Slightly juicier

After such a short post I have returned to the place of reflection. It's super hot here in Rome. Like walking from Melbourne's winter into January Aussie heat, it's stinking, tar-melting weather. I've been averaging about 3 showers a day and the humidity is doing fantastic things for my curly hair.
The last couple of days have been filled with a sense of relax, settledness, tiredness and heat. I was wrapped to find Tanya at Termini Stazione in Rome, where I was finishing off my second novel since I have been away. In fact for me, I have been chewing through novels. Although this one that I have just finished was a memoir, by melbourne writer Kate Holden called 'In Her Skin'. It's a fantastically written story of addiction and redemption, and my eyes devoured it in 24 hours. Goodness I have been inspired by language - perhaps more so since I have been in countries where English is not primarily spoken or written.

In Rome I have seen some of the main sights. The Colosseum, St Peter's Basillica, the ruins of Ancient Rome, the Trevi Fountain and other bits and pieces. We have spent some great many hours perusing the cobbled streets, which do look rather like Melbourne's tiny Carlton alleys. I have finally enjoyed some amazing coffee - German kaffe is not much chop, but Italian esspresso, is as you would expect: smooth and strong. The Roman architecture is phenomenal, but as a city I am struck by the crazy crazy drivers (no such thing as road rules or pedestrian rights here!), and the grime. There is so much rubbish in the streets and it's really polluted. I am so glad I have come to Rome, but equally glad that we decided that we wouldn't spend all our time in Italy here in the capital city.

Tomorrow morning we're headed for Siena. It's a small town north of Rome. We will get to the Palio there... a medieval horse race that is a festival for the town and entire region. It sounds full of colour and culture, and I am really excited about it! We will get there for one or two nights (hmm I know I'm in holiday mode when I can't remember the day of the week or where I will be when!).

It's fantastic to finally be on this European adventure. The more I am here, the more things I want to see and the more I feel I am learning about people and the world. It can be such an isolating experience in Australia where you get so many snippets of different culture that you feel it is familiar. Although there is so much about Rome that feels familiar (Megalo, Megalo, Megalo... thank you Franco Cozzo), the culture and place is so multifaceted. There is still so much about the world I want to see and experience.

Love to all,
thanks for your comments... I love love love them!!!
xoxoxo
Hi Mum... I hope the non smoking is going well!! Fingers crossed. And the job! Special kisses and cuddles for you...
xxx

PS. I hope your non smoking is going excellently too Dad. ...
Wouldn't it be amazing to come home to find my family are ALL non-smokers? ;)
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This was taken at the East Side Gallery in Berlin. The remaining side of the wall from the West. This was my favourite piece of art from the most phenomenally long section of gallery. Its such a shame people have graffiti'd over them.


This was the bike I hired... and Buttercup. There'll be no bike hire in Roma. Not amongst this crazy traffic!

The section of the Jewish Museum in Berlin that was designed by Daniel Leibskind. It was fantastic. The most amazing symbolic architecture ever. All about mechanisation and industrialised death. Also about the eradication of evidence of a culture. All we know about pre-WWII Jewish European culture is through the gaps. All we have are small snippets. He captures something so profound in this museum.
This is my innaugral and promised 'Silly Dance' photo. You should have seen the boy's face when he took this. Didnt quite know what to make of me I think!

In Roma in front of the Trevi Fountain. Something that is so cool is that all the water in fountains and from random ancient spouts in the city is entirely drinkable and cold. It comes from the aqua ducts below Rome. I have drank from fountains and it is so good!!