Notte Bianca

Saturday night was Notte Bianca in Rome, which is a special celebration held annually in which three to four million people stay out all night long and celebrate. I'm not sure that anyone really knows what is being celebrated, but the Italians keep all of their stores open all night and bars, discos, etc are all alive. There are acrobats and jazz bands and other performances in designated places all over the city! About seven of my friends and I went out that night until 5:30 AM and when we went home it seemed as though the city-wide party would be pulsing for many hours more. The streets were filled with people like New Years Eve and anyone wishing to drive on the roads must have been kidding themselves because not a space was unoccupied with people. The buses were filled to the brim, carrying expectant people from one display to another all over the city. Crepe and panini stands were open for this night only all over the place and police swarmed with the heightened sense of disorder. Everything felt very safe and fun and connected by a harmony that we were all there experiencing the night as a whole group. In Italy theres a chant (ohhh oh oh oh oh ohhhhh oh) that you come to know really well after not too long, and, randomly, all of us in the Via del Corso would break out into it and hear it ring above all of the trendy shops and kiosks. It was amazing to feel that as you walked along - just an elation to be where you were.
We had a great time and slept really late the next day. Check Flickr for some pictures (I didnt take too many but there are a couple).