Last week, Rome’s famous Trevi Fountain ran red, tainted by paint or dye. The fountain runs on a closed cycle, so the waters remained blood red until police and technicians shut the water off and restored a clear flow. What at first seemed like a practical joke was actually a political statement; the group that claimed responsibility for the act left leaflets at the sight explaining that it was protesting expenses incurred in organizing the Rome Film Festival. The color symbolized the event’s red carpet.
Once I was assured that nothing was damaged permanently, I had to laugh at this harmless act. Some lucky tourists got a once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity! It looks as if blóm, on Flickr, was one such lucky viewer.
[via Msnbc]