24TH May 1999 – via Vittorio Veneto

 I am standing at the third floor window of the Grand Flora Hotel in Rome – warm sun and a warm breeze – drinking champagne from IBM – in a suite so luxuriously decorated with pink marble, antiques and a bed 2.5 meetres squatre ….. the Roman sound of Vespas and tooting horns fill the air, and I look across at rooftop gardens, and colours ranging from pinks to salmon to gritty blues – a huge magnolia tree is under our window, the big glass windows in our room open in – as do the ones in the bathroom – a bath so big and deep, its more like a swimming pool.   However, one cannot get an iron ….. beautiful inlay timber bedheads – at 900,000 lire per night, it seems ludicrous one cannot iron a dress!   Petty complaints from one being so indulged, indeed Sandra!

 Rome is an adventure, a gobsmacking, jaw dropping cultural and visual feast. We have walked until we are 2” shorter than on arrival on Thursday.   Literally miles.  The sights to behold at every turn, every building is worthy of mention, shuttered and grimy yes, and the feeling of decay and neglect gives rise to alarm – who IS taking care – is anyone taking care? – of this priceless heritage we glibly pollute and touch.   (There goes another police car/ambulance – Rome is a battery of noise on the eardrums!)  Piles of garbage fester.  Gypsies lie prostrate.  The men have such arrogance and disdain you could scream! And then a sweet lady gently asks “May I help you?”    And when we’ve waited almost an hour for a bus “Does the 492 come here?” – the driver of bus replies “Yes”.  (He doesn’t mention ‘only on weekends’ however.)   Sadly, today is Monday.   But that is Rome.   La dolce vita – you need to let that go, to be present to the incredible romance here!   Everyone hugs, kisses – passionately, sensuously.   Twenty year olds and grey haired Romeos, whose perving love, placing his woman’s hand discreetly upon his crotch – (we view this secretly, from above)  “This is what I have for you, later! ….)