Roman Holiday

Along a river bank during sunset, parrots wing from branch to branch in the trees above us. A meal of deep-fried-in-olive oil artichoke and mozzarella smothered aubergines. Ruins braced by small deli's and gelato shops. Small lizards crawl over sunburnt plaster walls, leading up to paintings of the Virgin and Child protected by glass-enclosed intricately framed boxes.

This is Rome.

A quiet and friendly place, plenty of proscuitto and pasta for everyone. Outside the stampedes inside the Vatican and along the Colosseum you can find the most precious alleys and piazzas with fruit stalls selling melon, small tabacconists selling 2euro 66cl Peronis, and little Jewish panificos selling the best(and cheapest)white pizzas.

All in all, our little Roman holiday was blissful and full of so much beauty that coming back to Paris seemed disappointing-until I remembered that we can see the dome of Sacré Coeur from the street of our favorite fromagerie, and though we may not be able to get a good Italian beer for a few euros, we can get a great bottle of Rose for the change found in the bottom of my purse.