A different shade of Rome - your tuscansunflower

Besides the history, there are plenty of reasons to visit Rome. Some might go just for the shopping, or even the food, but for my first post-lockdown trip, I chose it to just get away.

As luck would have it, I was there during the first, early summer heatwave and just spent time walking around, looking for nothing in particular. But there was one new aspect to this trip, for the first time, I looked away from the ground, and set my sights higher, literally. I looked up. I looked up and saw an entirely new Rome. I went off the beaten track to some less frequented neighbourhoods and just took them all in.

Can’t avoid some landmarks

But you can’t go to Rome and completely ignore all the famous places. Plus, Dundun had never seen any of them before, so we walked by the Colosseum. She seemed to enjoy it, powering through the excessive heat, and taking drink breaks every few minutes. Look at her happy face.

The Colosseum is definitely a sight to behold but have you ever looked back to see what everyone else just turns their backs on? A beautiful garden awaits you if you do.

Bare Rome

The summer heat did give us heat-resistant types an advantage. I was able to wander around unhindered by crowds, tourists, and cars. I enjoyed a lovely stroll through an empty Rome after my much needed haircut. A haircut that followed a 2-year moratorium on haircutting.

Look up, way up

An advantage to finally looking up: a different view of the city’s architecture. I’d never noticed just how many interesting and different building types there are in Rome. Sure, they all mostly follow the same style, but within it, there is so much variation. Also, every now and then, I’d turn the corner and be faced with a huge wall just covered in art. But I have a question: Can someone tell me why there are so many random wires just hanging over the sides of Roman buildings?