In 1175 Alain De Lille said, "Mille viae ducunt homines per saecula Romam", or as we would say today, "All roads lead to Rome." Well, I'm not sure about you, but, mine certainly does. I know that all of you loyal readers have been waiting to read more about my life after my two week hiatus.
So here it is, my very own Audrey Hepburn styled Roman Holiday. Although, I do warn you there is no runaway royalty or Vespas involved. But, it does involve Italian; shoes, bags, paintings, and above all FOOD. Rome has always been a dream for me. The people, history, culture. Jessica came with me as holiday support, although in the end it was I supporting her and her ridiculous choice in shoes and coming from a kid with more shoes than most socialites, it should come with some weight. We started our Roman Holiday at Birmingham International Airport, one of the most amusing places to people watch at and never did it disappoint. My shear favorite group of highly intellectual, productive members of society were a group of 30-40 year old men dressed in animal onesies. Oh yes, the best was the penguin who left something metal in his pouch and had to be searched by a guard. Nothing like watching a grown man in uniform search a 40 year old penguin. It was only 6:30 in the morning, this was sure to be an amazing holiday.
Flying over Rome is like something from
Under the Tuscan Sun. Complete with rolling hills of golden flowers and creepy Italian trees and in the distance sits massive domed basilicas and bell towers. The only problem is we still had to get into the city and when traveling with someone who has the same in seem length as a Barbie Doll it can prove hazardous. Fiumicno Airport is a very well laid out airport and is easy to get around, The train station that probably predates Christ is a different story. You have three areas to purchase your tickets from, all of which look like a scam. Once you purchase your ticket you don't put it in a turnstile, oh no, you put it in a stamp machine, circa 1950. We then made a rather dramatic dash to the train as we only had one minute left. The train take about 30 minutes to get into Rome. Once we had arrived in Rome I was given a tour of the train station including the spot where her and Larissa had decided to play it homeless and sleep on their last night in Rome. From the train we walked to our hotel. The hotel was something out of a Versailles wet dream. Everything was gilded with silk damask walk paper and chandeliers in the Room, after all, "When in Rome." From the hotel we headed to explore the birthplace of one of the greatest empire the world had ever scene, the Roman Forum. Upon your first glance it looks like nothing more than a bunch of collapsed columns and ruins. Then you think of everything that happened there. It was where everything was decided in the empire and where some of the most historically important men ruled, from; Julius Ceasar, to Marc Antony, and Octavius. Leading up to the Forum in the Victor Emmanuel II Monument. You wouldn't think it was a monument, you would think that it must be a former Royal Palace or the Italian Parliament Building, but no, It's a monument that had a museum put in it. It stands in front of grand piazza. with grand staircases leading up to a massive statue of Victor Emmanuel on a horse the towers over 30 feet in the air. and up further stair you come to an imposing neoclassic pavilion that looks over all of Rome. Adjacent to the monument is a grand cobblestone avenue that leads to the Colosseum. I always underestimated the shear size of the Colosseum. For a building that has survived 2,000 years and countless attacks it is in amazing shape. The Colosseum stands over 150 feet tall and at one time could seat over 55,000 people.
On the other side of historic Rome you have the Pantheon, the oldest church in Rome and one of the best preserved buildings from the Roman Empire. From the outside it looks like a beaten unimpressive domed building, but as mothers always say, "Don't judge a book by it's cover." Isn't that the biggest understatement ever. When you walk into the former temple you are left in awe from the dome although on the outside it looks small it triples in size in the interior. It also is decorated in intricate moldings, and to think that the building is 2,000 years old, There is a giant oculous in center of the dome which is the only source of light. Basking in the light it emits with my eyes closed and taking in my surroundings and where I was was by far one of the most incredible experiences I had ever had and I highly recommend it to everyone who goes to Rome. Encompassing the entire interior are grand marble pillars, statues and walls that reflect it's significance.
On the top of lists of things to see was the Vatican. It was by far one of the most incredible imposing places I had ever been. We decided to take a tour of the city with a tour and although we were able to skip the line. The guide was absolutely atrocious and needs to rethink his mid life crisis career choice. He could not take away from the grandeur a mystic of the city. I can not seemingly describe everything about the city. From the grand marble statue galleries, to the intricate frescoes on the walls and ceilings. To the manicured landscaping which look like Jesus himself had done, pun intended. But among all jewels was the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo's greatest masterpiece. the ceiling is the fresco of all frescoes. and depicts everything from the creation of the earth to the Great Flood. Each scene gradually becomes larger and faces right side from the Pope's chair as His Holiness would not have to strain to see each scene. Seeing the creation was by far one of the coolest things I had ever seen and is actually quite impressive. And as I am a dedicated author for you, my loyal readers, I incurred the wrath of the wanna be Swiss Guards security officers who worked at the museum. Apparently, it says you can't take photos in the Sistine Chapel, thankfully for you all I elected to not be able to observe signs for that hour and took a series of photos, only to be rudely interrupted by a mono toned guard who apparently only could only say, "No photos" in English. So, I decided to act like I only spoke French, "Tu Parle Francais?" After the museum we proceeded to St. Peter's Basilica. Walking into the basilica you are immediately struck by a magnificent golden stained glassed window that encompasses a clock at the altar of the basilica. As you walk through you are then struck by the ever enlarging size of the basilica. You don't realize the shear size of the basilica until you look upon a huge bronze canopy that is about 100 feet tall. The canopy known as, Bernini's Baldachinni can actually fit inside the uppermost dome of the basilica which when you look at the uppermost dome and then the size of the canopy makes you realize the actual size of the basilica. Upon leaving the basilica and looking upon St. Peter's Square, the giant Egyptian obelisk and the grand avenue leading up to the Vatican you feel this greatness come over you.
Then there is the Trevi Fountain. Considered to be Bernini's greatest masterpiece the traverstine stone fountain is one of the most famous in the world. 3,000 euros a day are thrown into the fountain, which are then used to finance a market for homeless people. As per tradition with the fountain you throw a coin in over your head into the fountain and it will ensure you a return visit to Rome. I certainly hope this is the case.
Rome was everything I dreamed it would be. During my holiday It made me realize that I want to live in Rome and subsequently I will set out to go to grad school in Rome.
From the food, which was like heaven. You have not truly lived until you have had real Italian food. to the people, all of which have an Italian way of live which is like something from La Dolce Vita. To the clothes, all of the men look like they had a free for all in my closets. And of course the art. I won't bore you all with my confessions of shopping, but, all I will say is that an influx of the Italian way of live is headed to New York. To the dismay of my mother I would like to call Rome home one day and I find it the perfect place to raise a family. Who knows what the future will bring, but as far as the Trevi Fountain is concerned Rome has yet to see the last of me.
