🇮🇹 Two Weeks, One Backpack — Part 3
I was feeling down after a long and disappointing day in Rome. Just as I was about to call it a night, there was a knock on the door. A young woman came inside, who is my hostel roommate, looking somewhat soaked but cheerful nonetheless.
We quickly introduced ourselves, and I learned that her name was Maria, and she came from the city of Sofia, Bulgaria. I was fascinated to hear that she had visited Myanmar and even met Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of our country. I have never met her before, so I was impressed.
After finding out about my unlucky day, she offered to keep me company for the evening. We chatted about our travels, cultures, and experiences, and I found her to be warm, intelligent, and easy to talk to. It was a refreshing change from the day I had experienced so far.
As the rain had stopped, we decided to venture out to the Trevi Fountain. The fountain was a short walk away from our hostel, and we took in the beautiful sights of the city as we walked. When we arrived at the fountain, we were met with a breathtaking sight.
The Trevi Fountain, located in the heart of Rome, is a magnificent work of art that dates back to the 18th century. It is a grand masterpiece, standing at a towering height of 85 feet and spanning a width of 65 feet. As we arrived at the fountain at around 8 pm, I couldn’t help but notice that it was incredibly crowded, with people from all walks of life coming to marvel at its beauty.
We spent a long time just gazing at the fountain, watching the crowd and tossing coins into the water, making wishes for the future.
They say “two coins and you will fall in love with an attractive Italian”.
Despite the crowds, the fountain was truly marvelous. Its wonderful details and intricate carvings made it a true masterpiece. The fountain was bathed in golden light, which highlighted its every detail, from the statues of the gods Neptune and Triton to the smaller cherubs and sea creatures that adorned its every corner.
The sound of rushing water was pleasing, adding to the majestic atmosphere of the fountain. It was as if the fountain was alive, constantly moving and breathing, drawing people in with its charm and beauty. It was a true marvel of engineering and art, standing the test of time and still captivating visitors from all over the world.
We strolled back to the hostel taking the long route, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. Maria had a lot of Italian friends and she shared with me some amusing stories about them. Apparently, they’re more obsessed with their appearances than a peacock in mating season and always dress to impress. And boy, are they flirty! Maria warned me that it’s not uncommon for Italian men to have not one, but two girlfriends at the same time, and to parade them both publicly without a care in the world.
Actually, it’s not surprising with that huge amounts of coins in the Trevi fountain. All of us were wishing to fall in love with an attractive local. Maybe, Italians are just doing their duties to make the myth of the fountain true.
As we walked, we couldn’t help but notice how lazy some of them were, opting to ride scooters or take taxis instead of walking. But one thing they don’t take lightly is their coffee culture. Italian espresso is a work of art, and they only drink it at the counter. We stopped by at a cafe because the rain was starting to pour a lot again. Since it’s already 11 PM, I decided to go with a latte instead of a strong one but there were some other Italians enjoying their expresso.
Maria cracked a joke, saying that those Italians drank their espresso at the counter as if they’re running to their next love affair at this late into the night.
I couldn’t help but burst out laughing at her witty joke. Overall, it was a hilarious conversation that made our walk back to the hostel a lot more enjoyable. Sadly, Maria had to leave Italy with an early flight to continue her journey. She gave me goodbyes in advance that night because I might not wake up early to see her leaving. We wished each other the best for our journeys.
To be continued …
