ROME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

This year has been amazing for us, and we feel so lucky to have experienced so much. I couldn't think of a better place to celebrate this year and the next than in Rome. We spent New Years Eve and New Years day there. Luckily we only live a short flight away, so it's not that crazy of a plan.

Simon in the Pantheon. The sunlight was scalding our pasty London skin; it was such a beautiful day.

The Trevi Fountain.

Legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome. Due to inflation, it is now lucky to throw three coins in.

About 3,000 Euros are thrown into the fountain each day and are collected at night.
Apparently there are regular attempts to steal them. I can't imagine how embarrassed I would be if I were caught doing that.

Ruins.

We wandered into Vatican City the morning of January 1st, with no real plan in mind. Suddenly, the Pope popped out of a window and blessed us. That fountain really is lucky. The rain even stopped.

The 3 of us.

European teenagers love wearing black. We do what we can to fit in. They also love to play scratchy techno on their cell phone speakers in enclosed spaces like the tube.

We went to the party in front of the Colosseum for the countdown. There was a show and a huge crowd. The city didn't seem to sponsor any sort of fireworks display, but there were many charitable Roman citizens in the crowd lighting them off. At the sky, at the trees, at each other. It didn't matter. The Polizia didn't seem too concerned about it either.