Writing

Applejack, Italian diary. March 2006.

 

Applejack are Matt DeBellis and Julie Perini.  The following are diary entries written during a stay in Italy from 09 March-17 March 2006.  Photos are available here.

Thursday - 09 March 2006 

Arrived in Rome. Met Jockapo and Sarra at the airport. Met roommates Francesca and Joel (pronounced Jo-El). FOOD: restaurant (hot waiter) - fried artichoke (amazing); MATT - eggplant pasta (Bueno); JULIE - pasta with fresh tomatoes, chicory, and arugula.  BOTH - wine, Sambuca. Hung out at home; discussed racism with Sarra and Jocks. Sleep - slept for hours

Friday - 10 March 2006 

Slept until mid-afternoon.  Sarra made a salad, also ate stracchino w/ prosciutto (yum!!) Evening - went to Jocks for mussels, polenta with squid dish, potatoes, lots of wine....met Basum aka Basram, Joel, Antonio (Jock's roomie)...played 'I Never' aka 'Now Ho Mai'. Got drunk. Received amazing massages from very drunk Basum.  Took him back to Sarra's for three way massage session.

Saturday - 11 March 2006 

Slept until mid-afternoon, but were awakened in the morning by Sarra, who brought us sfogliatelle, Nutella boats, and other assorted goodies. Went back to sleep. Prepared for Rialto - huge warehouse party in Jewish ghetto with rock music, techno music, and most importantly, Julie's movies.  But before that: FOOD!  MATT - Four cheese pizza, fried artichoke, limon, wine. JULIE - Gnocchi, chicory. Went to party! Met Andrea (earlier in day, also DJ'd at party), 2 Emmanuels, Chiara, Nadia, and Guiliano. Danced, drank, funned. Julie met Enrico (Descha lookalike)...Julie got a kiss!!

Sunday- 12 March 2006

Woke up early - went to flea market in Trastevere with Sarra. Got lots of food:  Fried mozzarella balls, fried olive meat balls, fried cod. SARRA/MATT/JULIE - shared zucchini white pizza and sausage pizza (yum). Went to Guiliano's for dinner - chips, cheeseballs were had by all.  Met cats!  He made pasta with walnuts and parmesan, then made sausage with greens, and then ribs with pineapples and yellow pepper. Andrea, Chiara, Nadia, little boy with big hair came over.  They brought 3 flavoured mousse...some coffee flavored.  Drank wine, smoked cigarettes. Went home.

 Monday- 13 March 2006

Sarra went to work, Julie and Matt met Andrea and Nadia for a long tour of Rome.  Saw cat sanctuary!! Stopped at Zozzone for pocket pizzas! (yum). JULIE: sardines, mozzarella, pepperoncini. MATT: prosciutto, stracchino, red lettuce. Parted with Andrea, met Sarra w/ Sabrina (in disguise), Diego; saw most beautiful Italian man in bar (yum!).  Walked around forever looking for food. Stopped at cul-de-sac! JULIE:  more chicory. MATT:  caprese (yum), dessert:  incredible (marshmallow, crème, etc.)  Went home to prepare for day trip to Naples.

Tuesday- 14 March 2006 

Woke up at 8am!  Took cab 1 block (d'oh!) to train station.  Had Nutella boats;  Julie dropped chocolate display, got dirty look from cute boy. Took 2 hour train ride to Naples!  Beautiful view (pictured above) - snowcapped mountains, fruited plains.  Got yelled at by Italian lady because we were sitting in her seats (didn't know the seats were preassigned). Got to Naples - ran from train station to ghetto. Stopped to hydrate Julie, asked for directions back to ocean.  Got cab.  Got swindled by cabbie.  Went back to train station, bought map, went to ocean aka water aka industrial district (couldn't see water), wandered into old-world Naples...lots of fresh fish on street. Found our spot! sooo nice!! SHARED - mozzarella and tomatoes, Matt got a coke...Julie got a beer.  Matt starts smoking binge. Scallopine w/ lemon (which was NOT scallops like we thought, but veal)....also Fisherman's Rice - yum...everything but the Fisherman's sink.  Ball o' dessert (coffee crème) and coffee. Walked around city.  Saw homeless handjob on bench.  People-watched at University.  Went back to train station. Help desk NOT helpful.  JULIE got smarties (chocolate kind) and MATT continued smoking.  Slept on way back.  Checked email, changed flights back to USA.  Ate cookies and yogurt in bed.

Wednesday- 15 March 2006 

Got up.  Went food shopping.  Bought prosciutto and stracchino and bread and cookies and bananas and apples. BEAUTIFUL day...walked to city centre.  Met Sarra at that same wine bar.  Met Mike. Shopped - JULIE gifted slinky black dress by Matt, MATT gifted cute pink top by Julie. No alcohol allowed because of futball.  Sat at bar outside w/o drinking.  Met Joel, Corrado, and Francesco (YUM). Roman dinner w/ Sarra and Joel - wine, carbonara pasta had by all. Matt had ricotta pie (yum). All went home and talked. Stimulating.

Thursday- 16 March 2006 

Light breakfast. Raining - walked to city centre, went back to vintage store to buy Julie's cute coat, and Matt's cute sweater.  They gave Matt a free cap! Salad for lunch - MATT - artichoke, shrimp, parmesan.  JULIE - Pears and cheese.  Walked to coffee shop and sat.  Thought about homeless handjob.  Met up with people at art opening later that night. Last supper - MATT - prosciutto crudo on pizza, roman artichoke (not as good as Jewish), tiramisu, grappa.  JULIE - roman artichoke, pasta w/ artichokes (too much artichoke!!). Went out for drinks - MATT - amaretto de’Sorrento. JULIE - warm spiced wine.

Friday- 17 March 2006 

Cookies, Nutella D.C. (?), beef jerky. Did some last-minute shopping for gifts. Restaurant lunch w/ Sarra and Guiliano: MATT:  coke, pasta with peas and mushrooms. JULIE:  VERY LATE ravioli, greens. Cafe dessert - MATT - lil cannoli, JULIE - BIG cannoli. Frantically packed and took bus to airport.  Left Rome. Arrived in London.  12 hour layover in airport. Lots of sleeping and eating. Midnight - MATT and JULIE:  McDonald’s chicken mcnuggets and fries. Overnight (3am-ish) - MATT - 2 sausage, egg and cheese biscuits. JULIE - pancakes and sausage.

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