Design Recollections

Andrew and I have been reminiscing about our trip to Rome in 2003. He has been several times through work but together we had one long weekend and it was just the best weekend city break I have ever had. My reason for going is a little weird but involved the love of a pop star that I still love today.

His name is Will Young. He was playing at a music festival and I (and a lot of other people) could not resist the urge to go. This was not the only time I travelled to Italy to see him. I made a trip to Verona as well, now that was another great trip. I had to justify the journey and expense by making these trips more than just concert attendance and so I did. The long weekends meant I could see something of Italys beautiful cities and architecture. Worth every penny in my book.

Andrew came to Rome to be our tour guide. It worked well as he had a rough idea where we were all the time and how to get where we wanted. I loved it.

This all came around as I was completing a CJ entry last night on my favourite city. There was only one choice.

The Vatican

By chance I was watching the Brit awards and Will was up for best single with ‘All Time Love’. I knew he was unlikely to get it despite the best efforts of his devoted fans.’ Take That’ were tipped to take that and they did lol!

The day of the festival in Rome we arrived at the Plazza Del Popolo by 10 AM, it was a soaring hot day. By noon it had reached over 30 degrees. Many of us who were complete fools stayed out in this ridiculous heat for 10 hours. Will was not due on stage until 8PM that night. Friends took it in shifts to fetch ice water for the rest. It was quite an operation. What was astonishing was putting in so much water and none of it coming out throughout the entire day! Not one loo stop was needed, shows how hot it was and how much fluid we were using up just staying out in the heat. Don’t even want to think about how fresh we all must have smelt after the concert…………phewwwwwww

Not one of us who was pinned at the front of the barrier was prepared to give up their space unless they were close to dying and believe me I thought many were at certain points. Some did give in eventually but not the die hardy, of which I am embarrassed to say, I was one.  The Italians were so concerned by the growing numbers parked out in the heat they sent in water cannons and soaked by freezing cold water we were! It was bliss at the time.

This was the first outing for my brand new Minolta 7i digital camera. It had cost me a fortune but in my determination to get better concert shots, it was bought. It was the best thing I ever did. It took fantastic quality pictures right up until I was burgled last year and it was stolen. That however, led to my new SLR purchase, so it was not all bad

Will in RomeWill was the reason for my initial interest in taking better pictures. Today, it is a completely different story but that was the start of my journey into photography.  Will has been responsible for lots of things I have done and places I have been. None of them I regret for an instant. Watching the Brits last night brought back many happy memories of the twice I was at the Brits myself. Great experiences I would not change for the world.

Had I not been to Rome I  would be without some of the wonderful pictures of the city that I have. I have scrapped these many times for different projects and each one makes me smile.

Trevi Fountain

One day I will return and visit the many places I have yet to see and take more pictures of my favourite city in the world.

I shall find some pictures from Verona for tomorrow, can’t see to locate them right now and I must go get some chores done.

Everything happens for a reason, at the time,  they may seem odd reasons but looking back these were really fun times and although I would not do them again, I would not change them either. I still have some wonderful friends that I made over my ‘Will Obsessed’ period, that was another bonus. *waves to all those friends who browse this blog* lubs ya!

Favourite City CJ

Until later xx….