This is sort of going to be ‘a week in review’.  Last Wednesday, I resumed my Quilt Group meetings after our summer break.  We meet in a school and it was closed all summer, so we didn’t meet.  I stopped off for lunch at my Mexican restaurant and was glad to see the owner, Gabriel.  The ladies at the quilt group seemed glad to see me…lots of hugs and kisses.  Three members gave me little blocks they had made over the summer for my squash quilt.  They brought quilts they have made for the Quilt Show and Retreat this week in Bormarzo.  Their work is outstanding!  Still life, landscapes, cat, people, all beautifully depicted in fabric.  Several asked me when I was leaving, they thought it was the end of September and seemed relieved that it was the end of December…and then they said, ‘When are you coming back?’  

THURSDAY, I met one of the friends in the Jewish Ghetto for dinner at Fonzie’s…a Kosher hamburger place.  The burger was wonderful, as were the fries!  Just like home.  No cheeseburgers since meat and dairy aren’t combined in a Kosher kitchen.  Small price to pay for such a good burger and fries.

Friday, I spent several hours just walking around town and that evening decided to try a French restaurant near the Pantheon.  I heard singing in a church close by and popped in to see what was going on.  The place was packed and standing room only…all nuns and priests…all in different habits.  The singing was in English.  A cardinal was presiding over Mass and speaking in English.  After the service, I asked a pair of nuns what was the occasion.  There are 5000 nuns and priests in Rome for a religious convention and each language is being celebrated in a different church.  They had been to St. Peter’s the day before to meet the Pope.  It really is normal to see groups of nuns and priests every day in Rome, especially in our neighborhood so close to the Vatican.   The two cutest sights this week were a group of nuns in their habits wearing lime green baseball caps over their veils.  Another sight was a nun carrying a pizza box and five more nuns trailing behind her..hope it was a large pizza with all the toppings.  Now to the French restaurant…L’ Eau Vive.  It is in a Pallazo – a very old palace.  Downstairs the room is lovely with a statue of Mary surrounded by fragrant lilies.  Tablecloths, crystal and candles on each table.  I was taken upstairs to a beautiful room with curved ceilings and beautiful frescoes painted on the ceiling.  I thought perhaps I was taken upstairs because I wasn’t dressed properly or because I didnt have a reservation.  Several other people came and were seated upstairs with me.  I ordered the Friday Night Special…giant prawns with rice and a curry sauce with peas.  Absolutely delicious!  All of the waitstaff are young women from various countries in their native dress.  The ones serving me were from Vietnam and Kenya.  I noticed they all had a necklace with an identical medal..and I assumed  they were some sort of religious order.  It turns out they are nuns and this restaurant is their mission.  Can’t wait to return and try more dishes.  When I left, I exited thru the downstairs dining room and not a soul in there…so everyone was being seated upstairs.  Maybe there are reservation formthemda lesl downstairs at a later time.  I ate at 7 when it opened and was gone by 8:15…very early dinner times for Italians.  The food is too good to not have the place fill up on a Friday night…and reasonable prices.