I started on the Scottish Slimmers Dietline last Monday and, apart from 2 blips during the week which I made sure did not ruin the whole week (and diet), the week has gone well. I always feel better in myself when I have a good week, not just from the weight loss but because I have the 'buzz' of feeling in control.
Well, I will keep this short tonight - I have lost 2 lbs this week, 38 lbs in total. Only another 192 lbs to go. I will get there!! In the meantime I will keep focused on Antigua.
diet, dieting, obesity, weight loss, fatblogging
Monday, 24 September 2007
Saturday, 22 September 2007
Post Summer Holiday
Well, after a summer in France and Italy I came back 3lb heavier. Within 2 weeks I managed to lose 2lbs, although I was not really trying very hard. To give my dieting a boost I have joined Scottish Slimmer Dietline - a telephone, e-mail or letter dieting support service. I attended Scottish Slimmers in 2000 (and after) where I was very successful in losing weight, just not successful in keeping it off.
I received my pack of support books, with the Positive Eating Plan, daily checker, eating out guide and other support information. My dedicated dietline support advisor phoned on the Friday to check it had arrived and agree my weekly support time - Monday's. On the Monday I duly measured my bust, hips and waist, stood on the scales and provided this information to my advisor. We discussed my past slimming history, what and why I wanted to lose weight, and how I was going to organise myself to get there this time. I phone through this Monday for my first weight loss report.
I have only had 2 wobbles this week, on Thursday I was so tired I gave into chocolate and crisps on the way home from work and on Friday I felt like a treat for lunch so we eat out in the village at a new cafe. Never again there, it took 55 minutes to serve us a panini and lasagne (mine)! The wobbles were small wobbles and did not become all out binges, I was soon back on track.
My excuse was the utter tiredness I am feeling from starting in my new consultancy position at a major northern council, which involves getting up at 6 every morning to ensure I get the train ok. The travelling time to and from work is 3 hours a day and is exhausting, especially after a long holiday. The only perk is that I have been able to read my novel on the train there and back, a real treat as I love reading and it stops me from eating normally.
I am reading the 'Other Side of the Bridge' by Mary Lawson, excellent. Over the holiday I read her first novel 'Crow Lake', do read it if you can, I was crying with happiness and sadness at the end of it.
Youngest daughter is living with us for a short time (money shortage until uni starts again) and has brought her cat home with her. I would never have called myself a cat lover before now, but I do find myself very, very fond of Turk (yes, called after the character in Scrubs). Friends who know me well are amazed.
We do have a stressful week next week - I have an interview for a major position that I would very much like to get. The position would give us financial security for several years, help me to achieve my dreams, and is the culmination of my career. Trying not to let the interview get to me, and stay in control of my eating is very difficult but I must try hard. Hubby is travelling down with me to give me moral and physical support (stop me from eating everything in site)! Watch this space!!
More on the French/Italy holiday to follow - in Italy I was watching Aida at the Verona Arena on my 50th birthday, which was absolutely magical. A wonderful setting, but more on that in a future blog.
diet, dieting, Dietline, Scottish Slimmers, Birthdays, Verona, Mary Lawson, Crow Lake
I received my pack of support books, with the Positive Eating Plan, daily checker, eating out guide and other support information. My dedicated dietline support advisor phoned on the Friday to check it had arrived and agree my weekly support time - Monday's. On the Monday I duly measured my bust, hips and waist, stood on the scales and provided this information to my advisor. We discussed my past slimming history, what and why I wanted to lose weight, and how I was going to organise myself to get there this time. I phone through this Monday for my first weight loss report.
I have only had 2 wobbles this week, on Thursday I was so tired I gave into chocolate and crisps on the way home from work and on Friday I felt like a treat for lunch so we eat out in the village at a new cafe. Never again there, it took 55 minutes to serve us a panini and lasagne (mine)! The wobbles were small wobbles and did not become all out binges, I was soon back on track.
My excuse was the utter tiredness I am feeling from starting in my new consultancy position at a major northern council, which involves getting up at 6 every morning to ensure I get the train ok. The travelling time to and from work is 3 hours a day and is exhausting, especially after a long holiday. The only perk is that I have been able to read my novel on the train there and back, a real treat as I love reading and it stops me from eating normally.
I am reading the 'Other Side of the Bridge' by Mary Lawson, excellent. Over the holiday I read her first novel 'Crow Lake', do read it if you can, I was crying with happiness and sadness at the end of it.
