As we were walking back to the train station from Ostia Antica, I casually mentioned how close we were to the Mediterranean Sea. I'm not clear on what happened next, but that throwaway fact somehow led to the sudden decision to visit the seaside.
And this was how we ended up at Cristoforo Colobo Station, the end of the Roma-Lido line.
We had no map but did know that the sea was fairly close to the station. With only a general sense of direction, we got off the train and started walking. A family of tourists also headed in the same direction. Throughout our walk, I wasn't sure if we were following them or they were following us.
One parking lot, a crosswalk, and a set of nondescript stairs later, we made it to the Mediterranean Sea (more specifically, the Tyrrhenian Sea).
It was a weekday, so the beach was pretty empty with only a scattering of sunbathers and beachgoers. And no sighting of the infamous Italian men in speedos.
We then walked to the less-crowded, but no-less-deserved-of-love Piazza del Popolo to admire its Egyptian obelisk. The second oldest in Rome (Rameses II), it was brought to the city by Augustus in 10 BC. That's another great thing (perhaps the greatest) about ancient Rome. There have been great empires and kingdoms throughout history, but none expanded quite so vast and left such indelible marks (through structure... and the occasional pillaging) as did Rome.
And this was how we ended up at Cristoforo Colobo Station, the end of the Roma-Lido line.
We had no map but did know that the sea was fairly close to the station. With only a general sense of direction, we got off the train and started walking. A family of tourists also headed in the same direction. Throughout our walk, I wasn't sure if we were following them or they were following us.
It was a weekday, so the beach was pretty empty with only a scattering of sunbathers and beachgoers. And no sighting of the infamous Italian men in speedos.
The water was so clear. It was beckoning me to take off my shoes, relax, and just enjoy the sunshine for a while
A multi-kite kite - I need to learn how to fly a kit just so I can get one of these.
After our return to Rome, we made our way to the Spanish Steps.
A revisit for me, the steps and the adjoining piazza seemed a lot more crowded than I remember.
People seemed to be content to just sit on the steps. One of the strangest things I saw was a group of tourists forming a protective circle around their hoard of shopping bags, not unlike prairie caravans in colonial times. I desperately wanted to take a photo but refrained. Curse you, common decency (or whatever it was)!
We then walked to the less-crowded, but no-less-deserved-of-love Piazza del Popolo to admire its Egyptian obelisk. The second oldest in Rome (Rameses II), it was brought to the city by Augustus in 10 BC. That's another great thing (perhaps the greatest) about ancient Rome. There have been great empires and kingdoms throughout history, but none expanded quite so vast and left such indelible marks (through structure... and the occasional pillaging) as did Rome.
Fountain of Roma at the Piazza del Popolo
Dinner: Pizza and seafood risotto takeout at the Cafe Washington. Delicious, especially when enjoyed in the hotel bed while reading "Hadrian and the Triumph of Rome".
No comments:
Post a Comment