Romance in Rome or otherwise knows as Beauty and the Beast

Well, my fingers dance randomly across the keyboard as I ponder about what to write in my next entry. So, here goes.

In 2001, i studied and backpacked around Europe. Half the trip was spent on the island of Crete, completed my degree in IT. The rest of the trip was a chaotic journey across Greece, across the Adriatic Sea, and the slow climb from Brindisi (southern Italy) to Sondrio (nothern Italy -where my relatives lived). Along the way, I caught with one of my close mates, James Kenyon. We met at the foot of the Colosseum in Rome. It was fairly easy to find; hop on a subway and go towards the station called the Colosseo. So logical. If only Melboure were this logical. For example, if I needed to go work, I simply hop in a train and head towards the station called work. Brilliant.

Back to my story, James and I visited several destinations in Rome, including the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and the Vatican. As James and I meandered (or was it sauntered) around St Peters Square and were amazed at the architecture around us. I saw a newly wed couple posing for photos in the middle of the square. They seem to be quite wealthy; both of them were dressed in an opulent fashion. This is besides the fact that the couple are having their wedding photos taken in front of the Vatican in the middle of St Peters Square. I mean, seriously, who has their wedding photos taken in front of the Vatican among priests and clergymen and in view of archbishops, Swiss Guards and possibly the Pope.

So, (I can't remember whose idea this was) James or I suggested I get a photo with the bride; just the bride.

Now, let us consider this for a brief moment. The bride was stunning; she dark, olive skin and wore in a white wedding dress that shimmered in the sun. On the other hand, I was not stunning, but rugged. Instead, I was unshaven, sweaty and dressed in drab travel gear. ( So, I waited until the groom was distracted and approached the bride and, in broken Italian, asked for a photo. She said yes!!!!

So, here I present to you Beauty and the Beast. (I will let you decide who is the beauty and who is the beast).