Chris & Kelly's Travel Adventures

Welcome to ancient Rome.

The weather forecast called for 50% chance of rain, so we took rain jackets and expected less-than-ideal conditions for exploring the Colosseum and Roman Forum.  The gods of weather must have been smiling down at us as we had the most perfect fall weather: bright blue cloudless skies, high 60's and no breeze.

A must-see visit to the Colosseum was first on our list.  It is truly a magnificent structure.  Time and the elements have reduced many of its fine details, statues have been lost or stolen, the original competition floor is gone and the original structure is pockmarked with holes all along the outside (it is not clear if they are nature or man made).  Nevertheless, the Colosseum is impressive.

We passed around or under several major arches entering the Roman Forum.  There are some structures that can still be visibly identified, but many are simply rubble lying in their original "footprint."  If you are curious as to the scale, look to the bottom left of the 7th photo below this text and see if you locate miniature Chris standing beside the Temple of Saturn!

Once again we found ourselves tired and hungry and with no clear thoughts about lunch.  On our way back to our apartment, we passed a small restaurant called Luciano's.  I recalled that I had read something good about this particular restaurant, so we stopped for a bite...or two, three - even four!

Generally a Michelin star rating does not impress me.  I don't find high prices for foam of celery appealing...so I have never eaten anywhere with this rating.  Luciano's was the best kind of surprise.  He is young (under 30) and is the youngest Italian chef ever to be awarded a Michelin star.  He is considered the King of Carbonara.

We started lunch with an appetizer of veal in a tuna sauce and sauteed spinach.  It may sound nasty, but it was delicious.  Carbonara was our primi course and it did not disappoint- in fact I told Chris he could bring this home as takeout anytime! Our secondi was lamb with sweet potato and pomegranate: probably the mildest and most tender lamb I have ever had.  The best part of the meal was yet to come.  

Tiramisu- and not any tiramisu (generally I do not like it because of the soggy lady fingers.)  Evidentally Luciano agrees with me, because he laid dry lady fingers on the bottom, then created a dark chocolate disk filled with espresso, then egg cream on top with a final dusting of dark cocoa powder.  You must crack the dark chocolate disk to release the coffee, so the lady fingers never have time to become soggy...GENIUS!

The bill was not cheap, yet it was easily the best food to date here in Italy, and we have paid more for less in several places.