Arrivederci Roma

Proof positive that it is impossible to have too much of a good thing. When one reflection is just not enough, what about four or five?

Today, I walked around Rome for a couple of hours before heading to the airport for flights to London and then CDG in Paris.

I have loved Rome, I really didn't expect to even like it - not sure really why I decided to come here but I certainly left a little piece of my heart here.

So here are todays pixs. First is proof postive that the early bird, if she doesn't get the worm, at least gets the wonderful photo, I loved this tree throwing such a perfect shadow in the early morning light:



This wall is near the Villa Borghese gardens and it really captured my eye:



This statue made me laugh. It looks pretty angry with having to hold up the front of the Westin Hotel - and I'm not sure who the artist modelled it on, but it is a very ambiguous piece!



One of my themes this trip is lights and this morning I lucked out with this perfect shadow - you don't get these in the middle of the day - you have to be up early enough to capture the light coming at just the right angle:



Here's another of the light fittings I shot, they have such wonderful detail and they are so varied:



No great graffiti today, but this snippet caught my eye:



Autumn in Rome, I love how the reflection of the trees has painted this car:



When I was a kid, my brother had this cute little minature train set. This petrol station could have been part of his set. I guess when you have little cars and lots of scooters you don't need petrol stations the size of supermarket parking lots:



And finally, another really old number plate on the cutest Fiat car:

Falling in love with Rome

I have been surprised at how easy Rome is to walk. On the map it looks so much bigger than it really is. You need to walk it too or you miss so much of the tiny details that, together, go to make the city.

As you look at these photos, insert backing sounds of church bells ringing, traffic and the sirens of the local carbineri and politzia as they whizz around this wonderful city.

Here are some images from the themes I've been shooting. One is roof tops and the wonderful chimney pots and layers in the roofs of the city:







Close ups from statues, churches and fountains is another of my themes. The first is detail from the Trevi fountain and the second is from one of the three fountains in the Piazza Navona:



OMG, there's a pigeon on my nose!





From a church in Orvieto:



Same church, here are the colours of Italy in the door detail:



Another theme is windows, here is one through which you can see to the building behind. It is from the Forum area in Rome:



This window harbours a reflection of a nearby building:









Mirror, Mirror on the wall...



I find that domes are much more interesting in the context of their surrounds, like this one:



Another of my themes this trip is light fittings. I have a huge collection of wonderful street lights and shop lights. This is a set from near the Colosseo in Rome:



As luck would have it, United Colors of Beneton is right opposite the Trevi Fountain. So, with your back to the fountain you can see it reflected in the shop window. Here's the result:







Another morning, I found a map and paper shop with a street light in front. This photo is more reminiscent of a multi shot taken using film and has a collage feel to it - gotta love reflections:



Everywhere throughout Italy you can find religious icons above houses and at nearly every street corner. I have a grab bag of photos of them, this is one of the more elaborate I've found:



Finally, who can resist a market such as the one at the Campo de Fiori, and the wonderful variety of fruit on display:



Or this streetside tie display:



And what is a day without some wonderful graffiti?