European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 10, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Merchants sell leather goods on the Ponte Sant Angelo the Bridge that crosses the tiber River to the Castel Sant  from Page 11 returned for another dinner. Each time we spent about .$30 for two dinners of just two courses each a salad a main course plus House wine. At first it had seemed expensive but we Learned that for Rome it was reasonable. The next Day we visited the sights close to Home beginning with an excursion through the huge Market in the Center of the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele. It s an outdoor covered Market of shabby tin Shack stands that sell everything clothes household items grains seeds fruits vegetables meat fish. Since it was raining we had no umbrellas we. Bargained made a Deal a two collapsible umbrellas for 1 7,000 lire about $15. That was about the extent of our purchases in Rome a mine at least. The sorry state of the Dollar makes everything expensive i had hoped to find bargains in clothes but no such Luck. My husband found a great sweater a Trench coat at reasonable prices he was Happy to have some genuine Italiano treasures to take Home. He was not especially Happy when i dragged him to Rome s Flea Market. I was determined to have at. Least one genuine souvenir i was certain this would be the place. The sunday Flea Market at Porta Portese is Gargantuan. But All the people who were in the Vatican museums plus half of Rome must have been there. /. A in some places the crowds were so thick that we w Ere shoved Onward by the crush of bodies. Looking at the merchandise was impossible. In the less crowded sections the merchandise was disappointing a a conglomeration of junk. Sure there was some Nice antique furniture lots of Eastern Europe goodies that previously could be purchased Only behind the Iron curtain such As lacquered russian boxes starting at about $150,. Russian stack dolls polish Crystal. Plus iranian caviar Pistachio nuts Cartons of Marlboro tires tools latin american handicrafts. We left with nothing. Since we had saved at the Market we splurged on a memorable lunch at sabatinis one of Rome s noted restaurants. We knew it would be Good As soon As we walked in stood almost face to face with a rotund roman chef who was grilling entire fish on an open Hearth near the Entrance. There s More ambience in the dining room a weathered Wood beamed ceiling old Ceramic plates paintings hanging from Walls of peeling plaster. Two pasta courses Sabatini s special seafood fettuccine two grilled sea Bass one Tiramisu House wine Coffee came to about $115. Both Sabatini the Flea Market Are in the Trastevere Section of Rome on the same Side of the River As. The Vatican. Oil our Way Back we walked along the tiber. The Seine it is not a parts of the Shore Are unattractive dirty overgrown with weeds a yet the River has its Charm. Recently excursion boats went into business offering River cruises during summer months. Even though our visit was in november the a weather even the rain seemed More like summer. It was warm enough to sit outside at cafes savor a. Cappuccino watch the pageantry of the City its people. We found the Price of a cappuccino can vary greatly a from about $1 at. A stand up bar to As much As $3.25 at a table in a Cale near tourist attractions. One such Cate was across from the colosseum. But alter romping up Down this four tiered pigeons flock to outdoor markets hoping to receive titbits of food. Amphitheater in out of its numerous passageways we were in no mood to Pinch lire. The colosseum is incredible not just As a huge architectural masterpiece but also because it s in such Good condition after 2,000 years. A the buildings of t Imperial have not Arches porticoes an the great City. With headsets can b can figure out what our wanderings t ancient Monument we arrived just at 5 stopped their soccer enough to Tell us it Temple turned Chu the outside too. Another impress 90 a.d., this Elonga today pedestrians e buildings Baron Fountain of four i another big Attra cafes in the Piazza a City. I tried a Bartult specially attire Seal ice Cream in Rome not far from the Fiori Field of Flower hours Flowers a Al some household Ite that bristles with to with one another a children Chase Pige men wander in it s fun a As is to it s a City you la Nev be sure to throw out of commission Are you la be Back. Stripes Magazine january 10, 1991