Youngest daughter is living with us for a short time (money shortage until uni starts again) and has brought her cat home with her. I would never have called myself a cat lover before now, but I do find myself very, very fond of Turk (yes, called after the character in Scrubs). Friends who know me well are amazed.
We do have a stressful week next week - I have an interview for a major position that I would very much like to get. The position would give us financial security for several years, help me to achieve my dreams, and is the culmination of my career. Trying not to let the interview get to me, and stay in control of my eating is very difficult but I must try hard. Hubby is travelling down with me to give me moral and physical support (stop me from eating everything in site)! Watch this space!!
More on the French/Italy holiday to follow - in Italy I was watching Aida at the Verona Arena on my 50th birthday, which was absolutely magical. A wonderful setting, but more on that in a future blog.
diet, dieting, Dietline, Scottish Slimmers, Birthdays, Verona, Mary Lawson, Crow Lake
Rome - Day 6
Our last day. Packed and breakfasted, we headed to try and get a taxi to the Villa Borghese and Park Borghese. We eventually got a taxi but it was more expensive than we expected/should have been. Watch out for Roman taxi drivers! We did not let it spoil our last day too much though.
The Villa Borghese is an eye opening small and manageable gallery, which you have to pre-book for a 2 hour slot. It was the summer home of a cousin of a Pope, the Cardinal Borghese made the Villa into a mini Vatican Museum. Cardinal Borghese appears to have been a greedy and jealous man who coveted the power and wealth of the Pope and set out to copy what he had, and sometime bought what the Vatican rejected (Caravaggio’s). We managed to get on the 11.00am English language tour with a museum specialist guide, this is highly recommended and brings the whole museum to life. The most memorable exhibits in the museum were the statues, which the guide brought to life. You could see the hard and soft textures the artists were sculpting. The Villa is set in a peaceful park which gives you a sense of calm to walk through, even though these days it is now very much a part of Rome.
After a coffee and cake to refresh us (quiet expensive) we walked from the Villa to the Spanish Steps, thankfully down steps and not up, to lunch again at the Otello alla Concordia again. This time, remembering us, they offered us an outside terrace table, but due to the heat we preferred the tinkling water background of the air conditioned covered terrace. Again, we followed this with a wine at the (L’) Enoteca Antica.
Sadly we headed back to the Residenza for a final pot of tea and taxi to the bus station. If I was fitter I would head for a bus, but had to take the taxi instead. As the Residenza booked the taxi you pay from when the taxi leaves the office and due to the traffic he had 8 euros on the dial before he arrived! Although this taxi was less costly than our first taxi! I would, another time, look at using one of the taxi companies recommended on Tripadvisor, for 2 people we could have done a return to the airport for about 65/70 euros. Sadly, I think it is just a rip off world sometimes. In the heat and with my knees the taxi was the best option for us. We did leave it rather late though, and had missed the airport bus we should have got. The bus we took went a long way round via another pick up point and got held up by the slow moving motorway traffic, we only just made check-in but got assisted loading for the plane so were able to board the airport bus first. In the end up it made little difference, as they filled up the 2 buses and the second bus arrived at the plane first!! We got good seats on the plane because hubby dived straight on and beat the hordes.
The plane was held up, so we were about 2 hours late in departing (the children had been an hour late in departing, making their wait at the airport even longer). A good end to the holiday – the seat belt fitted without the need for a lap extension! All the walking I did had knocked pounds off of me.
Post Holiday
Would we go back to Rome again? Yes, without doubt. I would go back to the Vatican Museum for an afternoon entry, although hubby is less keen on returning to the Vatican museums but would love to return to Rome.
Guide books:
The AA Pocket Guide to Rome
Rome and the Vatican, Lozzi Roma edition (available in Rome)
diet, dieting, Rome, marriage, wedding anniversary, travel log, family, Residenza Cellini, Rome Restaurants,Rome hotels, Rome walking tours,
Rome taxis, Rome museums, Villa Borghese
The Villa Borghese is an eye opening small and manageable gallery, which you have to pre-book for a 2 hour slot. It was the summer home of a cousin of a Pope, the Cardinal Borghese made the Villa into a mini Vatican Museum. Cardinal Borghese appears to have been a greedy and jealous man who coveted the power and wealth of the Pope and set out to copy what he had, and sometime bought what the Vatican rejected (Caravaggio’s). We managed to get on the 11.00am English language tour with a museum specialist guide, this is highly recommended and brings the whole museum to life. The most memorable exhibits in the museum were the statues, which the guide brought to life. You could see the hard and soft textures the artists were sculpting. The Villa is set in a peaceful park which gives you a sense of calm to walk through, even though these days it is now very much a part of Rome.
