Our Summer in France & Italy - Enchanting Roma at Night

The night we walked to Trevi Fountain, we heard the splashing sounds of water & the carefree chatter of tourists mingling around the Fountain, taking pictures & hanging out. The liveliness & energy in such an enchanting & relaxed setting was almost magical. The surrounding air carried a refreshing crispness. Then, we felt it in the air - romance.

A kind, young Caucasian chap offered to take a picture for us in front of the Fountain. They say love makes the heart generous. How true! Although the fountain steps were occupied with hardly any standing space left, there seemed to be an unstated orderly fashion in which the human traffic moved. Those who froze their memories with their Digi cams slowly made way for those who were coming down the steps for their phototaking. Satisfied with having captured our moment, we likewise retreated to the further corners of the Fountain to admire the view.


The Fountain stood stoicly, faithfully embracing her hordes of admirers who have come from near & far. In that huge mass of merry-makers, strangers & all, there somehow existed a common sense of appreciation & celebration - of asethetic beauty & timeless charm. How many a lover has proposed to his fairlady or an elderly couple renewed their love vows at this beautiful Fountain?

Reluctantly, we departed from the Fountain, after Fred tossed his coin & made his wish. We left the magic & wandered along the streets of Rome, looking for the Pantheon.

We walked to Piazza Navona again to soak in the atmosphere at night. Indeed, Rome never sleeps at night. Certainly not Piazza Navona. There, street artists were showcasing their art pieces into the night, baskers not letting up with their entertainment & waiters in restaurants serving hot piping food to eager patrons. We took a slow stroll through the Piazza. A tall, lean-bodied basker with a white-painted face suddenly came to us from behind & gave us a fright! Mischievous & trying hard to earn his last few coins before he called it a night. We didn't have the heart to refuse of course.

Leaving the bustling Piazza, we headed towards a quieter part of Rome. Across the river, we strolled towards Castel Sant Angelo & the Vatican City.

St Mark's Square, clothed in charming yellow lights, was like a reserved, gentle lady; her hushed tones were the flowing waters from the fountains. Almost emptied out at night, the Square appeared less intimidating compared to daytime when long queues were formed to enter the Basilica. At night, she looked mystical & alluring. Her blue-coloured dome stood out silently against the blackened skies.

Good bye Rome, Good night Rome. Maybe we will return, after all, my coin was tossed 20 years ago & I have returned.

Our Summer in France & Italy - Sizzling Roma!

My feelings for Rome changed after this trip. 20 years ago, I had held in greater affection London & Paris, preferring their refined beauty & classic charm to the 'coarse-rock-and-stone', weather-beaten feel of Rome. At a superficial level, Rome appeared 'rougher' to me.

20 years later, I re-discovered Rome in a surprising & delightful way. The roughness I felt in earlier years has become somewhat of a timeless appeal. I saw Rome differently this time -- unpretentious, ancient, only those who bothered to do the walking & who persevered in the scorching summer heat would unearth its gems & treasures.

Indeed, Rome turned out to be an exciting destination, particularly suited for independent travellers. Firstly, it was easier to find value-for-money & cheaper accomodation in the city of Rome, compared to Paris & Venice. Secondly, Rome has seemingly endless number of sights offering a rich variety of experiences in history, art, archaeology, religion, music & culture. Here is a summary of what we managed to squeeze into our 3 days in Rome.

The ancient icon of Rome - The Colosseum.

Feeling the walls sent us back in time... back in history.

The Arch of Constantine.

A surprise view of the Colosseum - from the Palentine Hill & Roman Forum compounds.

The Arch of Titus.

Ancient ruins, preserved as they are.

Monument Vittorio Emanuele, in front of Piazza Venezia.

The series of photos below record our indulgence of a full sit-down meal, complete with

wine & music, at Campo de Fiori.

Soaking in the sights & sounds of PiazzaNavona.

Piazza St Pietro at The Vatican City.

Villa Borghese (at the background) has an impressive collection of art pieces and sculptures.

And to follow the crowd, we had to sit on the steps of Piazza di Spagna!

One of the most memorable visits was to the Catacombs... underground. A priest did the commentary. Was fun & educational.