After almost losing our luggage (by exiting the wrong terminal at the FCO airport), we arrived late on the 16th to the Vatican Vista Bed and Breakfast right outside the wall of the Vatican City. Our host Rossana was a lovely Italian lady who had spent 30+ years living in the United States. She led us to our room, a spacious and clean bedroom with a view of the dome of the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica. The rest of the house was surprisingly small, I had bumped into the walls showering, so I can only imagine how tiny space there is for Richard to maneuver. Having not enough sleep on our flights to the Eternal City, we went around the block and ate at a nearby pizzeria. We had regular spaghetti with bacon and mushrooms and also a pizza with egg, olives, ham, and mushrooms. It was a 5 of out 10, though their reviews on Yelp are quite good. We both awoke multiple times during the night due to jet lag and finally decided to get up to make some ramen at 530am. Our honeymoon photo shoot with Peggy from Maison Pestea Photography was scheduled today at 9am. We met up in front of our bed and breakfast and walked from St. Peter’s Square to Castle Saint Angelo, cross the Tevere through Ponte Saint Angelo to Piazza Navona, then cross the Tevere again through Ponte Sisto to Trastevere. I love Trastevere! Its narrow streets and vines of jasmine are so pleasing to the eyes and nose. I can’t wait to see the pictures! This is one of my favorite shot of Trastevere and of Rome! 
Peggy kindly took us to the Pasticceria Trastevere for our next appointment with the Eating Italy Daylight Trastevere Food Tour (effort to please Richard’s stomach), it is a 4 hours walking tour tasting and eating our way through this rich cultural district and learning with our stomachs.
Pasticceria Trastevere: cream puffs. The owner had a dream to open her own sweets shop since she was a little girl, and now her dream came true!
Antica Caciara: salty aged cheese. There were so many different types of cheeses! The favortie newspaper clipping of the store owner is of one of the store on the same page with President Obama.
I Suppli’: risotto deep fried with mozzarella. It’s nicknamed “telephone” because the mozzarella strings stretches like a telephone cord when you bite into it.
Mercato di San Cosimato : blood oranges and pears pair with cheese. Anna (our guide) said that most Italians prefer to shop in open markets like this one, however, with the Italian economy spiraling downhill, most people can’t afford to shop at markets during the day anymore. Unfortunately, open markets like this one are dying. Italians have a saying about markets: you are either strangers or family at a market.
Fatamorgana: gourmet gelato in flavors basil hazelnut honey, chocolate with smoked black tea, mango, and Prince’s kiss (that’s tastes just like Ferrero Rocher!) We shouldn’t be surprised that this is Ri’s favorite stop, lol.
La Renella: pizza! it’s oven is older than Rome itself, and it maintains the tradition of burning hazelnut shells as fuel! (see picture below) I love dough. Richard loved the pizza, and I have never seen so much flour together in my life. This store is very famous because they sell their bread to all the fancy restaurants in the area.
Osteria Der Belli: formal lunch with white wine as if we weren’t stuffed yet!
Innocenti: biscotti and cookies! This bakery smells amazing, and the entire store is quite literally built around the 12 feet conveyor belt oven at the center.
Spirito Di Vino: cool wine cellar and authentic cream brulee and sweet wine. There were ancient artifacts uncovered at this famous wine cellar.
We then explored Rome on our own even though our feet are very sore and mine were slightly swollen (photo shoot was in heels). We walked by Isola and Piazza dei Tribunali, then walked back to our bed and breakfast to pick up our luggage (and say goodbye to Molly and Rossana), taxied to Sheraton Golf to meet up with the Cola tour group! For some reason, even with me confirming twice with their office agent, the tour guide thought they were suppose to meet me at the airport. Anywho, it was a great first day and Bueno sera! 