After a coffee and cake to refresh us (quiet expensive) we walked from the Villa to the Spanish Steps, thankfully down steps and not up, to lunch again at the Otello alla Concordia again. This time, remembering us, they offered us an outside terrace table, but due to the heat we preferred the tinkling water background of the air conditioned covered terrace. Again, we followed this with a wine at the (L’) Enoteca Antica.
Sadly we headed back to the Residenza for a final pot of tea and taxi to the bus station. If I was fitter I would head for a bus, but had to take the taxi instead. As the Residenza booked the taxi you pay from when the taxi leaves the office and due to the traffic he had 8 euros on the dial before he arrived! Although this taxi was less costly than our first taxi! I would, another time, look at using one of the taxi companies recommended on Tripadvisor, for 2 people we could have done a return to the airport for about 65/70 euros. Sadly, I think it is just a rip off world sometimes. In the heat and with my knees the taxi was the best option for us. We did leave it rather late though, and had missed the airport bus we should have got. The bus we took went a long way round via another pick up point and got held up by the slow moving motorway traffic, we only just made check-in but got assisted loading for the plane so were able to board the airport bus first. In the end up it made little difference, as they filled up the 2 buses and the second bus arrived at the plane first!! We got good seats on the plane because hubby dived straight on and beat the hordes.
The plane was held up, so we were about 2 hours late in departing (the children had been an hour late in departing, making their wait at the airport even longer). A good end to the holiday – the seat belt fitted without the need for a lap extension! All the walking I did had knocked pounds off of me.
Post Holiday
Would we go back to Rome again? Yes, without doubt. I would go back to the Vatican Museum for an afternoon entry, although hubby is less keen on returning to the Vatican museums but would love to return to Rome.
Guide books:
The AA Pocket Guide to Rome
Rome and the Vatican, Lozzi Roma edition (available in Rome)
diet, dieting, Rome, marriage, wedding anniversary, travel log, family, Residenza Cellini, Rome Restaurants,Rome hotels, Rome walking tours,
Rome taxis, Rome museums, Villa Borghese
Rome - Day 5
Today, after a late breakfast, hubby and I headed to St Peter’s to get the Christian Rome yellow tour bus for the Line B tour, going out of the city and around the catacombs. This bus took us to the more working class and lived in parts of Rome, as well as taking us to the top of one of the seven hills surrounding Rome. A fantastic view! Hubby grabbed a baguette to eat for out lunch as we travelled on the open deck of the bus, and I had bought a hat to wear to save getting sun stroke again. We filled up our water bottles at the water fountains near the Vatican. Well prepared!
Although I did not know this at the time, hubby told me later that when we walked from the bus stop to the Christian Rome stop outside St Peter’s Square, we were targeted and followed by a dodgy character who had is eye on our bags. Hubby made him aware that he has spotted him and took extra care to protect me and him from a bag snatch. The man eventually got the message and disappeared.
Bag snatching is something to watch out for in Rome! Beware and be aware.
An interesting note, when we arrived at St Peter’s Square the Pope’s audience had just finished and thousands of people were heading away. Among those thousands were several brides and grooms in their full wedding dress, even in the heat of Rome. In fact, every site you went to in Rome: the Coliseum, the Spanish Steps, St Peter’s, the Forum, and others, we saw brides and grooms being followed by video camera’s and photographers whilst they had their wedding portraits taken on their wedding days. They travelled between the sites in their wedding day car. We had never seen anything like it before. We first saw it happening as we first arrived in Rome by taxi (Rome - Day1) and passed the side of the Coliseum, with at least 3 bride’s and groom’s having their photos taken.
At the end of the bus tour we bought postcards from the Vatican post office and posted them from there in order to get the special Vatican post mark, and bought the tea-towels for the girls before heading up to Piazza Navona for ice cream and iced coffee from an interesting gelateria near Pace 44. The gelateria was full of fresh fruit. From here we walked up to the Pantheon to join the 7.00pm free tour of the Pantheon with Angel Tours. The Pantheon tour is part of another, longer, tour by Angel Tours. The Pantheon was the highlight of the trip, in many ways, for hubby. The structure, design, and wonder of how the building stands impressed him. We had already seen much of the wonderful bronze from the Pantheon already in St Peter’s. In fact you see much of the historic and wonderful artefacts of ancient Rome in the Vatican Museums and St Peter’s.
