Tea, Anyone?

England meets Italy at the base of the Spanish Steps.

Facing the steps on the right is the home of English poet John Keats, now the Keats Shelley House museum. On the left is a real English tea room, Babington's.  My Owner and her travel companions stopped in for something to eat after the end of a long day of shopping and sightseeing. It is quite proper...

 and pricey. Be prepared to pay around $10.00 for a capuccino, and about $15.00 for a slice of apple pie. Wow, sticker shock for coffee and dessert.


I cannot WAIT until My Owner's husband gets the bill for her cappucino and orange cupcake.

It is however a singularly unique oasis of peace and quiet civility in one of the most boisterous areas of The Eternal City.




Every inch of it is infused with charm. The smart servers, all young women, reflect the style and grace of the period during which the tea room was founded; 1893. Click here
to read the history of this special establishment.

MO and her friends laughed and took pictures of their food (She had them all doing it early on, she is such a bad influence!) and tried not to bother the other rather dignified patrons...too much. They were giddy as they discussed all that they'd seen and done that day. They'd been lost and visited Trevi Fountain about 7 times, (an accurate map would have been most helpful) they'd shopped, and MO had stopped traffic by falling down in the middle of the street when she wasn't paying attention, sending shopping bags flying in all directions. Let's just say grace isn't one of her strong points. Her daughter however, made her feel better once she's safely reached the sidewalk by asking if she'd broken the wedding cake topper they'd just purchased.

They'd climbed to the top of the Spanish Steps to get a breathtaking view of Rome just before settling themselves in a cozy corner of the tea room, they were tired but oh so happy. Their little treats were delicious,and fueled them for the evening's activities...more shopping, of course!