I am a Rome lover. I fell in love with Rome as soon as my foot touched its grounds. Actually,I fell in love with Rome even before then,during the planning process, and before, when that nagging voice in my brain started singing a Roman melody, and my heart started beating a Roman rhythm. I just had to go to Rome to save my sanity.
We spent a little over two weeks in Rome, living and loving every minute of it. And here I can't help but wonder, if our trip would have been the same have we spent less time there. I have my doubts. There is a pleasure in leaving the map at the apartment, and walking the streets of Rome;it gives a sense that you belong. There is a pleasure in walking down the same street everyday for two weeks, and discovering something new everyday. There is the joy of recognizing the guy,who works at the cafe across the street from your apartment,or the lady at the shoe shop on your street. Familiar is good, and it is very exciting, and this is a big reason of why we like to travel slowly.
One of the first things that I wanted to see,pretty much all of my life, and a big part of longing to visit Rome was the Colosseum. So you can imagine just how many times we strolled down Piazza del Colosseo, and it never failed to amaze me.
Going inside the Colosseum was one of the major highlights in our trip for me. I think I must have had my mouth open the whole time. The fact that the Colosseum is still standing two thousand years later, is amazing, but stepping into the battle field is fascinating. I could just imagine gladiators fighting to death in the arena. I could imagine tigers and lions fighting with men, and could hear Romans cheering. Not necessarily the prettiest picture, but my point is, the Colosseum comes alive even twenty centuries later.
And hear I am, looking at the photos from my trip, and longing to get back to Rome. Ah, Bella Roma.
How many shots of the Colosseum can one have?
Comments (12)
What a beautiful post! Rome really is amazing and I am glad you got to spend two full weeks there. You are truly a slow traveler! :)
Posted by Chiocciola | April 2, 2009 5:03 AM
Posted on April 2, 2009 05:03
You fit well with the slowtravel group. I think that most folks there are also Italy lovers. Sometimes I think it should be renamed slow Italy.
Posted by Jerry | April 2, 2009 5:45 AM
Posted on April 2, 2009 05:45
Yes, you nailed the essence of what slow travel is. I too love wandering around without a map or a plan!
I liked the Colisseum but the building in Rome that really captured me was the Pantheon. I love that place!
Great post!
Posted by Annie | April 2, 2009 6:13 AM
Posted on April 2, 2009 06:13
Candi, you were so lucky to spend so much time in one place. As you say,there is something so special about actually not being on a schedule, not having to sitesee from one place to another as in checking off a "to see/do do" list in a small amount of time. You explain it so well, the feeling of being a part of a neighborhood or area. Getting to feel familiar with the local merchants or seeing the same person sweeping a store front every morning. I love how you describe that kind of familiarity. To see some great historical monument like the Colosseum, still standing in your midst is mind boggling and thrilling. Yours was Slowtravel at its' finest.
Posted by Barb Cabot | April 2, 2009 7:58 AM
Posted on April 2, 2009 07:58
Hi Candi, cool post! I have to say that when I first visited Rome the Colosseum was also a highlight for me next to the Vatican and the Trevi Fountain. In fact when I first walked through the arched entrance way to enter, I took a second to actually place my hand and touch the walls of what I like to refer to as the Walls of History!
Reading your post and looking at your photos brings me back to the very first time that I saw the Colosseum!
Thank you so much for bringing back those wonderful memories for me.
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | April 2, 2009 8:42 AM
Posted on April 2, 2009 08:42
Chiocciola, yes, Rome is fascinating.
Jerry, maybe we should rename it to slow Italy:)
Annie, I loved the pantheon too, it is an amazing building.
Barb, thanks for your comment, I wouldn't know how to travel otherwise.
Kathy, of course the Vatican and Trevi Fountain were highlights for too, but I too had to touch the walls of history in the Colosseum.
Posted by candi | April 2, 2009 1:35 PM
Posted on April 2, 2009 13:35
Great post, Candi! So, when are you going back to Rome?
Posted by nancyhol | April 2, 2009 8:58 PM
Posted on April 2, 2009 20:58
Oh Nancy, I wish I had an answer:( Soon I hope, maybe around May or September of 2010? We have to see what happens with our lives.
Posted by candi | April 2, 2009 9:35 PM
Posted on April 2, 2009 21:35
Beautiful love letter to the Colosseum and Rome! And how lucky to be in the Eternal City for over two weeks. Your pictures are lovely and make me want to be in Rome.
Posted by María I. | April 3, 2009 11:30 AM
Posted on April 3, 2009 11:30
I have been to Rome 4 times. The first time for 3 nights. I went to Rome first, so I was in a jet lag haze, on the run, trying to see everything. I did not like Rome that much, although I did love the Colosseum. The second time I only spent one night, again my first stop. What was I thinking? The third time I spent my last 2 nights in Rome. All three of these times were before discovering Slow Travel.
Two years ago, I rented an apartment and spent 11 nights in Rome. Finally, I fell in love with Rome. I wandered and really enjoyed everything about Rome.
The Colosseum was one of the musts I had to see during my first visit there. During my last visit, I think I must have taken at least 100 shots of the Colosseum. Great post.
Posted by girasoli | April 3, 2009 10:18 PM
Posted on April 3, 2009 22:18
Maria, thanks. Maybe we can get back to Rome soon.
girsoli, what a history you have with Rome.I think you are right though, I can imagine just brushing through the streets of Rome trying to check off a to see list, wouldn't be that fun. I am glad you finally you got to spend enough time to appreciate and fall in love with Rome. It is my magical city:)
Posted by candi | April 3, 2009 11:25 PM
Posted on April 3, 2009 23:25
Oh Candi, I know how you feel. I really love Rome as well. And I remember how utterly awe-struck I was, seeing the Colosseum on the very first day of my very first trip to Rome! It looked exactly how I had always pictured it (which doesn't always happen!)
Staying for two weeks in an apartment is a perfect introduction to Rome -- I hope you can return soon!
Posted by sandrac | April 5, 2009 5:24 PM
Posted on April 5, 2009 17:24