Instead of getting up and raiding my pantry which is what I really want to do, I'll just reminisce about a fabulous ice cream treat I had in Rome. (Pssst... I actually always want ice cream, even when things are going perfectly fine.) Specifically, I am dreaming of tartufo from Tre Scalini in Rome's Piazza Navona.
After traveling all night from Malaysia to Italy and arriving in the morning, we were valiantly attempting to get the whole family quickly adjusted to the new time zone. The key to this is to ignore your body's incredible urge to nap by staying on your feet all day.
We had managed to mostly block out the kids' pleas for gelato during the stroll from the Pantheon to Piazza Novona, a city square which follows the shape of the ancient stadium which used to stand there. By the time we reached this large open area, they could no longer be denied. To tell the truth, indulging in gelato at least once, if not twice, a day in Italy is a fantastic idea.
I looked around, picked a place which didn't have a long line, and walked in through the doors of Tre Scalini.
The kids and hubby ordered gelato, but shelves of chocolaty, cupcake-sized goodies in the freezer caught my eye. These were tartufo. Later on, I discovered that tartufo are one of the must-try treats when in Rome, so it was rather serendipitous that I stumbled upon it accidentally.
What exactly is tartufo? According to Tre Scalini's website, it is a classic chocolate ice cream truffle dessert in the Roman tradition. First created in 1946, it incorporates 13 varieties of Swiss chocolate. 13!!
Chocolate chunks stud some of the richest chocolate gelato I have ever eaten in my life. Real whipped cream swirls around the top like a little hat, and a rolled cookie wafer sits jauntily on top of it all. Rum soaked, glaceed cherries hide inside. For some reason, they put 2 spoons into it... as if you would be willing to share once you had your first bite.
It was deliciously cool and creamy, just what the body needs when trying to get over jet lag. If you're still groggy and fighting your internal clock afterwards, at least you're in a better mood.
Taking our treats outside, we sat down and soaked in the bustle and beauty of Piazza Navono. Water from Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers thundered in front of us. The dome and towers of Sant'Agnese Church loomed behind us. A live cover of "Hotel California" wafted over from another cafe across the square. People tossed coins into the bucket of a busker who appeared to float in the air while sitting cross legged and holding a cane.
If this is what Rome is like, we were definitely going to enjoy ourselves.
What's your best tip for getting over jet lag? Does it involve ice cream?
Related Posts:
Villa Borghese: Enjoy the Outdoors in RomeDiscovering Art with Kids at Galleria Borghese
Contemporary Art at the Vatican Museum
When in Rome... Learn to Fight at Gladiator School
This post is part of the following linkups. Check it out for more around-the-world travel inspiration.
- Travel Photo Thursday on Budget Travelers Sandbox.
- Sunday Traveler on Chasing the Donkey, Pack Me To..., A Southern Gypsy, The Fairytale Traveler, and Ice Cream & Permafrost
Looks delicious...
ReplyDeleteIce cream is a cure for anything! Especially ice cream that looks like that.......wow. Reason enough to go to Rome by itself. Anything that manages to cram in 13 varieties of chocolate is a winner for me! Thanks for sharing - and for giving me chocolate ice cream cravings at 8.30am.....;)
ReplyDeleteI just love ice cream, who doesn't? When happy, overwhelmed, sad etc ... Ice cream is always a treat :)
ReplyDeleteI'm drooling over your picture. It's a clever angle! I was too hot, cranky, and tired on our Tre Scalini visit to do anything other than devour my gelato in record speed with nary a thought about snapping a picture of our treat. I'm lucky my husband remembered to take a photo of the gelato case!
ReplyDeleteJetlag is a mysterious thing isn't it? We do as you suggested and try to 'walk it off' until we are simply unable to function any longer. And yes, as I think back on it, our fight against fatigue usually does involve some sort of local food and/or beverage! Fun post and I can relate to the 'nothing looks interesting' feeling. . .
ReplyDeletewell, sorry I missed that when i was in Rome. I do love being able to go to a Gelato stand almost anywhere in Europe and get 1 (really ONE) small scoop or Gelato for a little more than a euro. it's affordable and just the right size. And so yummy.
ReplyDeleteHhmm, never thought of ice cream as cure for jet lag. Must try that next time.
ReplyDeleteWe normally take in as much sunshine on our first day to help reset the clock and walk around a lot. It works most of the time.
I hope you got yourself an ice cream right now. You deserve it after all the kids' school stuff.
Hi, I'm Kristin and I'm from Minnesota! I just stumbled across your blog, and it's fantastic! My husband and I (and our 12 yr old son) are planning/hoping to move to Malaysia as soon as one of us can find employment. Can I ask what company your husband works for? Do you have any suggestions for someone looking for a marketing job (about 2-4 years experience)? I have an MBA and experience with graphic design. Maybe we could hang out sometime! ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Kristen, I'm so glad that you are considering moving to Malaysia. Email me at mchant sbcglobal net or contact me via my Facebook Page, and we can discuss your questions.
DeleteI previously had no cure apart from staying up all day. But I now have happily stolen yours. Of course I shall have to go to Rome to try it out though won't I ?
ReplyDeleteEven though all the experts say not to, I find the best cure for me is napping - even if it's close to bedtime. I don't sleep well on planes so I find I can even sleep well after a nap when traveling. And ice cream always works for whatever ails me. Anytime, anywhere. My husband's grandmother said she could always eat ice cream even when she was full ...."It just fills in all the empty cracks in your stomach"
ReplyDeleteI like how your grandma-in-law thinks.
DeleteI have no cure for Jet lag, I try to maybe just work out the sleeping/not sleeping on the plane, yet again I've only ever been on one long flight.. what part of Texas are you from?
ReplyDeleteI'm from Austin, the capital.
DeleteMichele, It looks delicious, but I think it would have put me into a chocolate coma! Yum!
ReplyDeleteIsn't ice cream the cure for just about anything? ;) It's funny, I never really liked ice cream before I traveled and now I'm constantly stopping at ice cream stands and walking around with a cone. They're just so tempting!
ReplyDeleteWell, Michele, I've eaten ice cream to cure a lot of ills but never for jet lag. Got to try this next time. Question is, can any ice cream work or does it have to be tartufo?
ReplyDeleteHaha, this is a great tip for getting over jet lag! Can't say it's one I've heard before, but I can quite imagine it would work!
ReplyDeleteI'll eat ice cream for any reason. When I was in Prague it seemed like ever second shop was selling gelato, and I became their best customer! Your tartufo looks out of this world delicious. My mouth is watering!
ReplyDeleteIce cream and coffee can get me through just about anything.
ReplyDeleteI think ice cream is a brilliant idea but one I've never tried. I think you're onto something.
ReplyDeleteIce cream works best for us too! We get out in the sunshine, walk and try to stay up as long as possible to beat jet lag too but eventually the kids will start complaining - they never complain about stopping for ice cream!!
ReplyDeleteFor starters I thought for sure I had commented on this a few days ago! Sorry for being so late Michele! Anyhoo, this made my jowls spasm and mouth water wanting ice cream! Oh my gosh that sounds soooo good :)
ReplyDeleteYum! That tartufo alone deserves a return trip to Rome. How did I miss this? I think I was jaded with all the other gelato. Glad your family got over the jet lag. Sunshine, some activity and ice cream/chocolate works for us :)
ReplyDeleteHmmmm mmmmhhhh hhmmmmm! Ice-cream cures all it seems. Thanks for linking up to #SundayTraveler with us again.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who suggests ice cream as a cure for anything instantly becomes a hero in my mind!!! :-D
ReplyDelete