LeftWithLouie

For a history nerd it’s difficult to beat a visit to the ‘eternal city’ of Rome. After spending my university years studying ancient history for no other reason than I just damn well-loved it, I finally achieved a life-long dream when I jetted half way across the globe to Rome.

For my first few days in Rome, I was like a kid in a candy store! Standing in front of Trajan’s column, walking through the Roman forum and sitting in the square that overlooks the Pantheon, my senses were on overdrive. I spent one morning walking up to the Palatine hill where I sat and looked out over the city for a time before returning to my favourite cafe to sip coffee and eat custard-filled croissants as I watched the locals go about their daily routine.

After almost a week of walking, I decided to give myself a day off, for both my sanity and to let my feet recover. That day I wandered from one cafe to another, stopping every now and then to watch the world pass me by. I find Rome to be unique in that its fast-paced cosmopolitan lifestyle somehow manages to entwine itself with the slow, low-fuss nature of the old world. From ancient relics and historical sites to St. Peters Basilica and the espresso bars that fuel the modern-day inhabitants of the city, Rome holds a special place in my heart. It is more than a tourist hot-spot. If you stop for a moment and take yourself away from that well-worn tourist trail, the city will reveal itself in all its beauty and all its charm.