Hello, Rome :)

View from the top: Rome just before sunrise 20 October 2012

I did not plan to make another trip to Europe this year, not after London last May. But when the opportunity to attend the canonization of Saint Pedro Calungsod came up, there was no question about it: we had to attend. I justified that anyways it would be my first real vacation after five years of my 'day job'.

Baby Salcedo aka MOM at the HK airport

My travel buddy for Rome was the energetic Cebu Representative Rachel "Cutie" del Mar and also, for the entire trip, good ol' MOM, who would not let the opportunity to come face to face with the Pope pass. She was definitely more excited than me about attending the canonization rites. My objectives were less religious: to taste authentic Italian food!

Hungry at the HK airport, we gravitated towards the stall with the longest line. Only to find out that it was McDonald's! 


From McDo we walked towards the sound of live music - a jazz singer belting out Route 66 - happy to find that the artists were all Pinoy! They were in the middle of their performance so I wasn't able to get the band's name.  Anyway, you may catch them at Cafe Deco as you enjoy a glass of martini while waiting for your flight if you ever find yourself at the HK airport.

Noticed this sign for the first time at the dining section. Parang kailangan ng MTRCB sa HK at wala itong truth in advertising! :P

Fourteen hours later ... Italy welcomed us with this sunrise that showed a perfect line, a promise of a great trip ahead ...

This car full of nuns confirmed that yes, we were finally at the Vatican!

Noticed this too: BPI Rome. Mabuhay ang ating mga OFW!

After checking into our hotel, we accompanied Rep. Rachel to a meeting with the charity organization Communita de Sant'Egidio, a worldwide community of people who care. They have set up various chapters around the world where they reach out to the poor and oppressed. They have organized soup kitchens, found shelter for the homeless in various parts of the world, they help fight for peace (the meeting was about how they could help in achieving peace and ending the ongoing Mindanao conflict) and advocate against the death penalty, among other issues. 

Father Paolo of Communita di Sant'Egidio has been to the Philippines several times on missionary work. He welcomed us with these treats at Trattoria de Gli Amici in Trastevere.

In Trastevere, where the Basilica di Santa Maria is located, the first church ever dedicated to Mother Mary, we were treated to lunch by Sant'Egidio's Father Paolo. What a delightful welcome to Italia! 

This trattoria is special because it is operated by mentally disabled persons - but you would never be able to tell with their attentiveness. The restaurant was actually created to help give employment to the disabled that the Sant'Egidio tries to assist. More than employment, they are also given an outlet for their creativity by giving them lessons and displaying their art, which is amazing:

The first thing that caught my eye on the menu was burrata, a fresh Italian cheese that is similar to kesong puti. But it has been all the rave recently, being used by celebrity chefs everywhere, and since it is not available in the Philippines except once in a while when Masseto receives its shipment, this was the first thing I ordered! We paired this with a plateful of meats: prosciutto, lardo, salami - Father Paolo went all out and stuffed us silly!

That's not siopao - it's burrata!

RepRachel, meanwhile, went gaga over the olive oil and balsamaic vinegar and ate something like a dozen slices of bread minus the crust! 

Devoured by Cutie

And to complete the introduction to Italian cuisine, we had this authentic carbonara cooked without cream - just egg, and accented with bacon bits. Delizioso! 

On RepRachel's last day in Rome, we came back here for the tiramisu, which was as good as the dishes we had on the first day. It was light, gentle, not too sweet.

We were off to a good start! :)