Midnight on July 9th, 2006 (Rome, Piazza Venezia)

I was there. Partying like a "vero romano", after Italy's victory over France on the 2006 Soccer World Championship's Final... Everybody was totally crazy, and nobody wanted to go back home. I like this shot, it reflects well how was to be there, on that very emotional night. And I miss Rome too...

Rome

On days like this, I always wish I was there.

Of all places on Earth, I love Rome the best. And this building, the Pantheon, is quite simply magical.

Until you visit it, you can't possibly imagine how special it is, and not only because it inspired Brunelleschi's desing of Florence's Cathedral dome (and by consequence Michelangelo's St. Peter's or Wren's St. Paul's... or even the Capitol in Washington). Its top opening gives the interior a very peculiar atmosphere, with a permanent mist and even an ocassional light rain.

I used the Oly E500 with the consumer 14-45 zoom, hence the barrel distortion. Nevertheless I still like this picture. It brings happy memories.