Rome 3 - Mercato Testaccio and the Colosseum

The next morning, Hart stayed home while Anna, Flinn and I walked down to the Mercato Testaccio - a large food and goods market I had been dying to check out. First, though, we passed the amazing Panificio Passi, which was crowded with locals getting their baked goods before everything closed on Sunday and Monday for the Epiphany holiday.

Hm...doesn't look crowded...but it was!

We got some bread for the apartment, some pizza bianca, some little pizzette, and a slab of pizza with zuccini blossoms and hidden anchovies, which came as an unfortunate surprise for Anna ;-)! 

Anna and Flinn headed off to find cappuccino and more street art, while I dove into the Mercato Testaccio. Like most neighborhood markets, it was buzzing. I got a caffé macchiato and did some people watching. I found a pair of boots, and when the seller tried to over-charge me by 6 euros, I didn't have the heart to call her out. Luckily, her co-worker did, so I paid the right price.

Purple artichokes were in season, and everywhere!

I had heard of a stand called Mordi e Vai, which makes sandwiches with typically Roman fillings. The line was long, and the guys were working hard. I took my number and tried to decide what I wanted. It was HARD...everything sounded amazing. I settled on polpettine della nonna (grandma's meatballs),  alesso di scottona (boiled beef with greens), vegetariano (an artichoke cooked alla romana smashed into the roll with shavings of pecorino romano) and trippa alla romana (stewed tripe).

Sergio, the master, at work...

Vegetariano on the left, scottona on the right

They were really delicious. You wouldn't think boiled beef could be so moist and flavorful. Hart inhaled the meatball one, but I got a bite...no cheese, light, fresh marinara - a revelation.

After lunch, all four of us walked up to the Colosseum. It was a super-fun afternoon, I think especially for the two gladiator-school graduates ;-) ... here are some pics - Anna took some, I took some, and Hart took some...

Anna said after she took its picture, this bird asked for a euro.

Hart circumvented the charges by taking a picture of someone taking a picture of the greedy bird.

Hart took these next three - I think they are really great.

It was crowded, but not Vatican crowded. Really pretty darn cool ... and now we all want to watch the movie Gladiator again!