Being a tourist in Rome could quite easily become expensive and even stressful if you don't plan wisely. I heard a couple of horror stories before I headed out and one that resonated with me was the extortionate price of ice cream; a treat I was certain to have most days. For some reason I distinctly remember a story in a national paper of a British tourist who was charged twenty euros for an ice cream in the city - roughly eighteen pounds at the time!
On her long and helpful list of things to see and do our host suggested we try what she called the "best gelato in Rome". Surely an essential stop for a self-confessed ice cream lover? I was typically sceptical especially when she told us it was just a one minute walk from our B&B. The gelateria was indeed dangerously close to where we were staying and seemed incredibly popular, with Italians and not tourists like ourselves.
Another indicator that the gelateria was particularly good; the menu which was entirely in Italian. This posed a problem and required me to guess the flavours I had ordered but the real confusion came from the price. The smallest order you could place was for a two scoop cone which would only cost two euros - I couldn't understand how this was possible. I paid my two euros and began the process of guessing the flavours, made all the more challenging as the tubs were under covers. The final product was a cone lined with a fresh melted chocolate of my choice, a scoop of dark chocolate and one of pana cotta with pistachios topped with a dollop of freshly whipped double cream. I was in heaven.
I obviously had to return everyday to work my way through the flavours and be certain I wasn't dreaming. Ice cream will never be the same again.