Afterwards hubby and I headed up to a small, expensive, but excellent romantic restaurant nearby called Il Bacaro at Via degli Spagnoli 27, near to Largo di Torre Argentina. We sat inside, mainly because we were a bit scruffy still wearing the clothes we had started the day in! We had not had the time to go back to the hotel and change for the evening, which we usually did. Also, before I sit on their outside chairs I would like to be a very much smaller me. The meal was outstanding, a place to definitely come back to. After making our reservation for the dinner we had 30 minutes to occupy, so went around the corner and had wine and nibbles at a nearby wine bar sitting out an enjoying the ambiance and warmth.
After dinner we walked to the Trevi Fountain, then headed home. You can hear the Trevi Fountain before you see it, the pounding of the water dominates the nearby streets. At any time of the day the Trevi is a magnet for tourists, but is still a wonderful site. Sore feet and being very tired meant that I found the walk to the bus stop and wait for the bus very, very tiring. We tried to get a taxi but found them very, very expensive, but not as expensive as the next day! 9 euros for a 5 minute journey would seem cheap!
diet, dieting, Rome, marriage, wedding anniversary, travel log, family, Residenza Cellini, Rome Restaurants, Rome hotels, Rome walking tours, Angel Tours, Trevi Fountain, Rome taxis,Christian Rome
Although I did not know this at the time, hubby told me later that when we walked from the bus stop to the Christian Rome stop outside St Peter’s Square, we were targeted and followed by a dodgy character who had is eye on our bags. Hubby made him aware that he has spotted him and took extra care to protect me and him from a bag snatch. The man eventually got the message and disappeared.
Bag snatching is something to watch out for in Rome! Beware and be aware.
An interesting note, when we arrived at St Peter’s Square the Pope’s audience had just finished and thousands of people were heading away. Among those thousands were several brides and grooms in their full wedding dress, even in the heat of Rome. In fact, every site you went to in Rome: the Coliseum, the Spanish Steps, St Peter’s, the Forum, and others, we saw brides and grooms being followed by video camera’s and photographers whilst they had their wedding portraits taken on their wedding days. They travelled between the sites in their wedding day car. We had never seen anything like it before. We first saw it happening as we first arrived in Rome by taxi (Rome - Day1) and passed the side of the Coliseum, with at least 3 bride’s and groom’s having their photos taken.
At the end of the bus tour we bought postcards from the Vatican post office and posted them from there in order to get the special Vatican post mark, and bought the tea-towels for the girls before heading up to Piazza Navona for ice cream and iced coffee from an interesting gelateria near Pace 44. The gelateria was full of fresh fruit. From here we walked up to the Pantheon to join the 7.00pm free tour of the Pantheon with Angel Tours. The Pantheon tour is part of another, longer, tour by Angel Tours. The Pantheon was the highlight of the trip, in many ways, for hubby. The structure, design, and wonder of how the building stands impressed him. We had already seen much of the wonderful bronze from the Pantheon already in St Peter’s. In fact you see much of the historic and wonderful artefacts of ancient Rome in the Vatican Museums and St Peter’s.
Afterwards hubby and I headed up to a small, expensive, but excellent romantic restaurant nearby called Il Bacaro at Via degli Spagnoli 27, near to Largo di Torre Argentina. We sat inside, mainly because we were a bit scruffy still wearing the clothes we had started the day in! We had not had the time to go back to the hotel and change for the evening, which we usually did. Also, before I sit on their outside chairs I would like to be a very much smaller me. The meal was outstanding, a place to definitely come back to. After making our reservation for the dinner we had 30 minutes to occupy, so went around the corner and had wine and nibbles at a nearby wine bar sitting out an enjoying the ambiance and warmth.
