The 'when in Rome' philosophy holds a different significance for everyone who experiences the city, much like how everyone experiences life itself. In my experience, when in Rome I fell in love; with the city, the monuments, the energy, and yes, even the public transportation! As soon as we arrived, I was off to find the house I was going to be staying in for the weekend while everyone else waited to be able to check into their hotel rooms. How did I get so lucky, you ask?
Well, it just so happens that my two moms met a wonderful couple while they were in Rome last year. The weird thing is, out of the five nights they were there, they ran into this couple three times! Clearly, it was meant to be. Because of this they formed a relationship, which is how the opening for me to meet her came to be. The timing couldn't have been more perfect because she and her husband were going to Umbria for the weekend and were in need of a house-sitter. Of course, I jumped on the opportunity to experience Rome in a more authentic way!
As I walked into door of her house, an amazing energy smacked me in the face. It was an energy that was much like the one of Rome itself: sensual, creative, warm and full of life. I came to realize very quickly that Sienna is a very talented artist and business owner and has been living with her son and husband in Rome for twelve years! Learning this inspired me to dream of a life like this for myself (possibly minus the husband and kids) in the future. Unfortunately I wasn't able to meet the rest of her family, but I did get to know her cat, Spike, pretty well.
She showed me where the best stores were around her house as well as where to drink the best cappuccini! The best part? She lives about three blocks from one of the most famous monuments in Rome: the Colosseum. It was an insane feeling to walk almost right outside of her door and see the very thing that people come from all over the world to see. In my experience, it's a feeling that never really goes away completely.
We covered a lot of ground during the first tour of the city. We saw and learned about the Colosseum, the Roman Ruins, the Forum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, which were all very interesting and beautiful in their own ways. Of course, we all threw a coin into the Trevi Fountain to make certain that we would be coming back to Rome in the future, I'm sure on top of a few other endearing wishes. We wolfed down gelato from the best gelateria in all of Rome (according to the tour guide), and gazed at a panoramic view of the city from atop the Spanish Steps. The evening was topped off by taking a warm, relaxing shower and going to bed early to prepare for the next full, exciting day.
Saturday was spent taking a tour of the Vatican museums and the Sistine Chapel. I could not believe the breadth of these holy places! The inside of the cathedral was complete with an elaborate, winding altarpiece designed by Bernini, the original Pieta' sculpture by Michelangelo and other features of immense beauty. The energy in this building made my jaw drop and skin tingle (although the most beautiful Italian man I've ever seen probably intensified that feeling ;)) and a sense of peace washed over me like a wave spreading on the sand, simple and sure. I still can't believe how much time, intelligence, creativity and man power it took to build cathedrals like these. It humbles and inspires me on deep, intimate levels, and this only became more prominent as we walked into the Sistine Chapel. It completely blew me away; the amount of frescos and detail, as well as how well maintained and preserved they all are. Although I'm embarrassed to admit it, most of the time I had in there was spent thinking about how buff Michelangelo had to have been in order to pull off such a feat. My arm hurts just thinking about it...
The last wonderful day we had in Rome was busy and filled with joy. I got up early to go the Borghese Gallery to look at five of Bernini's most famous sculptures during the Baroque period. Of course, there was more to see other than those five things, but these were without a doubt the highlights. I could really connect with these sculptures because they represented passion, action, and emotion. I could feel them right down to my very core because they communicated such powerful and intense human characteristics. This is an appeal of Baroque art; it isn't just an interpretation of a simple figure in three dimension. They tell stories of human desire, power and sensuality while bringing real life into it's subjects in ways the art of the Renaissance could not. Bernini was the first to make sculptures come alive, and I'm so very glad he did because Rome would not have been the same without his influence. Perhaps this is where the energy of Rome comes from, and perhaps this is what fuels it. I hate to think of what would happen if all of the art and architecture was no more.
After working up an appetite exploring the city, I went to a cute little place called Caffe' Roma with two of my friends. The waitress was a very sexy, bold, and direct character who completely caught me off guard. She spoke perfect english, and as she set down my food she told me that she could tell I was a person with great inner strength, among a few other things like what my horoscope sign was. I was taken aback by how confident she was, and how well she could read my friends and I. It was possibly one of the coolest experiences I've ever had with a waitress, one that would make me want to go back again and again. I'm constantly amused by the kind of interactions I have with complete strangers. It makes me realize that there is no need to be afraid or hold back because you never know who's reading you ;)
It never ceases to amaze me how much history there is here and how far back it goes. I would love to have seen how they really lived back then, and to see how magnificent the buildings looked compared to how they look now. I wish I could truly know the ins and outs of the ancient civilizations of the Roman Empire...I think that would be so interesting! My imagination will have to do for now, at least until we invent time travel.
