Rome and Milan

17 Febbraio
I bused off to Rome last weekend and had a wonderful meal at one of the best, if not the best vegetarian restaurant in Rome. It is in via Margutta , just down the street from where Gregory Peck stayed with Audrey Hepburn in Roman Vacation. The name is appropriately Il Margutta Ristorante and the number is 118. I highly recommend it for those voyaging this direction. Sunday, I went to the church of St Andrew, a Scottish presbyterian church. After the service in english, they offered a cooking demonstration of Kenyan food and I made fried bread. I met some really nice folks there and hope to see them again either at the church or here at Nascondiglio di Bacco.
I later took a guided tour of Campodoglio, which is above the Piazza Venezia and here are some pictures of Castor and Pollux) with a fellow who had a few facts wrong, but ancient history is always subject to diverse interpretations. As I may have said, I am studying ancient Rome with the Teaching Company series on that subject.
It is finally sunny here, but temperatures are running much colder with lows in the 20's and highs in the 40's. I am hoeing the weeds whilst uncovering the trunks of the vines which were covered by the tractor when plowing and planting of the beans was performed.
Tomorrow, we are heading to Milan for the biggest tourism fair in Europe called B I T , pronounced beet. I am hoping to market extensively for the agriturismo, especially in the countries outside Italy, where I am hoping english will be the language of commerce. We have tickets to see the last supper by Leonardo di Vinci, which is a tough ticket. If you ever want to visit, make reservations a month before coming to Milan.
We are returning Friday for the beginning of Carnevale at Offida replete with the running of the (fake) bull, burning of the canes with a procession through the streets on Fat Tuesday and balls with and without costumes.
The pictures show a bit of snow towards Ripatransone from our hill, the spanish steps, Castor (close up) and Pollux and the stairs up to the Campodoglio from the Piazza Venezia.
dds