After dinner we walked to the Trevi Fountain, then headed home. You can hear the Trevi Fountain before you see it, the pounding of the water dominates the nearby streets. At any time of the day the Trevi is a magnet for tourists, but is still a wonderful site. Sore feet and being very tired meant that I found the walk to the bus stop and wait for the bus very, very tiring. We tried to get a taxi but found them very, very expensive, but not as expensive as the next day! 9 euros for a 5 minute journey would seem cheap!
diet, dieting, Rome, marriage, wedding anniversary, travel log, family, Residenza Cellini, Rome Restaurants, Rome hotels, Rome walking tours, Angel Tours, Trevi Fountain, Rome taxis,Christian Rome
Rome - Day 4
Today was a very early start with breakfast at 7.00am and then heading up to Piazza Del Risorgimento for a meeting at 8.15am by the green newspaper stand, opposite side of the footlocker store. Here we met the group organised by Romaroundtours for the Vatican Museums early morning tour. The girls were both able to benefit from the under 25 discounts as we had brought copies of their passports! The group was so large we were split into 2 and we went with Emma, a lovely and gentle Irish girl – ours was the smaller group.
Getting into the Vatican took ages, the group tour entry was extremely poorly organised with only 2 girls issuing the headsets needed to hear the tour guide. What made it worse was that Tuesday turned out to be the cruise ship guide day, the place was packed beyond belief! Fortunately, we were going to see the Raphael rooms (highly recommended), which the cruise tours missed out to rush around the Vatican Museums. You need to dress respectfully (knees and shoulders covered) and remember to take plenty of water and fill up at the water points in the toilets on the way through. The Sistine Chapel was as stunning as we were led to believe but the organisation of the museum leaves a lot to be desired.
St Peter’s Basillica, also included on the tour, was staggering. Words could never do it justice.
We rushed back to the termini and had lunch at a place nearby, the Washington. This turned out to be expensive for the mediocre quality, although the service was friendly enough. Hubby and youngest daughter collected the cases and we saw the children off on the airport coach. Only afterwards did I realise that I got my timings wrong and sent them 3 hours before check in and not 3 hours before the flight time, for a 1 hour coach ride!! How silly, as we could have had a chilled lunch near the Vatican at a small and reasonable priced recommended eatery! Oh well.
After sleeping for the rest of the afternoon hubby and I headed out by bus and headed back to Piazza Navona and Pace 44 for dinner before very tiredly heading to the Residenza for a well earned rest and sleep.
Just a note on what could have been a bad incident. As we were heading away from the Piazza Navona back to Corso Vittorio Emanuele, via a quiet side street, a moped rider with passenger came towards me. The passenger reached out to grab my bag (around my neck, so it could have been a nasty time for me) when they realised that I was with someone (hubby was on the other side of the small street from me) and veered away from me. Hubby was in a position to push the moped rider and passenger off their moped and cause them some injury so, luckily, they thought better of attacking me for my bag.
diet, dieting, Rome, marriage, wedding anniversary, travel log, family, Residenza Cellini, Rome Restaurants,Rome hotels, Rome walking tours, Romaroundtours, The Vatican, The Vatican Museums, The Sistine Chapel, St Peter's
Getting into the Vatican took ages, the group tour entry was extremely poorly organised with only 2 girls issuing the headsets needed to hear the tour guide. What made it worse was that Tuesday turned out to be the cruise ship guide day, the place was packed beyond belief! Fortunately, we were going to see the Raphael rooms (highly recommended), which the cruise tours missed out to rush around the Vatican Museums. You need to dress respectfully (knees and shoulders covered) and remember to take plenty of water and fill up at the water points in the toilets on the way through. The Sistine Chapel was as stunning as we were led to believe but the organisation of the museum leaves a lot to be desired.
St Peter’s Basillica, also included on the tour, was staggering. Words could never do it justice.
We rushed back to the termini and had lunch at a place nearby, the Washington. This turned out to be expensive for the mediocre quality, although the service was friendly enough. Hubby and youngest daughter collected the cases and we saw the children off on the airport coach. Only afterwards did I realise that I got my timings wrong and sent them 3 hours before check in and not 3 hours before the flight time, for a 1 hour coach ride!! How silly, as we could have had a chilled lunch near the Vatican at a small and reasonable priced recommended eatery! Oh well.
After sleeping for the rest of the afternoon hubby and I headed out by bus and headed back to Piazza Navona and Pace 44 for dinner before very tiredly heading to the Residenza for a well earned rest and sleep.
