The restaurant at Hotel Hassler, Rome

Oh, this was a fantastic experience!

When we arrived the waiter followed us to the table. He even found a little stool for my bag!

We got the menu and I found it strange there were no prices in my menu. Very soon we found that T had gotten the prices in his menu. It felt really good not knowing the prices! :-D

We went for the five-course set-menu with meat (we could choose between fish and meat). The first course was foie gras. I like it, but I get very sick when eating it, so T asked the waiter if I could change the foie gras with the first course from the fish-menu. The answer was this: "Well, it's strange that you want to eat fish with the meat menu, but you're the customer and you choose." I liked this way to tell me what to do! BUT I went for the first course from the fish-menu, which was raw fish of the day. I got raw SHRIMPS. I have never eaten it before, and was not sure if would fancy it. It was delicious! Then the courses came one after one. I don't remember all of them as we also got some small dishes in between (don't know what those are called in English). I remember we got a very nice "chocolate-thing" before the dessert, to "clear" the mouth.

The restaurant was very romantic and perfect to celebrate something special. The waiters was fantastic and so was the atmosphere. I can highly recommend the place, just be prepared it's not cheap! BUT you get what you pay for.

The hotel is a member of the leading hotels of the world.

I had my camera, but felt it would be out of place to take pictures there.

Rome, Thursday, our 10th. anniversary weddingday

The breakfast was nice, not the best I have had, but not the worst either... The cappuchino was very good! When we sat there T gave me a lovely diamond ring! It was SO romantic! I love the ring, and of course HIM...:)

After breakfast we went to take the touristbus, "hop on/off". It's a very good opportunity to get around without getting sore feet! We went off at the Trevi-fountain. Been there, seen it...:) And yes, we threw a coin in the water...

The Trevi-fountain is not far away from the shopping-district and Ferragamo! We had a quick round and ate lunch. I don't remember where, but it was not far away from Via Condotti where all the designers have stores. The food was ok but nothing to write about...

After lunch we had a quick visit to the Ferragamo store. The store was oh so nice.... :-D I tried a pair of shoes, but didn't buy anything, yet... tomorrow... :-D

Then we went on the bus again. To Colosseum. There were queues all over and we quickly decided to skip it.



We went off at the Vatican. It's HUGE as every building in Rome! We went around and headed back to the hotel as T had to go the tailer to have the last fitting.



When T went to the tailor I browsed the shops... Found a nice bag, but didn't buy anything. Yet... Tomorrow is the big shopping-day....:-D

For dinner today we have booked a table at the restaurant at Hotel Hassler. I have heard this is one of the best in Rome. When T booked the table he got an e-mail in return which said they had a formal dress-code. I can like that! Can't wait to go there!

Rome, Wednesday

Hotel Valadier

The hotel is a 4-star hotel. It said it should be close to the Spanish Steps, but it's closer to the Piazza Del Popolo. It's about 10 min. walk to the Spanish Steps. Not very long, but not VERY close either. The hotel is nice. The reception area is ok, but you don't get the feeling of a very nice hotel. The rooms are small, very small and a bit tacky with mirrors all over, even in the ceiling. The room is so small I got the feeling of being in a coach at a boat. I am a bit disappointed as it was a very expensive hotel. On the other side, we are not planning to stay much at the hotel!

For lunch (or dinner?) we ate at the café next to the hotel. We both ate pizzas and it was real Italian! Very nice!

After dinner we headed to Mimmo Siviglia, a very famous Italian tailor, close to the Termini Station. I think we used 40-45 min. to walk from the hotel. Mimmo, his wife and his daughter are all tailors and they make bespoke shirts for men. T had made an appointment before we went to Rome and when we came, Mimmo and his daughter Francesca waited for us. It was 2,5 interesting hours. The old man didn-t like T's shirt, which is a shirt from Hilditch and Key, he even said it was horrible!!! T had to try a sample shirt and at once he had gotten it on, we saw what the old man meant. Oh my God, I am afraid T will never wear a shirt that is not bespoke again!

We went early to bed as we had been up since 03.30 to get to the airport.

Exercise early in the morning

Today I am having a day off from work. I went to the gym at 08.00. I had been thinking I would have been all by my own, but to my surprise, there were more people this morning than I have ever seen at one time before!

I didn't know if it would work to exercise that early in the morning, but it did. In fact, it was a very good start of the day. Now the clock is 1045 and it is great to know I have the whole day free!

Summerhouse

Today we decided to go to my parents summerhouse at Askøy, outside Bergen. We were planning on fishing and trying to get crabs with fishpots. The rain was pouring down and it was wet and cold. Not very nice so we decided to go inside and lit a fire in the fireplace. We grilled/cooked sausages in the fireplace and had a great time before we headed home.





When I was a little girl my grandmother used to serve me breakfast outside at the balcony. Fresh white bread with butter, eggs and tomatoe...



The fireplace






It's not easy to cook in the fireplace...:-D




This old "air-thing" is very useful when making the fire.




A selection of summerhats. Essential in a summerhouse!





The view from the house.




My little nephews summerhouse...:-D




My mothers flowers are still beautiful!

Rosenkrantz Trening

Here are some pictures from the gym: Rosenkrantz Trening

The locker room





Locker room





Still locker room...:)





The threadmills










These screens are in front of all the exercise-machines. The little computer tells you what to do and if you do it too fast/slow etc... Fantastic! It even tells you when you have YOUR maximum effect (the trainer sat it the first time).





Here is the computer where I log in/out





After I logged out I could see how much kcal. I had used during my session





What muscles I had used...




Here is the view from the gym. Fantastic view of the mountains around Bergen.

Aching body and muscles

Oooooh, this is REALLY painful. I think my body is in shock after yesterdays exercise. I could already feel the pain on my way out of the gym and now it's worse... My legs feels like logs and every muscle in my body is aching. I walk like cow...:-D At least I now know WHAT muscles I used yesterday!I just can't understand how it can be more painful tomorrow. My friend E, has assured me it will... I can hear his laughter from Oslo to Bergen, funny guy....:-D

The worst thing is to think about the very bad spiral I will be in for the next months:

Monday: Exercise
Tuesday: Pain
Wednesday: More pain
Thursday: Less pain
Friday: Exercise
Saturday: Pain
Sunday: More pain
Monday: Exercise

etc..etc...

When will it stop?

Although I know all of this, I am still looking forward to next session at the gym! The "pain-spiral" HAS to stop once! :-D