Things have been happening like an avalanche ever since we got back. During the trip, thanks to leisurely mornings, schedules in our control, and unbothered days, time stayed 'slow'. Life unpaused itself the moment we touched down, and it has moved as fast as a well-rested engine moves.
Alright. This is the last post in the Europe Diary series, covering the last 2 days.
23-Oct-2026
Rome, Italy
This day had us prepping up for the trip's conclusion. We moved hotels in the morning so that it wouldn't be a deterrent to the day's plans. And the day's plans started around noon. And they consisted of Colosseum and Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II.
The weather was pleasant, and we assuredly left our jackets at the hotel. We walked considerably far to spot Colosseum from a distance. It was a sight to behold. Most Indian millennials have had Colosseum featuring in their academic syllabi covering western history. Indian schools mostly do a poor job in teaching History excitingly. So, a very few monuments retain the allure after years of forgotten history lessons. Colosseum, for me, stood that test of time.
As we stood there waiting in the line to enter Colosseum, I learnt that its inauguration ceremony lasted a 100 days. The line moved forward briskly as I wondered about the exhaustive performative arts' list to fill a 100 days of celebration.
We got in, and we went around it all. The gradual ruination had its own cast of charm on the structure. Colosseum is irreverently large in contrast to our marinated imaginations. I remember thinking about how magnificently it may have stood during its day, with all its visitors suitably dressed for the time. And I blinked back to the present, and saw visitors in contemporary clothing, raising their both hands joining to hold their cameras, and I chuckled at the anachronistic absurdity of the moment.
A solid hour's tour later, we heard gastronomic rumblings. We found ourselves at a café. A cute one eating into an alley's better part, but no one seemed to complain. I asked our table's waiter if we could smoke there, and he darted back a wink with "smoke what?"
A meal & a beer later, we resumed our expedition to cover the 2nd monument of the day. The one which would captivate my senses from afar and close alike. A marble structure of breathtaking size, with 'regality' as its subtheme. Built to honor unified Italy's first king, it screamed 'fortitude' to me, the fortitude taken to unite warring factions. Never had I ever enjoyed climbing stairs more, than what I did to reach the famous King Vittorio Emanuele II's statue. To stand behind the statue, at an altitude, to see the statue's galloping horse lording over Rome is a visual memory I will take to my grave.
Swathi wanted to retain a night-time visual memory of Colosseum. So, we walked back to it, stopped at a distance from where we could see it all bathed in its nightly glow, caught ourselves grinning, and returned to the hotel.
Most nights on the trip ended with good local beer for me and comfort food wherever available. We were at Sheraton in Rome, and this Sheraton is thrown far away from Rome's civilisation. No stores or people anywhere close, apart from the luxurious golf courses and retreats that make for a stunning aerial view. We fiddled with local delivery apps for food & beer, and we were able to order eventually. And guess who comes to deliver our order: a Telugu boy who made Rome his home 8 yrs ago. Looking at my username, he texted me saying he knew Telugu too. You know the adage: You throw a stone and it lands on a Telugu guy.
Beers & pizza were downed as the day went down. Aching legs ensured they got their due rest.
24-Oct-2026
Rome, Italy
Last day of the trip. And my favorite day. Shopping Day. Does an image of a dandy crop up in your head as you read the last line? I'll smirk at you in my new polos.
We headed to Castel Romano designer shopping district as the last day's activity. I stuffed myself with enough carbs to withstand my dizziness and march on from outlet to outlet. Swathi played a dutiful second-fiddle to a frenzy-me. I bought decent stuff for myself and friends & family.
Shopping district to hotel to airport - for a flight at about 11 pm, Italy time. It was a flight like most flights. Droning, dull, and stretched in time. We made it back in 1 piece.
25-Oct-2026
Hyderabad, India
We are back to a neatly-left-behind home, and it's not to my credit. We dropped dead on thee sofa, and I placed several orders in Zomato to catch up on carb loading. We vowed to stay away from breads for the foreseeable future.
And the night fell. Before the avalanche week began.
Thank you for reading this silly attempt at chronicling the trip. I hope it was funny at places.
we enjoyed a lot sir.
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