Just a note on what could have been a bad incident. As we were heading away from the Piazza Navona back to Corso Vittorio Emanuele, via a quiet side street, a moped rider with passenger came towards me. The passenger reached out to grab my bag (around my neck, so it could have been a nasty time for me) when they realised that I was with someone (hubby was on the other side of the small street from me) and veered away from me. Hubby was in a position to push the moped rider and passenger off their moped and cause them some injury so, luckily, they thought better of attacking me for my bag.
diet, dieting, Rome, marriage, wedding anniversary, travel log, family, Residenza Cellini, Rome Restaurants,Rome hotels, Rome walking tours, Romaroundtours, The Vatican, The Vatican Museums, The Sistine Chapel, St Peter's
Rome - Day 3
Today hubby and I have been married for 25 years and were renewing our vows before God in All Saints Church, Rome, which is an Anglican Church. The Church is near the Spanish Steps. With only the 5 of us it was a very moving and personal service. I wore the lovery silk coral flower print dress and coral linen jacket I had for the eldest daughters wedding 2 years ago. The eldest daughter wore the dress she had for the wedding of some friends last year, and youngest daughter had a new strapless dress for the occasion. We all need to shift some pounds!!
Sara, the Assistant Curate, conducted our service after spending some time talking to hubby and I about ourselves. We took Communion after the service. Hubby and I, and the family, were crying after as our emotions welled up. Hubby said that he felt different, which he had not expected. Our marriage is stronger than ever, and adversity seems to bring us together rather than divide us. I know I could not face life without him, my life is complete with him.
The girls bought me 3 red roses to hold for the service.
After the service we headed to a nearby, slightly hidden, restaurant in the Via della Corce 81 called Otello alla Concordia. A fabulous meal was had by all in the air-conditioned covered terrace to the sound of the flowing water fountain. The water fountain was covered in delightfully colourful array of fruit and vegetables. The Residenza had booked a table for us, so we were expected. To get an outside table, where important people sat, you have to be known and book early. As it was, it was so hot that we preferred the covered terrace as the air conditioning was very, very welcome.
After lunch we headed to the (L’) Enoteca Antica at Via della Corce 76b for wine. Youngest daughter picked a lovely slightly sparkling and sweet muscadet. You can eat here as well, and I would another time. It is a traditional wine shop and bar with food, the tables are tiled and it is very cool when it is seriously hot outside.
After a rest back at the Residenza we had a bottle of chilled Spumante on the terrace, provided by the hotel, and then headed out for the evening to Campo de’ Fiori and Piazza Navona. We had drinks and nibbles at Campo and a wander around the Piazza, which was stunning. Dinner was pizza at Pace 44 at Via del Teatro Pace 44, we would highly recommend the delicious pizzas at Pace. It is not called Pace anymore, but just head to the address and eat at the pizza restaurant there.
A very tired bunch, with sore and swollen feet, headed back to the Residenza by bus.
A note, buy a few bus/metro tickets and punch as you enter the station/bus as it can be difficult to find a place to buy tickets for the buses.
The transport system in Rome was timely and efficient. It was also crowded, as you would expect.
diet, dieting, Rome, marriage, wedding anniversary, travel log, family, Residenza Cellini, Rome Restaurants,Rome hotels, Rome walking tours,Rome Churches
Sara, the Assistant Curate, conducted our service after spending some time talking to hubby and I about ourselves. We took Communion after the service. Hubby and I, and the family, were crying after as our emotions welled up. Hubby said that he felt different, which he had not expected. Our marriage is stronger than ever, and adversity seems to bring us together rather than divide us. I know I could not face life without him, my life is complete with him.
The girls bought me 3 red roses to hold for the service.
After the service we headed to a nearby, slightly hidden, restaurant in the Via della Corce 81 called Otello alla Concordia. A fabulous meal was had by all in the air-conditioned covered terrace to the sound of the flowing water fountain. The water fountain was covered in delightfully colourful array of fruit and vegetables. The Residenza had booked a table for us, so we were expected. To get an outside table, where important people sat, you have to be known and book early. As it was, it was so hot that we preferred the covered terrace as the air conditioning was very, very welcome.
After lunch we headed to the (L’) Enoteca Antica at Via della Corce 76b for wine. Youngest daughter picked a lovely slightly sparkling and sweet muscadet. You can eat here as well, and I would another time. It is a traditional wine shop and bar with food, the tables are tiled and it is very cool when it is seriously hot outside.
After a rest back at the Residenza we had a bottle of chilled Spumante on the terrace, provided by the hotel, and then headed out for the evening to Campo de’ Fiori and Piazza Navona. We had drinks and nibbles at Campo and a wander around the Piazza, which was stunning. Dinner was pizza at Pace 44 at Via del Teatro Pace 44, we would highly recommend the delicious pizzas at Pace. It is not called Pace anymore, but just head to the address and eat at the pizza restaurant there.
