I’ve Died and Gone To Rome

I haven’t even been here 12 hours, and to be honest, I haven’t seen or done much – but I’m off to a damn good start.

• My host is a former chef (gah!), published writer and radio personality. His gorgeous wife Alessandra is studying for an advanced degree, and is just the sweetest lady. Her daughter Claudia has her pulse on the local goings-on and I suspect we’ll be hanging out a lot.
• Their home, which they have graciously welcomed me into, was built in the 16th century and is located in the heart of the city. Stunning. This place is UN. Freaking. Believable.
• The first thing I was given to eat when I arrived was an impromptu platter of incredible salami, homemade bread, freshly sliced prosciutto, and fresh mozzarella doused in homemade olive oil.
• I then took a nap, and shortly after went out for a glass of Prosecco in the very cool Trastevere neighborhood for a girls night with Claudia and two of her friends.
• I came home to grilled swordfish topped with that amazing homemade olive oil, this time mixed with lemon and oregano. That was followed by fresh slices of mozzarella topped with more olive oil, and get this – dollops of black truffle. TRUFFLE!

And no one would even let me do the dishes.

How on earth did I get here?!

Well, it all started back in Vietnam, when I met the wonderful Luciano, who like my host, is an accomplished author. I was working for a fish farm and exporting company in Vietnam at the time, and Luciano was doing research for another book he was writing. I arranged for some meetings between him and a local company that could help him out. We quickly became friends and kept in touch when he went back home to Italy.

When Luciano (who lives in Sicily) found out I was coming to Rome, he connected me via email with his friend Vittorio, who was kind enough to offer me a place to stay with his family.

I’m now stuffing my face with truffle, and the rest is history.

I’m head over heels in love with Italy, and I haven’t so much as stepped inside a museum!

Oh and speaking of museums, it just happens to be culture week in Rome, and admission to all museums in the city are free until Sunday.

Seriously.

Pinch me!

No wait, please don’t.