Italy in Spring Part 7 Rome

28 years ago, though in late autumn, I was last in Rome. At that time, we were alone in the Pantheon, accompanied only by another couple and four nuns in the Sistine Chapel, and at Campo dei Fiori, the most beautiful flowers I had ever seen were on display. We strolled through the Roman Forum and sat on the Spanish Steps. Today, everything is different.

I have only seen such crowds in Seville. And that was in April. Besides, scaffolding, construction barriers, and cranes are everywhere. Nevertheless, I spent two lovely days in Rome and had a very nice encounter. On the last evening, I sat in front of a bar near the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, on my way back to the hotel. I had a glass of wine and knitted. Many tourists passed by me, as well as a few locals with their children, whom they apparently had picked up from school or kindergarten. Then a young person walked by - or rather floated by - and returned shortly after. They paced a bit, unsure or waiting for someone? Then they approached me and asked in English if they could sit with me. I naturally said yes. They introduced themselves as Charlotte, I shared my name, and suddenly we were deep in personal conversation. She told me that she comes from Canada, is on a three-month trip with a friend, who quickly decided she needed rest and didn't want a city vacation. Charlotte has since been traveling alone in Europe and will only meet her friend at the end of the trip in Malaga. She mentioned that she is considering traveling to Berlin next. I said I believe she would like it there. It was simply nice to talk to this young person. She told me she had the courage to approach me because she found it so lovely how I was sitting there knitting. I was quite touched. 20 years old! We hugged while saying goodbye. I felt very happy and also a bit proud.