Thursday, June 19, 2008

Chilling in Rome with The Frugal Traveler from the New York Times

One of my friends called me up last week to ask if I wanted to attend this "industry" party in Testaccio. Her friend of a friend, Matt picked me up and we walked over. The funny thing is I had just started reading his column about his Grand Tour through Europe this summer. I really liked his post about his impromptu dinner party in Paris.

The party was fun. I bumped into a casting director I met last year through G. There where quite a few very stunning folks about and not all of them were actors. The only downside is I got eaten alive by mosquitoes on the walk over/back. My arms look crazy and I have a meeting this afternoon. It's too hot to wear long sleeves.

I went to the drinks Matt hosted. The game was on so I was a little distracted at first. I'm still not used to people being able to bring dogs in restaurants (there is a photo in his column). I think it's gross. Maybe because I don't have a dog.

Saturday night we had an aperitivo, dinner and then some gelato. Matt missed his curfew at the convent. Through him I met these two British expats who are taking a break from job hunting in London (both were recently downsized) and studying Italian here. I need to get out more. These two have already been to the beach and all over Rome.

Here is a link to his article. Matt has some great suggestion on how to save money. Check out the video.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm with you on the dog thing... food & animals just don't mix. I met Matt too!!!! Two of my Italian friends who publish a magazine were hanging out with him (he hooked up with them through a German friend they have in common) and invited me along. This city is CRAZY small...

Anonymous said...

I'm not impressed with dogs in restaurants either but I haven't noticed it as much here in Milan. I don't dislike dogs, but neither do I *oooh* and *aaah* over them either, especially if I'm dressed up ;)!

erin said...

You always have these adventures with movie people or writers :) I just read his article and want to read more. He has a small article about the "rome wrap-up party" and said it made it back by curfew. Did he lie?

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

romerican - okay that is hilarious. We must have just missed each other. Small world indeed.

joanne - I like cats better. They aren't as needy as dogs. ha. I appreciate both but since I'm allergic I can't have pets anyway.

erin - yes he made it back to the convent in time on Friday but not the next night. He had to sleep at a friends. The nuns do not play!! I think he missed curfew a few times. 11:30 is kind of early given most people don't start eating dinner until late.

Anonymous said...

I actually met & hung out with him and my peeps on Sunday. But still, crazy coincidence!

glamah16 said...

My arma are jacked up to rom those pests! Who knew they were irritationg in Europe. I love any friugal tips I can get. I didnt read the article. Need to go back and find it. I barely tolerate dogs or cats, but not when Im eating. They have to be well behaved.

Janelle said...

Yes dogs in restaurants is unnerving (and a lil unsanitary) but try getting your foot licked by a dog as you're trying on clothes in a fitting room. To say I freaked out is an understatement. lmao

Reading your blog and now Matt's articles makes me want to pack up and leave America. Maybe a month. Maybe a year. Maybe a lifetime. ;) Sigh!

Eryn said...

that is crazy that both you and "romerican" met him. small world.

i just read the article and showed it to a friend who said, "I love that guy, he seems really down to earth."

i guess he has a lot of readers out there too!

anyway, i felt special and hip because I too ate at Da Enzo when we were last in Rome in May and ordered rigatoni all'amatriciana.......Roman food is SOOOO RICH!

Jen said...

I love his column when I get to it. I stayed at a convent in Florence years ago to save money. We were constantly climbing over walls, etc., trying to break back in after curfew. I'll have to read what he has to say about the curfew thing. Our curfew was 8!!!

Texas Espresso said...

cool! I've been reading his column and enjoying it very much. look at you with all your contacts! why were you ever worried =)

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

glamah16 - I'm with you. Keep the dogs outside please.

janelle - that would have freaked me out. I don't like dogs licking all over me. I don't think it's cute. Yes, I know dog tongues are supposed to be cleaner than ours but still. Yes go away for a month or a year if you can and see how you feel. Why not? Life is short. You can always move back to the states.

eryn - Yes his column is popular. He really is a nice guy. I haven't been to Da Enzo yet. It's on my list.

jen - a curfew at 8:00?! That is way too early.

texas espresso - until I start earning some $$$ I'm going to be worried. ha. The low dollar is killing me.

Jen said...

It was. It was insane. We couldn't even have dinner out. Now it was a Christian Science monastery (yeah, weird, right?) and the food was vegetarian and very good, but I mean, this was FLORENCE! Hence my breaking and entering behavior almost every night for the week we stayed there.

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

jen - ha. that is too much. You couldn't eat dinner out...in Florence?!