意大利首都羅馬 / La Roma (Rome) Capital City of Italy

我今早到達羅馬,的士經過那些千年古蹟,總覺得自己只是一個浮生過客,是永桓城歷史上数以千萬計之其中的一個訪客,正是前有古人,後有來者。但每一個愛慕者都有他/她对這個城市的感受、經驗、覌點。現代羅馬就是以歷史來吸引遊客,「鬥獸場」附近就有很多穿上古裝的「士兵」,收費拍照。那也是很皮毛和商業化的交易,但如果那是大眾的需求,我這個普通遊客又唱什么髙調?

I arrived at Rome earlier today. As the taxi driver negotiated through the heavy downtown traffic, I couldn’t help but felt I was just a visitor from the floating world, one that was among the million of visitors before and after me. Often, people come to Rome the Eternal City to validate his/her own preconception, experience and feelings about this place. And the city plays up to and plays along with the visitors’ expectation of its rich history. Outside the Colosseo, there are people dressed in old Roman Soldier uniforms offering to have their pictures taken for a fee. While the transaction seems a bit superficial and commercialized, but hey, if that is what the tourists want, then who am I to say I am holier than thou (no pun intended for the Holy See either).