Tivoli

Tivoli
March 26, 2011

Tivoli is a city north east of Rome in the Lazio Region.  I don't know too much about the city, except that it is gorgeous.  I hope you don't think I'm slacking with learning about it, but just wait til you learn the reason I was there, and you'll understand.  I went to Tivoli to learn how to cook.

On the way to the cooking class, however, the bus stopped at Hadrian's villa.  Hadrian's villa, besides being beautiful, was the Emperor's retreat from Rome.  Apparently he wasn't very fond of the Palatine Hill and liked  little vacation now and then.  There were over thirty buildings, and it measures about 250 square acres...although my conversion of that landage could be completely off.  In my opinion, the ruins are in pretty great shape for being nearly 2000 years old.

Villa Hadrian

More Villa Hadrian

The pool was amazing.  It looks like it was built yesterday...if people still build pools looking like that. 

Pool View Number One

Pool View Number Two

It was really a nice time exploring the villa, but I was anxious to get to my cooking class!  When we got there, the outside of the restaurant looked small. When you went in, however, the place was huge!  And old.  Very very old.  The family that runs the restaurant started it when it was just a little room; the grandpa decided to expand a bit, and when he knocked down the wall he came across rooms that were ancient.  Like thousands of years ancient.  Now they're part of the restaurant which is pretty neat if you ask me.

The ancient restaurant.

I learned how to make fettuccine, gnocchi, and bow ties along with three different sauces.  It was a lot of fun making everything, and if you're lucky enough maybe when I get home I'll impress you with my new talents, which I must say are pretty good, because after the cooking we got to eat it!

Then we went to Villa d'Este.  It is a gorgeous villa with many waterfalls and fountains!  I'll just put some pics up for you to look at.  I walked around with a few friends for an hour or two, and then we headed back to JFRC

The place had a gazillion and twelve fountains (along with a gorgeous view)

A cool boat fountain. 

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They were very pretty...

Some of the fountains in Villa d'Este