When in Rome, I realized that no matter where I am in the world, I am completely taken care of and comforted by strangers, but that there are never really any strangers in strange lands. When in Rome, I felt peace within the chaos of a very large city and the hustle and bustle of crowded transportation. When in Rome I felt the sensual and grounded energy of the art and locals alike; I felt what it would be like to live here someday. Everyone's experience here is different, but when in Rome I fell in love.
November 22, 2010
November 01, 2010
L'Arte di Avventura
I find it funny to have just recently realized how the simplest things in life make me the happiest. Give me art, language (which probably isn't simple within itself, but the concept is), chocolate, and something to laugh about and I am a happy soul. Being able to take a short bus ride to quaint little cities outside of Florence and explore the unknown is so appealing to me; there's something thrilling yet calming about adventure, wherever it may be. This week, those adventures took place in Pisa, Lucca, and Perugia.
When you think of Pisa, what's the first thing that comes to mind? Yep! The famous leaning tower (which, by the way, was never intended). The rest of Pisa is usually overshadowed by this, even the cathedral and baptistery to some extent. Anyway, the group and I were lucky enough to have a tour of these monuments, and if you had a whopping 15 euros to spend (:O!!!) you could climb the leaning tower. A couple things about this place were unforgettable to me; first, the baptistery. By itself, it might not seem special to the carefree mind of a young student, but I can guarantee that everyone, young and old, was moved by the sounds made by one of the tour guides inside that building. As he stepped up onto the platform, he began to sing. No, not with words...they were sounds like that of "ohm" and other pleasing octaves. It is impossible to explain the full effect, but it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard in my entire life. The notes bounced off of and between the baptistery dome which caused them to become intensified in a natural, surround-sound kind of way. They entered my ears and went right down to the tips of my toes, filling my soul with vibrations I didn't know existed. Intense shivers crawled down my spine as I closed my eyes to be fully present in those precious, short moments. It was purely magical.
Since I've been here, I've become a huge fan of gold: the way it makes a painting pop and part of a church glimmer in the sun. There is hardly any masterpiece done without some kind of gold leaf work involved. What I love is the intricate detail that exists within each cathedral; the amount of time, effort, patience and talent it took to complete them. All the thought and meaning that is involved when creating something beautiful blows me away. The architecture is just mind-boggling to me--I'm so happy that people valued it so highly and were patient enough to wait 500+ years for one of them to be completed! Inside the cathedral (and the baptistery), there was a pulpit that was ornately crafted and built upon four sculpted lions. These lions represented the faith that made up the foundation for the institution and more deeply, for life. This hit me like a ton of bricks! Faith is something I have always struggled with ever since I was a child. Not only when it comes to religion, but in having faith in life itself; trusting that no matter what happens, I will be taken care of by something larger than myself. On top of this concept, the four lions were nursing their cubs, symbolizing the nurturing and mother-like nature of faith. It made me realize that even if there isn't really a God or an Allah or a Buddha, or any other religious/spiritual figure for that matter, we are all connected; we all want to be nurtured by something outside of our human-ness...we all want somewhere to look when the going gets tough. Whatever path someone chooses to reach this "being" is solely their own and highly personal, and it no longer feels right for me to judge that path. All I need to know is that I am nurtured inside and out by what I choose to believe, and that is good enough for me!
Next came Lucca, the cutest little town ever! The main features of this city are: the wall that completely surrounds it and the old amphitheater that it was built around. It was possibly one of the most relaxing and charming experiences I've had on one of our day trips. I spent the day exploring the city, eating sweet things, speaking in Italian, climbing towers and having great conversations with friends. There was something about Lucca that made it so special, but I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it was the calm and gentle dispositions of every worker in that town, or the peaceful energy resonating within the city walls, but it was different from any other Tuscan town I've visited. I can definitely see myself living there someday!
The next day I had a trip to Perugia solo. Yes, by myself. The story behind the "how" is one of great personal healing, but I have to leave it out due to the third party that was involved. Anyway, I felt compelled to go to Perugia because of the Eurochocolate festival! It was a dream come true; there was chocolate everywhere!! Now, I've had a lot of really good chocolate in my day because of how tasty my grandmother's chocolates are, but this was the best chocolate I have ever tasted in my entire life. The flavors were intense and creamy and perfect. Needless to say the chocolate I bought was gone within five days (and that's even a record for me!). Besides the chocolate, I loved my experience in Perugia because of an art exhibit I found while walking around. I wasn't planning on entering but something told me to so I did, and it was the best decision I made all day! The owner and his assistant were very kind and helpful with the language barrier. The woman showed me around the exhibit, explaining to me in Italian what techniques the artists used and how they were made. It was inspiring to me because it was a technique I had never seen before, but it is possibly the most beautiful technique I have ever laid eyes upon! The colors were beautiful and vibrant, and they all depicted nature in its various forms. My favorites of course were those that donned leaves in swirly designs with striking uses of red and gold and other warm colors. It may sound cheesy, but these pieces of art grabbed me and pulled me in; they spoke to my soul in a way that I've never felt before. I knew that I had a divine appointment with this place so that my creative soul would alight with a new kind of fire; a more intense, hotter fire. I felt alive!
