Amanda posted her Friendly Friday photo challenge just as I was getting ready to leave for Rome. When I saw that the theme is revisit, I took it as a sign and returned to 2012 when I was here first and had no way of knowing that I’d return as often.
Do you know what I’m doing in the picture above? That’s right, I’m throwing a coin in the Fontana di Trevi. If you believe the myth, this act will bring about your return to Rome. Do not throw that coin if you don’t wish to come back. Because you will.
When I agreed to visit amore upon his invitation, I was in a relationship and moving to Italy was the last thing on my mind. Let’s just say that life moves in mysterious ways. It might have been that coin after all.
But if you look at these photos, it’s obvious. The smiles were here to stay.
With the purpose of answering the call of this challenge, I have chosen photos that show locations or acts that I have not revisited or redone since. Do not mistake it for a complaint. Not only the first time can never be repeated, but if I throw another coin in there, the magic might end.
Greetings from Rome and have a friendly weekend.
Oh, and if you have a good look at the photo above the Fontana di Trevi one in the gallery below, you will notice the poster saying Senza paura, which means No fear. It was the first thing I saw as I exited the Termini train station upon my arrival that first time.
And today I drove into Rome like a boss, myself, without a fear, with bestia in the back, to spend the weekend with amore and his father. Who would have thunk.
So, what all I have not seen since:
An Adam on the hotel balcony who realises he has just bitten. 😀 Giardino degli aranci (Orange Garden). The first place he took me to see. I think we must return here for an anniversary. It was lovely. I don’t even know where this is. (I know! It’s the same Cathedral near the Termini station that we visited about a month ago and I wrote about it for a Thursday Doors post!) This made me reconsider Rome and its history: Or is hockey a really old game or somebody was pushing it. At the Stadio dei Marmi. The Tevere (Tiber). I haven’t seen an arrangement like this since. We passed this on our boat ride. We haven’t been on another one. Where is it? I haven’t been as close to the island on the Tiber and the maternity hospital where amore was born since. Oh, yes, this is here too. I’ve only seen it once since. I forget it’s here (and have never been inside). Oh right! We passed this on the tourist bus and haven’t been back. It’s pretty. Haven’t taken any more tourist busses either. (“No fear” bottom right.) Then it was time for the act of no return. I’ve been there a few times since and every time couldn’t wait to escape. The crowds are thick and I’m an introvert. I haven’t toured any of these yet. I don’t even know what they are called. (Fori Imperiali? Maybe.) Amore drove for ever and we had dinner here three times. I wonder if he’d find it again. On the third night I had to ask them to cut down on peperoncino seeds in everything. (Burns like a bat from hell.) Haven’t revisited the Vatican Museums yet. Impressive. Have neither heard it or read about the daily noon cannon shot from the Gianicolo. Did I make it up? Do they still shoot up there? No visitor wished to go to Tivoli and Villa d’Este yet so we haven’t returned. We must, it’s glorious. We haven’t stopped at the Mouth of Truth again either. I hear it’s no longer free. See? The only door photo I have from Rome and it’s not even entire. I didn’t know Norm yet. We passed this car antique display by chance. I’d love to do it again. Frankly, I forgot all about this guy living around here. I have no word for him in English. If I met him in the wild, I’d be very surprised. We spent several days at our present home in Tuscany too and from there we visited Isola del Giglio. Never again amore was walking for HALF AN HOUR in scorching sun just to visit a beach. We’ve had pizza though, and beer, on a number of occasions. Also right here, in the same pizzeria on the Lily island. Costa Concordia is gone by now though. It was a shock. I didn’t know it was there that it had happened.
Below is the logo for her mother’s challenge that Amanda’s daughter made, and next Friday it’s again The Snow Melts Somewhere’s turn to host the challenge.

