TRAVELOG: Piazza Navona, Pantheon


Piazza Navona was next on our list after the Vatican/ Sistine Chapel tour. We were real hungry so we headed straight for the tourist trap restaurant. No more food photos because we literally devoured everything in sight 🙂 Pasta, Pizza, etc etc… and then there was the nocciola gelato. I remembered then to take a photo *hehehe only then did I realize we ate soooo fast that no one bothered reminding me to take food photos!!*

Here’s more of Piazza Navona…I love taking photos of doorways…
Doorways are the inspiration for the paintings being sold by artists in the piazza.
The beautiful fountain of Piazza Navona
We lingered on quite a bit here because there was this real cool souvenir/ toy shop at the “head” of the fountain area, which sold all these neat bronze statuettes of different Roman gods. Needless to say, someone in my famille walked away with a LOT of them, causing us to fill up our luggages– hehe that meant, no more room for bag shopping hehehe!

We went back to the “half” of the piazza after our shopping-for-souvenirs expedition, and into one of the narrow streets, to head over to the Pantheon.

PantheonIf you have read Angels and Demons (by Dan Brown), can you tell me what had happened at the Pantheon (in his book)? I read the book a year ago or so, I need someone to refreshen my memory, please!

I saw this woman with her window open, overlooking the Pantheon. She seemed to be praying… I love this shot…
We went into the Pantheon and when we got out, I thought of taking this shot because amidst the darkness, there was “light” and color out there. Another shot I really like… Sorry peeps, I am a frustrated photographer wannabe, so I hope you can indulge me in my amateur “passion” too 🙂

We took the narrow road to the left of the Pantheon (to go back to Via del Corso), but we had a few stopovers– a lot of nice shops!

One of them was actually a bargain center, and it had no name on the outside. But the things sold inside, were totally cool. And cheap.9 EUROs for white pants, shorts, skirts… Too bad nothing fit me 🙁 🙁 Heck they even had flipflops for 1 EURO. Ok those were despicable shoes.. hahaha… So they were left untouched by clients. Seriously thought about buying one for the sake of buying something “cheap” but figured I should save that 1 EURO for bottled water (the bottled water in our hotel room costs 7 EUROs!!!).

All these antique cash registers and typewriters! Reminded me of our very own Segunda Mano shop at the Makati Cinema Square…

We got to St. Ignatius Loyola Church … this was on the eve of Easter Sunday, so I decided to go to confession. (Wow, I just made a public revelation about my private life… tsk that I’ve been baaaaad *sob*) Hear me out– I’ve been wanting to go to confession ever since my father’s passing (which was 6 years ago! My.. and Daddy’s death anniversary is coming up– May 1, Labor day to be exact). I felt that I was ready to make the confession, so I confessed away to the English speaking priest. In the process of my confession, I broke down and cried. Boy, I know, I know, it was really embarrassing in retrospect. But I guess I had way too many sins and I got reallllllly guilty!!! I walked away feeling much better though, which is what matters. And yay, I got to do penance and am going to be able to take communion on Easter Sunday service at the Vatican! *hehe so there, yes I am Catholic, but oh please, I don’t want to spark any religious debates here 🙂 Just good, clean fun please! :D*.

After confession, we walked out of the Church, and within minutes after that confession, I committed a sin again– gluttony *muwahaha*. As you probably already know, I have a voracious appetite. And so this was what I ate:

Pizza Capricciosa, which is the BEST pizza I’ve ever had in my entire life. (Raw egg center, olives, mozzarella, prosciutto, artichokes, and mushrooms on thin crust)

And Arugula aglio olio tagliatelle. Gawd, I’m already missing Rome. I wished it wasn’t raining so much when we were there. I know I would’ve loved Rome twice as much if it were sunny and cool.

After dinner, we walked outside and headed toward Via del Corso, when I saw this lone bicycle parked on the side of St. Ignatius Loyola Church. So again, I took a photo.
It’s become one of my favorite souvenir- images of Rome 🙂

We walked toward Spanish Steps to get to our hotel (which was on top of the Spanish Steps), and we saw another Gelato place (yummm) that also sold Paninis! Mental note: Buy a sandwich tomorrow? Ok seriously, I actually contemplated on buying a sandwich for my dessert. I know, I know. I can be real gross about food and gluttony sometimes 😀 *pffft at least I’m honest!*

As we passed that gelato place, there was this big store that sold all sorts of bags and clothes (pretty gaudy if you ask me). Heck even the bags are gaudy. Faux crocodile Hermes wannabe- looking bags. I’ve wondered what Hermes thought of stores like this– selling something that looks like an “expensive” designer bag, but not really one. Sure it’s not a fake, but then again, couldn’t they have at least made these bags more tastefully? Not with some bright, cheap- looking material. The designs of Hermes bags are patented if I’m not mistaken. But either ways, I don’t really disdain lookalikes (take note, lookalikes vs fakes are 2 different things) unless they end up “cheapening” the look of the design original. Tsk, the bags in that store just look cheesy. *Sigh*. Made me wonder how many bags this store have been sold of those wannabe Hermes pink faux croc kelly bags (top left) or those faux croc birkins (top right)… Sigh.. what do you hags think of these bags? I’d love to know what you think!

Oh well! It was a real good night for us all, as we all had to also turn in early since the day after was Easter Sunday, and we were attending the mass by the Pope 🙂 No, we don’t get to meet him unfortunately, we’re not VIP 😀

x
Mrs.T

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  1. you might already know this but there’s a book coming out called BRINGING HOME THE BIRKIN by Michael Tonello (check out Amazon.com). 🙂

  2. hi mrs t. i been an avid fan of your blog since i first saw your link at bryanboy’s blog. well what can i say im not into handbags but i love your blog….if im only rich i will be your bag sponsor hehehe.

  3. hi mrs t

    i was wondering if you could help auhenticate a bag..only if you do not mind.. 🙂

    could i email you the photos?

    thanks, i just didn’t now who else to ask =)

  4. JGC: thanks 🙂 I actually read that book already. Quite interesting, although I was told there were so many inaccuracies there. I personally don’t think buying tons of scarves will get you the “birkin invite” — at least not just like that 😀 It was an entertaining read overall.

    anonymous: authenticating bag via emailed photos wont work with me. I have to see the bag in person to authenticate as photos are very misleading. Sorry about that 🙁

    travelphilippines: Thanks so much 😀 Hahaha well I’ll collect from you if you win our lottery 😀

  5. I like the “bright, cheap looking lookalikes!!! you just have to tone down your outfit, I think it’s really nice. esp. the bright orange, the yellow and the hot pink. I love it!

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