Anyone who has followed this blog in the past will know that we love Rome, and being in Rome is the highlight of every trip to Italy for us.  I was even more excited about this stay in the Eternal City, as we had rented an apartment I always wanted to stay in.  Little did we know how short our actual time in the apartment was going to be!  The place was on the edge of Trastevere,  between the heart of the area, and the Vatican neighborhood.  It was located on a side street, just below the botanical gardens.  The high point of the apartment, besides its spaciousness, was the fact that it had a swimming pool inside.  The pool was not heated, but we thought we could live with that.  Unfortunately, for us, the main attraction was also one of the downfalls of the apartment.  Whoever maintains the apartment and the pool, for the agency that rents it, has a heavy hand with the chlorine and other chemicals they put in the pool.  They also used a cleaning agent that formed soap scum along the sides of the pool, which one could not see until the water was agitated, and then, it looked as if you were swimming in a pool of jellyfish, or some other matter best not mentioned.  The chemicals they used in the pool were so intense that, after only being in the apartment for a short amount of time, our eyes began to burn.  On top of it all, the hot water was not up to normal standards.  At the most, it was lukewarm.  The reason for this, or so the agency explained to us, was that the water heater was in the kitchen, at the other end of the apartment from the bathroom, and the hot water had to travel from there, underneath the pool, to the shower…  Really?  Just writing this sounds hilarious!

The apartment did have a small outdoor area, in the back.

Instead of simply sitting in the apartment, waiting for them to phone us, we decided to go out for a walk.  While we were out, the agency called and said that someone would be sent over to check out the situation.  So, we did not want to stray far from home, as we wanted to be there, when they arrived.  Upon arrival, the representative agreed with us about the pool conditions, and the hot water being very cool, and taking a long time.  They wanted us to give it a night, and see if the chemical smell dissipated, and so we agreed to that.  As it ended up, nothing really improved.  In the meantime, we were in Trastevere, and for us, it was like being home.  We have friends there, and we know the neighborhood really well.  Even with all the headaches, it felt good to be back!

For dinner that night, we stuck to tradition, and went to La Botticella, a restaurant owned by our dear friend, Giulia, which was located on Vicolo del Leopardo.  At the time of this writing, the restaurant has unfortunately closed, due to the pandemic that swept the entire planet.  It makes me so very sad to write this, because the place was like a second home for so many years, not only for me, but for many others from around the world.  Giulia, her food, her smile, and her huge heart, will be missed!

Next up: Our second day in Rome is washed out by relentless rain, and then, we move to a new apartment!

<em>Note: This blog is written in English and Spanish, and the author takes no responsibility for the quality of any other translations that may appear.  If you have enjoyed this post, please, check out our archives for more posts from Rome, as well as other Italian destinations.  Grazie!</em>