Aperitivo Experience with Our Italian Friends!

As part of my program we have cultural interaction assignments with Italian students from Roma Tre University.  Its been a really cool experience getting the chance to interact with these students!  They help us with our Italian, and more importantly, show us around Rome.  They take us to places that only Italians go and that a lot of tourists miss out on.  One of my favorite excursions we had with them was going to an aperitivo in Gianicolense. Me and my friend Lauren went with our Italian friends Monica and Vanessa.  Going to the aperitivo was a completely foreign experience to me.  When we got there, we first paid at the register.  For 10 euros, we received a drink and were allowed to help ourselves to the buffet of food.  It was actually a really good deal, as I was pretty full after the food and used the aperitivo as a meal (although the Italians explained must only use aperitivo as a snack.)  The buffet included finger sandwiches, hot dogs wrapped in croissants, cous cous, bruschetta, and other little snacks.  Everything was very good and fresh!  Vanessa also suggested a new drink for me called Caiprioska.  This is my favorite vodka drink I've ever had by far!!!  She explained to me that there are many different flavors of Caiprioska such as pineapple, peach, and kiwi, but the most popular is strawberry.  I can almost compare the drink to a strawberry version of a mojito.  Its made with crushed ice, sugar, vodka, strawberries, and lime.  It was absolutely delicious and very aesthetically pleasing!  The large strawberry chunks and sugar, in combination with the crushed ice, really hid the large amounts of vodka in it!  Overall, I loved my aperitivo experience.  It was a great way to relax with friends, and have a drink and good amount of food for a good price!  I'll definitely be going to more aperitivos before I leave Italy!