Rome's Echoes & a Seriously Strange Number
okay, so i'm still processing. got back from rome a few days ago and…wow. the energy there is just intense. i keep seeing flashes of a number: 3108288
followed by 1724296961. no idea what those even mean, but they’re stuck in my head. maybe it’s some ancient code? or a lottery number… wishful thinking, right?
The weather wasn't bad. i just checked and it's…surprisingly breezy for late spring, hope you like that kind of thing. the sky was this hazy, almost golden color. felt like a vintage film backdrop. i spent most of my days wandering around, camera glued to my face. i'm trying to get a good portfolio going - check out my work on Yelp.
seriously, the amount of history crammed into this city is overwhelming. you can literally turn a corner and stumble upon a ruin from the roman empire. i spent hours at the Colosseum - it's breathtaking, even with all the tourists. i heard that the best time to visit is early morning or late evening to avoid the crowds. someone told me in a very loud voice near the Trevi Fountain that you have to toss three coins to ensure your return. i’m not one for superstition but hey, can’t hurt, right?
I stayed in Trastevere. it’s super charming, all cobblestone streets and ivy-covered buildings. the locals are…well, they’re locals. a mix of warm and a little bit suspicious, i guess. i tried to find a quiet little bar for an evening drink, but it was packed. someone warned me about pickpockets around the major tourist spots, which is always good to know. i found a great little trattoria on TripAdvisor - the pasta carbonara was insane.
“Don’t even think about wearing sandals. It’s a fashion crime.” - a stylish woman near the Spanish Steps. I'm still trying to understand that one.
i’m a total sucker for finding hidden gems. i stumbled upon this little artisan shop tucked away on a side street. they were selling the most gorgeous hand-painted ceramics. i almost bought everything. i think i saw a fellow photographer lurking around, trying to get the perfect shot of the Pantheon at sunset. it felt like a scene out of a movie.
“The best gelato is always the one you can’t pronounce.” - overheard from a group of teenagers near Piazza Navona.
I spent a morning in the Borghese Gallery and Gardens. absolutely incredible art, and the gardens are a perfect escape from the city buzz. i also tried to navigate the metro system - a complete disaster. i'm pretty sure i ended up going in circles for a solid hour. lucky i found a helpful stranger who pointed me in the right direction. oh, and apparently, the Vatican Museum is a must-see, but be prepared for crowds. i read about this beforehand on Rome2Rio.
honestly, rome is a sensory overload. the smells, the sounds, the constant movement… it’s exhausting and exhilarating all at once. and those numbers? still bugging me. maybe they're coordinates for something secret? or maybe i'm just overthinking it. either way, it’s given me something to ponder. next up: maybe florence? or perhaps a little backpacking trip through southern italy. stay tuned!
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