So where did we leave off?....
Christmas! This wont be as hard to imagine for those of you who are still in a wintry wonderland. (admittedly I'm still a little bit jealous. But then I go for a walk in the 60 degree weather today and forget about it)
Although there was never any snow here in Rome, Christmas lights helped to make the streets very festive. Restaurants, like Luigi's here, actually still have their garland up today. Although I think they've finally taken down the lights.
One of our main destinations while still in Rome was Piazza Navona with its crazy Christmas Fair. We were surprised that it was more like a carnival fair then what I would think of as a Christmas Fair, but it was still fun.
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| Balloons and Crowds at Piazza Navona Christmas Fair |
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| Can't imagine the cost of decking out our entire 4 foot tree with these.... but it would be pretty! |
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| People, presents, and Piazza Navona |
One of my favorites of course were all the junk food stands. The massive doughnuts the size of your face were very tempting, but I settled eventually on a more reasonably sized frosted chocolate one. (But it wasn't very good. Too dry. Next time, go big or go home!)
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| Just trying to capture the delightfulness of my children. Not the doughnuts. I swear. |
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| Nativity Scenes |
I found this MASSIVE, several-feet-high house at one stand. I'm just guessing, but I don't think that's the "lowly manger" in which Jesus was born. It's still really cool nonetheless.
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| Maybe its just a well equipped cave? |
Carnival Games included shooting things, rolling things, and ringing things, like these floating swans. All for the the classic stuffed animals that no Italian apartment has room to house.
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| Lady in the way! |
We definitely got a good mix of Christmasy, carnival, and Halloween sentiments when mulling through the crowd. The latter effect being caused by these traditional Christmas Witches, known as the Bufana. Complete with ugly face, broom stick, plaid garments, and all-around un-Christmasy feel to it....at least by my standards. I really tried to warm up to her, but she seemed to fit in better two months prior.
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| The Christmas Bufana |
It carries some story about the Magi coming to her house looking for directions to the Christ child. But she was too cranky and mean to help them out. Then she repents and goes looking for the child herself, but never finds him. She feels so guilty (good Catholic witch) that she gives out presents and candy to children. On Epiphany? Look it up for more accurate details. Don't let these fantastic story telling skills bewilder you away from the fact that it's actually February and my short term memory ran out a month ago.
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| Again, more carnival than Christmas, but what the hey! It's all fun! |
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| So warm and cozy...hehehe |
One of the stands I should have gotten a picture of, but was too busy admiring their goods, was the fountain pen stands. They had ones with dragons going up the stem, flowers, all ending in fantastic colored plumes. I really really wanted to get one for Leon, but it was above our budget for each other. Now, two months later, we got some beginner, flat nibbed fountain pens and Leon is steadily on his way to becoming a master pretty writer. I think I shall give him that as a title. He'll like it. :)
One the way home we saw another example of good old-fashioned Christmasy spirit. An evergreen headress! Decked out with lights, bells, and bows!!
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| Taking pictures of strangers covertly doesn't always guarantee a smiling face. |
Sing it with me! "City Street lights, even head lights..." (get it!) Ok, those are both head and tail lights there. :)
Buon Natale! Auguri!