A very tired bunch, with sore and swollen feet, headed back to the Residenza by bus.
A note, buy a few bus/metro tickets and punch as you enter the station/bus as it can be difficult to find a place to buy tickets for the buses.
The transport system in Rome was timely and efficient. It was also crowded, as you would expect.
diet, dieting, Rome, marriage, wedding anniversary, travel log, family, Residenza Cellini, Rome Restaurants,Rome hotels, Rome walking tours,Rome Churches
Rome - Day 2
This was a busy day with a slow start. Our Rome sightseeing started with a red bus tour of the inner city, which left us all sun fatigued as we had not appreciated how hot and sunny it would be. At the end of the bus tour, which began at Termini, we grabbed filled baguettes and took the red bus round to the meeting point for our guided walk of the Forum and Coliseum.
The bus tour was an excellent way of getting your bearings and seeing the main sites ready for going back to see an area or site in detail. With stops, the trip takes about 2 hours in total.
The afternoon was a pre-booked group guided walk with When In Rome Tours at 4.00pm of the Coliseum and Ancient Rome (the Forum) (30 Euros each). The walk started at the fountain to the right of the Virrorio Emanuele Monument (as you are looking at it from Piazza Venezia). Excellent, but tiring, tour especially in the heat. Next time I would wear a hat!! We did learn that you can fill up your water bottles from the water fountains that are seen all over Rome. The water is cool and refreshing, and perfectly safe to drink, just remember to have your empty water bottles ready to fill up. I managed the walking, but began to flag at the end. Due to lack of change we were not able to tip the guide, so this is something to remember for another time.
At the end of the Coliseum walk we headed to a nearby restaurant recommended in the AA Pocket Guide of Rome called Binario 4 at Via San Giovanni in Laterano 32. This was as cheap, but excellent, as the guide book suggested. After starters, dinner, wine and lager we headed 2 or 3 shops up the road (away from the Coliseum) and had our first ice-cream. Ice-cream from the gelateria throughout Rome is to be highly recommended. After a tiring, but informative, day we headed back to the Residenza for the night. We ended the evening with a bottle of wine on the upper terrace of the Residenza, shortly to be made into the open air breakfast room. When the terrace is fully open it will be a wonderful adition to the hotel.
If you only have one day in Rome, I could not recommend the Forum and Coliseum highly enough, especially with a guide. This walk helped us to appreciate everything else about Rome that was to come.
We were there in June, be warned that the heat is much greater than you will expect and the power of the sun drains you of energy completely. Do drink plenty of water at every opportunity.
diet, dieting, Rome, marriage, wedding anniversary, travel log, family, Residenza Cellini, Rome Restaurants,Rome hotels, Rome walking tours
The bus tour was an excellent way of getting your bearings and seeing the main sites ready for going back to see an area or site in detail. With stops, the trip takes about 2 hours in total.
The afternoon was a pre-booked group guided walk with When In Rome Tours at 4.00pm of the Coliseum and Ancient Rome (the Forum) (30 Euros each). The walk started at the fountain to the right of the Virrorio Emanuele Monument (as you are looking at it from Piazza Venezia). Excellent, but tiring, tour especially in the heat. Next time I would wear a hat!! We did learn that you can fill up your water bottles from the water fountains that are seen all over Rome. The water is cool and refreshing, and perfectly safe to drink, just remember to have your empty water bottles ready to fill up. I managed the walking, but began to flag at the end. Due to lack of change we were not able to tip the guide, so this is something to remember for another time.
At the end of the Coliseum walk we headed to a nearby restaurant recommended in the AA Pocket Guide of Rome called Binario 4 at Via San Giovanni in Laterano 32. This was as cheap, but excellent, as the guide book suggested. After starters, dinner, wine and lager we headed 2 or 3 shops up the road (away from the Coliseum) and had our first ice-cream. Ice-cream from the gelateria throughout Rome is to be highly recommended. After a tiring, but informative, day we headed back to the Residenza for the night. We ended the evening with a bottle of wine on the upper terrace of the Residenza, shortly to be made into the open air breakfast room. When the terrace is fully open it will be a wonderful adition to the hotel.
If you only have one day in Rome, I could not recommend the Forum and Coliseum highly enough, especially with a guide. This walk helped us to appreciate everything else about Rome that was to come.
