Babylon chariot races how to#
Posso comprare un bicchiere di vino rosso? – May I buy a glass of red wine? (I have to admit, I knew how to ask this. And while I rested, the young man kindly gave me a short Italian lesson with a smile:Ĭhe ora? (kay OH-da) – What time is it?ĭodeci meno cinque (may-no CHINK-way) – 11:55 am Perfetto! I sat long enough to buy and leisurely sip a bicchiere of each. Deliciozo! And then he offered a taste of a Groppone Morellino di Scansano di Toscana. I asked him to choose a red for me and he gave me a generous sampling of a Ciliegiolo (chee-lee-oh-JOH-loh), a red out of Tuscany usually used to cut other wines but this time running solo and doing a nice job of it. There was a win e seller in the far corner with a tall table and inviting stools and I asked the young man who appeared to be in charge if he might sell by the bicchiere (glass) and he enthusiastically welcomed me to sit down and yes, have a glass. (I tried to buy them but because they were in such small quantities, the purveyors gave them to me outright.) I tasted some magnificent olio d’oliva with a bite of bread. I bought some lavender soap, some biscotti (which turned out to be chocolate with almonds and just a touch of cinnamon – heavenly), and some black olive tapenade with the intent to give these as presents. With a pure sense of joy and curiosity, I wandered. If I had been insistent on waiting in line and entering the Palatine, I would never have discovered this wonderful place where I spent well over an hour. But it was extraordinary for me: a glimpse into a world that tourists rarely, I’m sure, seek out and one which I just happened upon. It was an ordinary weekend day for these Roman shoppers, collecting their artichokes and fennel and cheese and sausages and fresh flowers for the week. I don’t remember seeing an other tourist. My guidebook says to avoid Circo Massimo after dark: Totila the Ostrogoth should have done something about security around here…Īh, another right turn onto Via San Teodoro to follow the outline of the Palatine and what should I come upon? A farmer’s market! Ah, veggies and fruit! Cheese? Olive oil? What a delight to walk amongst the citizens of Rome as they went about their shopping. Totila the Ostrogoth would have been so proud! Uh oh, though. In fact, as I research, I see that it is the prototype for all racecourses henceforth. You’re tempted, I can tell!) This broad grassy field reminiscent of a racing track and capable of once seating 300,000 (!), was where the chariot races took place.
That last bit of information isn’t the least bit relevant to me at this point in my history studies, but I really wanted to type, “Totila the Ostrogoth” and then say it out loud. (Circus Maximus – begun approximately 326 BC and modified in AD 549 under Totila the Ostrogoth. Leave a comment 28 April 2012 Renate FlynnĪfter passing the masses at the Palatine entrance on busy Via di San Gregorio, I turned right onto Via del Cerchi where I passed a sunglasses entrepreneur with his little cart and meandered onto Circo Massimo.