I have bags under my eyes and its all the fault of an overactive imagination and a striking it lucky at a recent book warehouse sale. One of my favourite authors is Lindsey Davis and her Marcus Didius Falco historical crime investigation series. I stumbled on one of the books a while ago, and loved it so much, I have been collecting the series ever since.
I presently have 7 including the omnibus I picked up recently for a steal. 3 books in one, that kept me busy every night for the past couple of weeks as I savoured every word and found myself travelling back in time to Imperial Rome circa 72AD. So if I look tired its because I’ve been travelling every night! 
The Didius Falco books are a rollicking good read with wonderful descriptions of old Rome and lovely satirical humour as only an English writer knows how. I can truly identify with the characters portrayed and the writing is a wonderful blend of fiction and history of Rome during the Flavian dynasty. I’ve even started reading up on Emperor Vespasian and Roman history now!
What is has also done is made me long to see Rome again.
As a student many moons ago, I stepped foot in the ruins of the Roman Forum and fell in love with the place. Rome is a crazy place - traffic is nuts and I walked the streets in fear of being mowed down by an Italian wannabe race car driver hurtling down the famously straight roads that the ancient Romans built. Walking among the ruins of the Roman Forum and Senate where the seeds of democratic governments were sown and grown, I could almost see the toga-clad Senators walking around spouting their oratories and hear the roar of the crowd from the Circus Maximus not very far away. I could sit there for hours lost in my imagination. My travel mates were not terribly amused I think LOL
Walking in the ruins of the Colleseum, I felt a chill run down my spine as I imagined the blood and fear from the condemned prisoners and gladiators that fought each other and wild animals for the entertainment of the Emperor and the public. I was not quite happy until I had exited and found myself out in the warm Roman sunshine back in present day Rome (yes with a car hurtling down the street at breakneck speed!). Blame it on an overactive imagination.
So, Lindsey Davis has made me long to see Rome again, to see the historical ruins, and to eat gelato in the warm Italian sun as I make my wishes at the Fontana de Trevi. Unfortunately that will cost me an arm and a leg so Rome will have to wait.
A nostalgic and depressing post aside, I made me some mini cards from Moo:
Cute eh? Next time you see me, you know what to ask for! 
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2 comments ↓
Oh, those Moo cards are so cute! How many did you get and how much does it cost you?
@rinnah:You get 100 in a set I think and I can’t remember the price now. Its on the site though.