Yesterday would be of little interest to anyone except quilters…went to Mexican place and to Quilt Group.  We learned to make Half Square Triangles.  Aren’t you glad you asked?

Today, we got up early and took the A Metro all the way to the end and got a ticket for Arricia…the town famous for porchetta…the whole smoked pig with wild fennel, Rosemary, salt and pepper.  Saw some lovely countryside on our hour trip there.  It is just a few miles from Castel Gondolfo where the Pope goes for the hot July and August months.  And it isn’t far from Anzio where we will go someday.  We started getting worried when we kept making stops and none were Arrecia.  Turns out we missed it.  So we got off the bus and got on a local bus that took us about 1/2 a mile to Arrecia.  We toured a lovely box-like church with a big dome.  All around the circumference are floral swags held up by big Angels.  A small but very pretty church.  Then we went across the street to the Chigi Palace…peers of the Medicis and Borghese families.  Bernini designed the palace, the square and several buildings across from the palace.  We did a self guided tour of an art exhibit.  Most of the art was of Cardinals and relatives of the Chigis.  One painting was by Van Dyke…but the most stunning was one by Reubens.  It was a profile of a man with curly hair and a beard…absolutely beautiful.  It really stood out as a masterpiece by a master artist.   We went to a restaurant for a Porchetta sandwich.  It was very good, but during the meal, I realized it wasn’t what I had been reading about. It wasn’t on a roll…wonderful crusty bread, but not a roll.  And it didn’t have the extras I had read about, like sundried tomatoes, mushrooms and artichoke hearts with oil.  Later, we walked down to what once was a church, but is now the town theater. On the way, we passed hole in the wall porchetta places…where we should have eaten!  So we have to go back and do the more authentic porchetta dives!  At least they have more character.  One had a huge porchetta that I would have loved, except I was already full.   Behind the theater is a walled piazza with a stunning view.  Far in the distance, it was hazy and one could sit in the piazza and almost think it was the sea in the distance.  On the way there, we met Daisy…a white, 8 month old bulldog.  She was just thrilled to meet us and wanted to kiss us to death…and we let her!  Such exuberance for life!  A happy dog!  We walked back to the bus stop next to what must be the Chigi Palace Gardens.  Hopped the local bus for the spot where we were to catch the bus back to Rome.  Luckily, I read and understood  a notice taped to the bus stop pole that the bus wasn’t running from that spot today thru Saturday due to some construction…so we walked a few blocks and caught the one that was running.  Got home and I fixed salmon steaks sauted in white wine and smeared with Dijon mustard.  Very good.  It was a beautiful sunny and warm day.  Wonderful weather for a day trip.  Off to bed to read.  Buona Notte!