Contiki: Romantic Roma: Leave Your Umbrella at Home

Our trip was ending and we were just about to come full circle and drive back from Venice to Rome where we originally started. This bus ride was about 7 hours…it actually went by fast though because we watched “The Italian Job” (loved it!) and “Gladiator” on the bus. How touristy is that?…well I loved it because I hadn’t seen an American movie in English in three months…the only thing missing was a Diet Coke (not coca cola light!), popcorn, and hot tamales.

We arrived in Rome early evening and went to see the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. What made seeing the popular monuments better was the fact that it was getting dark and the lighting was so beautiful and then it started raining, which made it perfect for me. The fountain was my favorite…it is known as the most beautiful fountain in the world and it is indeed gorgeous and the sound of water is very soothing to my Cancer/water sign soul. So if you can imagine…it’s evening, but there is nice soft light from the moon and the dim streetlights…it’s raining, but not cold. I have no umbrella, but actually don’t care because in my three months in Italy I have been caught in the rain many times and never once had an umbrella. So I am getting soaked, but am just indulging in the view of the magnificent fountain…sounds a bit cheesy, but no joke…it was down right dreamy…then it was as if a movie director said “Cue the handsome Italian” because at that moment, there I stand drenched, but with a very mesmerized look on my face from being in la-la land and looking at the fountain, a handsome Italian walking by sees me and stops and offers me his umbrella. Dreamy…definitely…but I thought…okay, seriously, where are the hidden cameras and where is Diane Lane…oh and let me guess…this guy’s name is Marcello?” Nevertheless, it was a very nice moment…only to be interrupted by the call that I came to know well, “Contiki! Contiki! Andiamo (let’s go)!” Are you kidding me?! Marcello offers me an umbrella at the Trevi Fountain and you’re telling me it’s time to go? Even funnier…a few moments later as the group hustled down the street, still in the rain, I was annoyed by street vendors who were trying to SELL me an umbrella…I wanted to say, “Seriously…look at me…I am soaking, freaking wet and NOW you want to sell me an umbrella? Unless your name is Marcello, take the umbrella and shove it…” I seriously considered buying an umbrella just so I could hit them over the head with it. Instead I answered with a simple “No Grazie.”