Night Streets of Rome

Posted on

by Arundhati Basu

It was the morning of Christmas eve when I wrote this but life right now is caught in a tornado of socialising in Delhi where the days are pleasant and the sun is ripe with mellow beauty. The skies are blue and I am getting a few sunrises into my kitty as I head out for early morning runs with the cool wind in my hair. Here I feel the need for four stomachs as I did in Rome (as I always do) for my mother-in-law has been rustling up feasts every day for meals at home, you see. Time at hand is a bit tight so I thought I would share some clips of the night lights of Rome. The Christmas spirit there is all over the city and quietly cemented by the elegance of its ancient Corinthian columns, the cupolas and domes and clock towers.

We drank plenty of wine, munched on bruschetta, pizza, cacio e pepe and aglio e olio pastas, walked arm-in-arm down the streets so softly lit, the old buildings casting half shadows, the occasional pair of lovers around the corner caught in a passionate embrace, men zipping down the cobbled streets of the alleys on Vespas with alarming speed and recklessness, the Carabinieri posted everywhere with their rifles and enough male beauty to make you go ooh. We sat with a fashion designer friend of mine and her half-Italian prince, drank into the night with stories of faraway places and times, and it felt heady, all those stories with sips of prosecco.

An Italian artist from Florence possibly got Rome in a heartbeat when he noted sometime in the 14th century that it is the city of echoes, the city of illusions, and the city of yearning. Because that is what it does for us, produce the yearning to walk its cobbled streets for a long, long time till you want to walk it no more. But how can that even be?

On that note of wistfulness, I wish you all a wonderful Christmas with plenty of mulled wine and Christmas cake and roasts, and I also raise a glass of wine, a deep ruby, to you from my end.

Christmas tree on Spanish Steps
Us
Spanish Steps
Piazza di Spagna
Festive shop windows

Blessed Virgin Mary stands atop the Column of the Immaculate Conception

Carousel on Piazza Navona

Piazza di Trevi
Trevi Fountain

Rubino, the Maremma sheepdog
Pepperoni pizza
Bruschetta
Chocolate cake

Man plays with fire on Piazza Navona
Operatic singer at the Temple of Hadrian
Corinthian columns of The Temple of Hadrian
Off the Ponte Sant’Angelo
Castel Sant’Angelo

Published by

Arundhati Basu

The great affair in my life is to travel. I count myself immensely fortunate that my partner shares this passion. We are a team that likes to spend time planning and plotting out places to go. Destination check, flights check, accommodation check, cheesy grins check. Off we go.

66 thoughts on “Night Streets of Rome”

  6. A perfect Christmas post and I wish you a perfect Christmas Day together with Adi’s family …. may it be brimful of laughter and love and delight (and far too much good food ?). Rome loved being photographed by you in her glorious glistening nightwear that is clear! Xx

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Glorious glistening nightwear! You always, always get me Osyth 🙂 Thank you for the loverly wishes filled with brimful of everything. We are feasting and I fear may stomach shall lodge its protest soon but I am pushing the boundaries. I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating 🙂 xx

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Pretty lights just make everything seem better in the world. The shop windows looked like fun to walk passed, and I just know that I would be staring at the light and shadows on the fountain for a very long time. I’ll have that wine now, thank you dear,

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I hope you are having a grand time in Poland too. It must be frightfully cold and beautiful.
      Winter trips do have that extra magic. The crowds melt away and well who misses the hustle and bustle? 🙂 xx

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Loved seeing the quiet streets with all of the Christmas decorations. It must have been a wonderful visit. Isn’t that man playing with fire a little cold? I really enjoyed seeing the photo of the puppet show. It reminds me of the lovely film, Lili with Leslie Caron. – Neek

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I have to look the film up. Thank you Neek! I hope you are having a holly jolly time.
      That man might have been hopped up something potent for it was quite windy and freezing at night. And yes, I am looking back at it all with intense longing. xx

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Exactly the reason why we could spend time gawping at Trevi Fountain too and appreciate it. I was thrilled to see the lack of scaffolding at Spanish Steps (and of course the crowds)! Hope you are enjoying this festive time of the year too 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  15. This seems like a truly magical place with such amazing history and vibes that make you never want to leave – you are so lucky to have visited Rome this time of year:) Hoping you have had an incredible Christmas full of good memories and delicious food – and here is to an even better 2018!Xx

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Maria, I hope you are having a great time. Another year awaits already and may it be cracking good for you, my lovely! Thank you for the sweet words and yes Rome was undeniably as charming as ever. We can never get enough of its beauty. To 2018 🙂 xx

      Like

    1. Thank you, my lovely girl! I am having a jolly time here indeed…flurry of activities and enough food to last my stomach a lifetime. The shoe display is a bit odd and creepy too, non?
      Btw I wanted to comment on the fact that your profile looks lovely on the blog and is that a new look you have for the blog? xx

      Like

      1. Yes, I thought the show things was a bit weird. Thank for you for the compliment 🙂 Yes, I did switch up my blog colours and also focus to include more photography in addition to Japan travel stuff. I know I keep changing things too often though… I ned to stick with it…

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh, I know, I know. It is a thing to sigh about. I went once to Rome when my oldest son was doing a study-abroad in Florence a few years back. It was November, we didn’t have much time in Rome (one day), but I said I wanted to see three things: 1) the Trevi fountain, 2) the Spanish Steps, and 3) the Vatican Museum with all the wonderful paintings. It was lovely – no crowds, except for groups of Japanese tourists in the Vatican who had come during the off season. Great memories!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Then you have wonderful memories. For even a day in Rome would be precious. If you can the next time do make it to the Pantheon. It is quite a breathtaking monument. We loitered around the Vatican the first time we were there too and gaped at the collections of the popes, wondering about the stories that they do not tell. I think the first time is always, as with everything, a treasure house of wistful moments. xx

        Like

    1. Why thank you for the thought. I think you can share it by clicking the icon Press This. I have not reblogged anything yet so this is my guess. Enjoy this journey of blogging 🙂

      Like

  26. […] marks the end of my series on Rome that was punctuated by that on Florence and my mind is quite ready to exit Italy (do I hear […]

    Like

Leave a comment