I want this to be short...
My birthday was slightly befogged by a bad headcold but I managed to have a full and happy day despite the streaming nose. The plan was to check out an old book and engravings market near the fontana di trevi which closed 1-ish and then do a touristy wander. I found an amazing store called RE(f)USE which had stunning recycled art. I'll upload the spectacular(!) chandelier made from thick old-school NHS glasses- the kind i was too ashamed to wear in primary and most likely started my whole walking-the-world-blithely-blind thing. It was on a totally haute couture street where I'd be afraid to go inside any of the shops in all my dirt but this place seemed a little different- though no less immaculately presented.

Well I went inside and saw that it was all amazing, out of my league, craftwork but I was brave enough to engage the elegant counter lady in conversation and she let me take photos and when I went upstairs another girl took me into a special room of repurposed things turned into strange and amazing crockery and bags and all kinds. It was like entering a giant vault- I confess I had flashbacks to Princess Diaries 2 or something like it when their crown jewels are suddenly revealed to them. Seriously though it was pretty cool and hi tech. I asked the girl if their stuff is ever just art or if everything, like the crazy, scottie-like shredded magazine armchair, was useable- she said that if the stuff wasn't useful then it would just end up as another kind of refuse. They discovered their artists from all different places, including the internet- but they didn't create things themselves. Seemed like an interesting set up- the alternative, ethical craft scene at the high end of the scale- and apparently unique in Italy.

The antique book market was just a few little stalls with postcards and old pictures and leathery books in a sunny piazza. I spent forever browsing happily and nobody felt impatient when I finally plucked out one measly half euro postcard out of the pile of antiques. I'll show you tomorrow- It's three men on a tandem bike out riding a steam train.

Later in the evening the aunt and I bought around 20 bottles of shampoo and stuff and a long window wiper which i twirled about on the way home like Dick Van Dyke doing his chimney sweep routine.

edited to add: I saw the fountain and it was big and crowded- I was more excited about my delicious ice cream. I tried eating it in MUJI but the tall black store guys said salaam nicely then threw me out..