Toss a Coin and Return to Rome

Legend has it that if you toss a coin over your shoulder into Trevi Fountain you will return to Rome. That coin toss over thirty years ago must have worked -- we were back!

With one jet lagged day to revisit some of Rome’s famous landmarks we set off from our hotel to the nearby metro station. It was remarkably easy to find one’s way, but the underground was hot and crowded. Loud music played on the platforms and once the train pulled up, we found ourselves moved forward on to the train by the swell of people.

Our first stop was the Colosseum. It was pretty spectacular climbing the steps from the underground station to street level and seeing the walls of this famous amphitheatre reaching up skyward in front of us.

What we had not expected was the sheer mass of people and it became evident that the only way to gain entrance without a lengthy wait was to join an English speaking tour.

Salespeople worked the crowds and in spite of our better judgment paying up and joining a tour turned out to be a good decision. Not only did we fast track ahead of those patiently lining up for tickets, we had an excellent guide who after the walk through of the Colosseum took us on to Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum.

Unless you are a historian or faithful to a guide book, the scale of Rome's landmarks is so large that despite best intentions, it isn’t long before these remnants of ancient history take on the look of an endless pile of stone. But thanks to a knowledgeable guide we had a wonderful morning in the sunshine.

A sidewalk cafe served as a timely resting spot after the morning’s cultural assault, probably serving the best chocolate and strawberry gelato we have ever tasted anywhere.

We continued on foot down a labrynth of winding alleyways to Trevi Fountain.

The Square bore no resemblance to our past memories – today it was crammed with people enjoying the ambiance created by the fountain’s rushing water.

The central figure of the fountain is Neptune riding a chariot in the shape of a shell pulled by two sea horses. One of the horses is calm while the other is restive - symbolizing the fluctuating moods of the sea. But the mood of the people in the Square today was upbeat and almost festive.

After wandering past a very crowded Spanish Steps, we ended the day with one final metro ride to St. Peters Square. By this time the pavement had somehow joined forces with our bodies and we had slowed down dramatically.

It was time to recoup and ponder the beginning of our Roman Holiday.