Rome has always been a dream of mine to visit. History buff I am not, but who wouldn’t want to walk the streets that were built centuries ago by engineers ahead of their time. I was not disappointed. Once inside the city I felt as if I had stepped back in time. All the buildings, by law, are untouched. They are just as they were when they were built centuries ago, and any attempt at new construction is slow and laborious at best as a construction site turns into an archaeological dig unearthing centuries of artifacts. The buildings facades are old, but inside they are very modern.
The hotel we stayed at, Hotel Massimo, was great because of its central location and proximity to the Termini. The Termini is the central train station, and us, being the adventurous tourists we are hopped on the trains many a time to see the local sites that were a little far for us to walk (though most are within walking distance of each other), as well as to take day trips to Pisa and Florence.
Our first night in Rome we walked the streets and ended up at Trevi Fountain. It is truly a site to behold, and even though this magnificent piece of art is inconspicuously located, the tourists managed to find it… some with the help of tour guides. We continued our tour of the streets of Rome through different Plazas, and just breathed in the history, the quaintness of the narrow streets, the architecture, the beauty of the ancient, until we ended up at the Pantheon.
A breathtaking domed structure, regal and palatial. We just stood in awe, as engineers, admiring the complexity of its construction and the awesomeness of its beauty. It was a magical night. Right outside the Pantheon people just sat there, enjoying the cool November night air, talking with friends, listening to the music of the locals playing on the streets, and eating at one of the many ristorantes lining the plaza. We decided to partake in an authentic Italian meal at one of the ristorantes, and as we ate facing the Pantheon I couldn’t help but pinching myself – I was in Rome!