3 Coins In The TREVI FOUNTAIN ;-p and other Rome, Italy General Tips

Favorite Thing: Throw 3 coins into the world's most famous fountain - the TREVI FOUNTAIN - and quickly make 3 wishes...

It is believed that this act of faith will ensure your eventual return to the Eternal City again. Yeah, yeah... I'm sure you guys are too brilliant to fall for that, right?

Wrong!

I actually threw 3 coins into the Trevi Fountain on my first trip in the early-1990s... (and like you) NOT expecting much to come out of my 3 wishes.

But boy, was I wrong. Fast forward. Many years later...

I ended up working for the 2nd largest bank in this country, based in Milano. Got to visit Rome again... and again... and AGAIN. Met and befriended wonderful Italian friends. And I now speak Italian (alright... I still can't speak Italian that eloquently but hey, I'm not giving up till I can speak without translating all these words from English to Italian in my brains!).

And the most amazing thing was that - I didn't apply for a job in this financial institution. They called me up via the headhunter and asked me whether I was interested.

Moral of the story?

Never say never.... and Never feel that you won't be fortunate enough to have your 3 wishes granted. :-)

Fondest Memory: Do visit the Trevi Fountain at night when this whole area literally bursts with activities, tourists, policemen and roving-eye Italian 'romeos'... (Not jokiing about the last one).

This place is well-known as a pick-up joint. Stand here for less than 5 minutes... and see what happens? ;-p

Leave a Comment

Favorite Thing: When you go to Rome, the very first thing one must, must, must do is to visit the magnificent COLISEUM, once the scene of brutal spectacles before a 50,000 strong crowd!

This ancient Roman amphitheater was inaugerated in 80 A.D. and remains today a major tourist attraction.

Yes, the magic is still there....

Fondest Memory: I don't know about you... but standing here at the Coliseum made me feel like Xena, the Warrior Princess. Yeah, coming to a city like Rome... well, it tends to bring out the other side of you.

Leave a Comment

Fondest Memory: Here's a view of the COLISEUM - this time from the interior.

Dominating the heart of ancient Rome, it stands today as the city's grandest symbol!

The morning that we were there (on my very first visit in the early-1990s), there was a huge pandemonium just outside the Coliseum. An Italian guy had threatened to jump off from the top-most floor of this massive monument. An hour later, the police finally dissuaded him from taking his own life. Phew! What a scare he gave all of us.

Photo: That's my dear little sister inside the Coliseum circa. 2001 ;-))

Leave a Comment

Fondest Memory: The magnificent ancient ROMAN FORUM, of course!

Once upon a time in ancient Rome, this place was THE religious, political and commercial center. I can't help but marvel... at how exciting it must have been to live during that era.

Leave a Comment

Fondest Memory: Here's my little sister at the ROMAN FORUMS. She does seem to be enjoying herself very much.... ;-p

Leave a Comment

Favorite Thing: The awesome ARC OF CONSTANTINE.

Erected in the year 315 A.D. by the Roman Senate, this amazing monument is still intact today.

Don't miss it. It's just a stone's throw away from the mighty Coliseum.


Leave a Comment

Favorite Thing: Make a beeline to the most exciting square in all of Rome - the PIAZZA DI SPAGNA dominated by the enthralling SPANISH STEPS.

If you want to enjoy a truly international atmosphere, then this is THE place for you! Ideal for people-watching, the Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna take their names from the Spanish Embassy located in the hour-glass shaped Piazza.

If you come in Spring (like I did... on my very first visit to Rome), you'd be able to catch beautiful azaleas covering this whole area.

Fondest Memory: Er... I don't mean to complain (really) but the siesta time in Rome really drove me nuts.

I mean, major shops and high fashion boutiques like Gucci, Ferragamo, Prada etc are closed from 1 pm to at least 5 pm!

So, how can a fashionista ever hope to replenish her wardrobe?

Well, in my opinion, there is really nothing much you can do when the shops are closed during those hours.

Why don't you follow me i.e. what I'd do when I'm in Rome and when almost all the shops are closed in the afternoons? I usually try to occupy my time during those hours when I can't shop by going for High Tea or... like the Romans, I take my siesta too! ;-)

Hm, now I truly appreciate and understand where the phrase 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do!'....

Leave a Comment

Favorite Thing: Explore the most beautiful Baroque square in all of Rome and home to three magnificent Benini fountains (most notably, the 'Fountain of Four Rivers') - PIAZZA NAVONA and its entire area.

This place literally rocks!

At night, Piazza Navona transforms itself into one of the most electric spots in the city where you'd see restaurants, pizzerias and stalls selling paintings to entice every tourist and potential customers.

Oh, I just love soaking in the atmosphere in this place!

Fondest Memory: Would you believe it if I were to confess that I have never seen this many fountains and sculptures in my entire life.... until I visited PIAZZA NAVONA.

I stood right there in the middle of the square, for a loooong while... simply gasping in awe.

Leave a Comment

Favorite Thing: make a pilgrimage to the VATICAN CITY and to the world's LARGEST church - the ST. PETER'S BASILICA, where the Pope holds court for the world's large population of Catholics....


Leave a Comment