The Lovers' Lane of Rome

    I'll make this short and sweet because, frankly, that's probably what it was. A few days ago, I headed to Ostia Antica, the ruins of a seventh-century city....in other words, a dirt labyrinth of crumbling walls and old dwellings. Unlike the Roman Forum, which is hardly a "ghost city," (what with crowds trampling its paths all day), Ostia Antica could actually still have spirits living in it. Not only is it fairly forgotten by tourists, it also has so many crevices and detours that most of its grounds have probably never seen a Nike shoe.
    No doubt walking along the deserted paths was a welcome break from Rome's busy streets: for one thing, I saw a lizard and a snake, whereas the best "wildlife" in Rome is a stray cat. As I was making my way through the maze, peeking into old dwellings, I heard an...ahem...interesting groan. A spirit, perhaps? Or maybe some other beast?
    Nope, neither. There, in the corner, a couple going at it. Seeing me, the dude winked, the girl carried on, and I scurried back into the sun. At least it wasn't some religious terrain, I thought as I laughed to myself. In fact, if the Roman gods' spirits were still floating around this place, they would probably be smiling too....well, at least Venus and Cupid would be.