“Look dear… they say Villa Porcillano.”
“Well… Ok… I just wanted more Italian Art on the cups.”
Yeah…Dragon Chic is on the tchotchke quest to end all.
After retrieving the travel folder at Avis and some pocket Euros, we took the metro
to Piazza Barbarini, grabbed a quick Spuntino [snack] at Peppy’s bar across from Hotel Bernini and started to wander down the streets and alleys looking for just the right THIS and perfect THAT for this person or that grandbaby or whatever. Those that know the Dragon Lady well, know that when she's on a roll… get outta da way and just carry the bags.
As night fell and she didn't [which is a first… she has actually been able to keep her footing the whole trip] and not wanting to jinx it… lets move on…the alleyways and shops began to fill with tourists, tchotchke seekers and such along the way to Fontana Trevi. We work the alleys up one… down another checking off the gift list and now she wants to “go look over here…”
“Oh wait… what’s over there?”
Having worked our way back to Via Cavour across from the “Grande Magazine” [department store/mall]. This warrants a pass looking for the ever elusive demitasse cups for Greg, resulting in the opening lines above. Nothing here so after doubling back to the shop I knew had what we needed it was just a matter of convincing her that they the set of cups would be fine. It works and we move on to the next hot item… more t-shirts for the grandbabies. And the next… and the next…
On the way back to the demitasse cups who, should we run into on a 
DIY [do it yourself] tour headed to the Pantheon from Fontana di Trevi…Oh go ahead… guess…
Sara and Phyllis, from the cruise. What were the odds that we would run into them here? Hugs all around and more promises to keep in touch and we each head out for our own quest… mine was finding “That’s Amore” and beating the dinner rush.
Chuckie’s built in GPS takes us directly back to the
Ristorante of our final meal in Italy… and what meal it was.
At a corner table under the watchful eye of Frankie [Sinatra… who else?] and Ava Gardner as well as other glitterati who’ve dined her and whose pics grace the walls, 
Jack Lemon, Sophia Loren, 
Steve McQueen etc, etc, we cozy up to a nice Pinot Grigio and begin with a delightful Mozzarella and Prosciutto antipasto with 
Focaccia Crostini. The cheese so fresh its weeps when you cut it. Next, a delightful Veal Saltimbocca alla Romana for me and a hand made Pici with Salsice in a light pesto for her. Both meals are beyond our wildest dreams…the veal so tender 
and the prosciutto topping perfectly done. The Pici con Salsice [a hand rolled pasts similar to a gnoche] was just past al dente which was good because it tends to get very gummy if under cooked. The sauce with crumbled salsice was light and full of flavors, which she managed to sop up E V E R Y last morsel with the crusty Pane di Casa.We finished the meal with the best Tiramisu ever… the lady finger bottoms soaked just right in espresso and anisette and the mascarpone toping so angel smooth, dusted just right with a rich cocoa powder. She chose a Torte Cioccolata [more than just a chocolate cake] that was so rich and moist, studded with nuts and topped with a creamy fudge frosting that was to die for. Cappuccino and Café Normale caped it off and as the candle burned closer to the years of layered drippings on the Chianti Bottle we toasted our last dinner in the country we cant get enough of. Dinner/Service/Ambience = 6+ [on Chuckie’s 5 star scale]
With a couple of side trips for some last minute pics of a few cool spots and we made the reluctant trek back to the Metro…switching at Termini and off at Polclinico… down the hill to Hotel Globus for a NOWAT composition and a good nights sleep for our early wake up tomorrow.
Tomorrow… Arrivaderci ROMA...Italia...our hearts.
Ciao 4 Now
Chuck and the so sorry it has come to an end, Dragon Lady.
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