We were there in June, be warned that the heat is much greater than you will expect and the power of the sun drains you of energy completely. Do drink plenty of water at every opportunity.
diet, dieting, Rome, marriage, wedding anniversary, travel log, family, Residenza Cellini, Rome Restaurants,Rome hotels, Rome walking tours
Rome - Day 1
On day one we flew from Newcastle to Campiano (the less well known, charter flight airport for Rome) with Easyjet. The flight was almost 2 hours late in departing, I don't know if this is usual or not, and there was confusion about the departure gate which was not announced until the last moment.
When we arrived we were met by the luxury people carrier organised by the Residenza Cellini, where we had organised to stay. The drive from Campiano to the Residenza, near Republica, took about 40 minutes and was a wonderful taste of what was to come in Rome. We passed the Apanian Way, where the catacomb's are, and the Coliseum. We were intrigued to see the number of newly wed couples, in all the finery, having their wedding photographs and videos taken around the Coliseum - this was a local tradition we were to see throughout the city during our stay as couples have wedding photos taken at the key sites all over the city!
We arrived at the Residenza, near Republica. It was an excellent location for buses and metro, yet quiet as it is off the main drag. We did not find the reported vagrant living on the doorstep as one reviewer stated on Tripadvisor. The children had a lovely, cool triple room with a spa bath with shower over. Hubby and I had a smaller double room with en-suite shower. Both rooms were spacious and beautifully decorated with crisp, fresh linen of the highest quality. The only moan, the beds were hard. A small breakfast room was set up each morning with a cold buffet collection, meats, cheeses, breads, fruit, yogurt, biscuits and delicious pastries. You could have teas, coffees, water and juices.
On the first night the 5 of us had dinner at Il Giglio, near Opera, reserved and recommended by the Residenza. It was lively and traditional, but upmarket, restaurant and a relaxing start to our break. Hubby and I had traditional Roman dishes, with spring lamb.
diet, dieting, Rome, marriage, wedding anniversary, travel log, family, Residenza Cellini, Rome Restaurants, Rome hotels
When we arrived we were met by the luxury people carrier organised by the Residenza Cellini, where we had organised to stay. The drive from Campiano to the Residenza, near Republica, took about 40 minutes and was a wonderful taste of what was to come in Rome. We passed the Apanian Way, where the catacomb's are, and the Coliseum. We were intrigued to see the number of newly wed couples, in all the finery, having their wedding photographs and videos taken around the Coliseum - this was a local tradition we were to see throughout the city during our stay as couples have wedding photos taken at the key sites all over the city!
We arrived at the Residenza, near Republica. It was an excellent location for buses and metro, yet quiet as it is off the main drag. We did not find the reported vagrant living on the doorstep as one reviewer stated on Tripadvisor. The children had a lovely, cool triple room with a spa bath with shower over. Hubby and I had a smaller double room with en-suite shower. Both rooms were spacious and beautifully decorated with crisp, fresh linen of the highest quality. The only moan, the beds were hard. A small breakfast room was set up each morning with a cold buffet collection, meats, cheeses, breads, fruit, yogurt, biscuits and delicious pastries. You could have teas, coffees, water and juices.
On the first night the 5 of us had dinner at Il Giglio, near Opera, reserved and recommended by the Residenza. It was lively and traditional, but upmarket, restaurant and a relaxing start to our break. Hubby and I had traditional Roman dishes, with spring lamb.
diet, dieting, Rome, marriage, wedding anniversary, travel log, family, Residenza Cellini, Rome Restaurants, Rome hotels
Rome Travel Advice
Although this is not about my dieting struggles, I thought you might be interested in my travel-log of Rome. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary by renewing our wedding vows at All Saints Church, Rome in June. A romantic occasion made special by the family being together for the wonderful event. I have written up a day-by-day account of our time with restaurant recommendations. I hope the travel log is helpful to you.
I should say, it is actually easy to eat healthily (low-fat) in Rome as the Italian diet is not stodgy and based on fresh food, fish, vegetables lean meat. Even the pizza is very, very thin based.
diet, dieting,
Rome, marriage, travel-log, family,
wedding anniversary
I should say, it is actually easy to eat healthily (low-fat) in Rome as the Italian diet is not stodgy and based on fresh food, fish, vegetables lean meat. Even the pizza is very, very thin based.
diet, dieting,
Rome, marriage, travel-log, family,
wedding anniversary
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