mallari, the best realtor in Rome had been searching for days. It was really hard. He is such a great and caring person he even referred me to another agency because he could not find anything for me.( October is very difficult if you have not booked ahead!) While I was with the other agency I looked at two places by the same landlord,

Today in an entirely different part of Rome who should pull up to meet Joseph and I but the same landlord!! This is unbelievable! It was so funny, Joseph could not believe that we knew each other! And Emanuele could not believe I was still without an apartment!

So I have a funny story with a great ending of two new friends helping me find my Rome apartment.

If you are of need of an apartment in Rome, please contact Joseph Mallari he is the best!! His email is yuccaapartments@gmail.com. Joseph is also a history buff and can tell you fascinating local historical details as you look for an apartment! His website is www.yuccaapartments.jimdo.com

COMMUNITY IN ROME * * * * * due to Joseph and Emanuele

( based on a * - * * * * * star rating system

SOME FOOD IN ROME, I love the way they serve pizza!!

Just tell them the width you want and then it is weighed

Fresh pizza cut the size you want!!

I cannot imagine saying anything bad ever about the food in Italy! I was very impressed with they way they serve pizza here in the small pizza shops. You choose the size slice you want and then thy weigh it and NO WASTE!! I thought of doing something like this about 5 years ago,in the One Wolrd style, but now that I see how it is done here, I am ready to roll on the idea some day!! I will include pictures. I would like to start the first one in Manhattan.

I am spending my time in Trastevere right now, which means 'across the river". You will still find cobblestone streets and small piazzas with children playing and you will start to recognise your neighbors right away. I love it here!!

Trastevere Rating

Community * * * * * ( they are very friendly in Trastvere)

Food Waste Reduction * * * * *

OFF TO ROME, THE ETERNAL CITY

Italian gentlemen are a rare breed and hopefully will be around for a long time. Emanuel, my first friend in Italy INSISTED I take his seat on the bus and tried his best to communicate with me. He showed me where to get off in Trastevere and took me to a shop to buy a tram ticket and then sold a group of young men , in Italian, to make sure they told me where to get off. Emanuel reminded me of my grandfather, Joseph Cerreta and even smelled a bit like him if that is possible.....

The food here of course is fabulous and the city is like being inside a living museum or on the page of a history of art book.

Rome's Rating

COMMUNITY * * * * * ( because of EMANUEL!)

FOOD Waste reduction- unrated in this blog, but more to come!

ARTE SIGNS UP FOR THE ONE WORLD EVERYBODY EATS CHALLENGE IN THESSALONIKI,GrEECE!!!

Friday Costas and Litza signed up their cafe for the challenge on World Food Day , October 16. They plan to give away something to eat to their community that day. Litza says that any time some Gypsy children come around she always feeds them. That's just like her!!

THE BAG LADY OF THESSALONIKI!! UP TO MY OLD HOBBIES IN GREECE!! Dumpster Diving with the Gypsies!!

My Gypsy companions earlier in the day

When I got back into the apartment loaded up with purses!!

You will not believe this!! Last night we were on the balcony and looking down at the dumpster. There were Gypsy's in it because a shop was being gutted next door and they were throwing tons of things away.

Anyway, I saw this white little purse in the dumpster from 4 floors up and decided to go down and take a look. I came back with over 15 brand new purses!!!!!!! The Gypsy in the dumpster kept handing them over to me, it was hysterical! Tonight we are going to have a 'Farewell Purse Party'!!!! I leave for Rome tomorrow...

I will never be able to stand waste of any kind!! Purses for Everybody!!