For Friendly Friday Photo Challenge hosted by Amanda from Something to Ponder About
Lots of revisiting to do! And yes, Shawn Emily and I threw a coin in Trevi! It’s only a matter of time 🙂
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Yeahhhh, Liz, it’s working! Thank you!
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>> If you believe the myth, this act will bring about your return to Rome.
I hope it is true 😉
Have a wonderful day!
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Thank you, Helen. It is. 😉
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Oh that’s so romantic! I’m not big on romance, but that did my heart good.
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Oh, Joey, I don’t know what romance is for other people but I’m big on exactly the kind of romance you exude in your posts. Yesterday as I sat into the car full of gas I thought of you. This is it. Thanks!
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Aw. Yeah. 🙂
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Fantastic post, Manja! I learnt quite a bit about you. First I would never guess that you are any introvert, like me. Wow.
Second, that the scorching sun bothered you..like me. Thirdly, you love pizza.Like me. So much in common.
Isn’t it funny how we have attractions in familiar places that we overlook and don’t visit. I find there are places I only take tourists to but don’t visit myself and am pleasantly surprised when I do go.
Why haven’t you been inside the colosseum? Too many tourists? P.S. I have not been to Rome.
Fantastic collection of photos for Friendly Friday. Thanks for using my daughter’s logo. She will love that.
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The older I get, less heat I can take. But in this case it was amore and his concept of “walking” that didn’t agree with reality. 😀 Italians don’t walk, especially if they can drive. The Colosseum has been waiting for so long, it can wait for me a bit more. 😉 It’s just stones, amore says. And he was only inside once just recently, for work. He is electrician and some works had to be done. 😀 And pizza, well… pizza is pizza. 😉 Thank you for your attention and recognition of similarity. 🙂
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Great photos and memories. You are really opening my eyes to Rome!
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Thanks, Gavin. That’s a good thing, I presume. 🙂
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Yes, definitely
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Well Bravo my friend. This was more than enough to give me the craving to go back to Rome. So much to see and do there it’s impossible to cover it all.
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Thanks, Norm. 🙂 We did well. You are always welcome back, Roma can’t wait. Oh, and amore told me about the third photo, where I say I have no idea where that was: It’s just outside of Termini! It’s exactly that cathedral with peculiar surfer doors we visited about a month ago! The one that was closed where you were here. How strange. Also, today it’s raining so much that everybody is asleep except for me. No strolling…
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Aaaa, Mouth of Truth, like the movie. Did you tell the truth?
Love the trees.
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Hehe, Bojana, I might have thought the truth. 😉 But no, I always tell the truth, so much easier to live this way. I have to be asked though. 😀 Thank you!
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Easier it is. We overcomplicate any way.
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Funny to see that photo of you tossing that coin, happily oblivious to the near future… It could be the start of a romantic comedy 🙂
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Hehhe. Can you spot a bit of naiveity there, SMSW? 😉 Thanks, I can just see the film… I wonder who’d be playing us. He would be Gary Oldman, that’s for sure. And me??
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Oh would he?
I was trying to think of who could be playing the main roles and then I realized I’m so out of touch with today’s actors! 😀
Who’s your favorite actress?
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He! I don’t think I even have one. I have been compared to Brooke Shields (but that was by mom) and Geena Davis. 😀 I like Patricia Arquette, for example. Oh, and Susan Sarandon. I can’t think of anybody else. 😦 More recent actresses I only know by face, if!
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Oh, I can see Brooke Shields and Geena Davis in you. I’ve been compared to Uma Thurman many times but I think she looks a bit weird so I always get a bit uneasy, hahah 🙂 My favorite actress might be Audrey Tatou, there must be others too but I honestly can’t remember any right now!!! 😀
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You’re kind. 😀 And Uma is the man!! (Not physically, of course, she’s beautiful.) If I remembered, I’d mention her as a favourite. And Audrey is French and pretty. 🙂
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I can see Geena Davis, in you, Manja!
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Kind Amanda. 🙂 Thanks!
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