Italy//Rome//14

My apologies for the lag in posting! Whilst traveling it can sometimes become exceedingly difficult to get access to the Internet in certain locations, or one just runs out of time. Both have been the case since I last posted.
But, since then, I've travelled to Venice and Sestri Levante, Italy, as well as Florence, Italy. I am writing this from Rome, where we just arrived to three hours ago.
Before I get underway, here are some pictures from the past week--

Sestri Levante

Seaside shopping and eating in Sestri

The bigger of the two bays in Sestri

Florence

View from the Medici Family Gallery

My favourite breakfast--olives, sparkling water and pastries!

Extra Goodies

Mail to go to the lovely B., in America

Mail to go the lovely A., in Australia (with an E on the end because it's being sent from France)

The sticker adornment from the wrapping paper of two handmade Moleskine-esque journals bought in Sestri

One of my favourite things about traveling to new places undoubted is seeing the cities at night. I have a deep affection for the nighttime in any city, so it is especially wonderful to be able to experience all of these new cities at night during this trip.
Walking the streets of Venice and Sestri at night, I was struck by the sheer happening-ness of these Italian cities. The brightness of signs outside of gelaterias, the young couples kissing beneath the lamppost in the back alley ways, the young boys who grew into old men together and still meet up for an espresso on main street.
The city, any city, at night brings out the characters that hide out during the day, beneath different masks. It encourages the playful atmosphere that surrounds people, young and old, and hums the town along to the morning. It encompasses a culture like no other medium.
When I walked along the streets in Venice at night, there were no longer beggars and pleaders link g the streets. There were no longer young touristic families, or street performers, or loud cavalcades of foreign tour bus patrons.
Instead there was just the simplicity of a dark sky, and streets lining with whispering, cheering restaurants, with men and women and children grinning and shoveling the delicacies of Italy into their mouths. There was a cool breeze, as if the blanket of night no longer allowed for the steaming rays of sunshine to penetrate the visitors of the winding Venetian streets.
At night, faces became younger, wit became nimbler, wine scams heavier, cheese grew stronger. At night, the maze of Venice became harder to navigate, and this the game of navigating only increased in its wonder and excitement.
There is nothing like it.

Last night, after arriving in Rome, we ventured the streets again to spend time before our dinner reservation at 10.30 (more about THAT later).
Add the Colosseum to the "City-At-Night" mix, plus a dark sky and an almost full moon, and the excitement about nighttime only heightens. It was beautiful.

The Colosseum, at night.

Today we aim to head back to the Colosseum, to experience it during the daytime. I don't doubt that it will just as magnificent, thrilling and colossal today.

It's good to be back.
Cheers,
~ Ms. Always Traveling