Night and Day
Being in Rome wasn't nearly the first time I was abroad, but being someone who values efficiency over anything, I used to lean more towards a check list approach to traveling. If I only have limited time in a place, why wouldn't I try to go to every interesting spot in this city and make every minute count?
Over 3 years ago, I had the luxury to be in Rome for 5 weeks to complete a documentary filming project. Settled down in a 3 bedroom apartment by an alley in Trastevere, we began our short journey as Romans. With the amount of time in our hands, we stroll around the city during the day and often at night. Then I realized, There are 2 sides of Rome, alternating between each other at the break of dawn and sunset.
During the day, Rome can be under an abundance of sunshine and blue sky. Everything looks as majestic as anyone can imagine, throughout thousands of years of history and numerous empires, living up to its name as an Ancient City. Walk inside the Colosseo, you can almost see the gladiators fighting at the arena beneath you.
Hours later, as the air cools down and the moonlight lights the sky instead. Back on the Roman streets, most tourists have rested. As the night falls, you see the other side of the city with Romans winding off their day. Along with the passionate chatters from dinner tables along the streets, there's a bit of wine and pizza in the air. Come back to the Colosseo again, it's beautifully lit and asleep, waiting to long live another century.
Standing at the same point, you feel the contrast from every sense.
It wasn't a waste of time visiting the same place twice, I just met another side of Rome I never knew before.