Up in Flames at Garbo Cafe/Bar, Roma

Garbo Cafe/Bar Tables & Chairs

So, Tuesday night after a long day at Hadrian’s Villa (in Tivoli), which was amazing – out in the country, way away from crowds, with 30 some major ruins of an elaborate palace and gardens, I got home was exhausted.  So I took a shower, headed out to dinner, and then grabbed a drink at a small bar in the hood.  The place is called Garbo (as in Gretta Garbo – hmmmmm?), and it was small and charming. However, there was nearly no one there.  So I sat and had a drink.   After reading all the local papers, which I could barely decipher because of the Italian, I thought I’d pull out my sketchbook. I did this to continue developing my own observational skills, since it’s been so long since regular practice.  I focused on the collection of chairs in the room.

There were small candles on all the tables, and as I sat drawing, suddenly the bar tender ran over to me with a towel, and said something fast and excited in Italian. As he approached, I realized my sketchbook cover had caught on fire due to the low open flame, which had been giving me light to draw.

Funny thing was that the bar tender noticed the fire before I did.  Good thing not much burned, but now my Rome sketchbook is permanently marked with another story…….

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