My day around Perugia was rewarding to say the least, but the cherry on top of a great day happened while on the train ride back to Florence. I had grown tired after a full day of eating chocolate and walking around, so for the first half of the ride back home was spent sleeping. How I maintained a deep sleep throughout I cannot tell you--I surprised even myself. When I awoke, I realized that there was a man replacing the young girl who had been there upon departure, sitting straight across from me. I've learned to avert eye contact here, because sometimes just a quick, less-than-half-a-second glance will give a man the wrong impression, so it wasn't until he closed his eyes that I gave him a good look. What I saw made me have to hold in laughter, because he looked almost exactly like a frog. He was dressed in a shiny green jacket with brown slacks that were too short for his legs, revealing matching green socks and sharp-pointed, brown leather shoes. He wore glasses that hung down on the very tip of his bulbous nose and had a tuft of gray hair on the top of his head, and his cheeks hung down past his chin, making his mouth look very small compared to the rest of his face. When he opened his eyes, they were directed right at me, and I saw for once how bug-eyed they really were. His movements were slow and sure, and when he yawned, I half expected to see a long pink tongue shoot out of nowhere to catch a fly or two. Sadly, that didn't happen, but it was one of the most amusing things I've ever seen while riding the train, and it's never been harder to hold in my laughter. The thing that caught me the most off guard was the noise he made after his yawn. It wasn't like the normal sound you would expect someone to make, the one that sounds like a lazy lion's yawn. His was more like a sharp croak that seemed to echo within his throat two more times...exactly like a frog's would sound! The funniest thing about it was that the rest of his face made no change; his facial expression remained the same, as if he had not just made an alarming sound. I had to hide my face and bite my lips together to keep from bursting out into a boisterous guffaw. I'm laughing now just thinking about it...oh boy. He unexpectedly made my day even greater by providing me with such humor!
Within two days I experienced the best chocolate in the world, heard beautiful music, was inspired by amazing artwork, spoke more than two fluent sentences in Italian, and was graced with the presence of an amphibian. I think it's safe to say that I've learned the art of adventure.
When you think of Pisa, what's the first thing that comes to mind? Yep! The famous leaning tower (which, by the way, was never intended). The rest of Pisa is usually overshadowed by this, even the cathedral and baptistery to some extent. Anyway, the group and I were lucky enough to have a tour of these monuments, and if you had a whopping 15 euros to spend (:O!!!) you could climb the leaning tower. A couple things about this place were unforgettable to me; first, the baptistery. By itself, it might not seem special to the carefree mind of a young student, but I can guarantee that everyone, young and old, was moved by the sounds made by one of the tour guides inside that building. As he stepped up onto the platform, he began to sing. No, not with words...they were sounds like that of "ohm" and other pleasing octaves. It is impossible to explain the full effect, but it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard in my entire life. The notes bounced off of and between the baptistery dome which caused them to become intensified in a natural, surround-sound kind of way. They entered my ears and went right down to the tips of my toes, filling my soul with vibrations I didn't know existed. Intense shivers crawled down my spine as I closed my eyes to be fully present in those precious, short moments. It was purely magical.
Since I've been here, I've become a huge fan of gold: the way it makes a painting pop and part of a church glimmer in the sun. There is hardly any masterpiece done without some kind of gold leaf work involved. What I love is the intricate detail that exists within each cathedral; the amount of time, effort, patience and talent it took to complete them. All the thought and meaning that is involved when creating something beautiful blows me away. The architecture is just mind-boggling to me--I'm so happy that people valued it so highly and were patient enough to wait 500+ years for one of them to be completed! Inside the cathedral (and the baptistery), there was a pulpit that was ornately crafted and built upon four sculpted lions. These lions represented the faith that made up the foundation for the institution and more deeply, for life. This hit me like a ton of bricks! Faith is something I have always struggled with ever since I was a child. Not only when it comes to religion, but in having faith in life itself; trusting that no matter what happens, I will be taken care of by something larger than myself. On top of this concept, the four lions were nursing their cubs, symbolizing the nurturing and mother-like nature of faith. It made me realize that even if there isn't really a God or an Allah or a Buddha, or any other religious/spiritual figure for that matter, we are all connected; we all want to be nurtured by something outside of our human-ness...we all want somewhere to look when the going gets tough. Whatever path someone chooses to reach this "being" is solely their own and highly personal, and it no longer feels right for me to judge that path. All I need to know is that I am nurtured inside and out by what I choose to believe, and that is good enough for me!
Next came Lucca, the cutest little town ever! The main features of this city are: the wall that completely surrounds it and the old amphitheater that it was built around. It was possibly one of the most relaxing and charming experiences I've had on one of our day trips. I spent the day exploring the city, eating sweet things, speaking in Italian, climbing towers and having great conversations with friends. There was something about Lucca that made it so special, but I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it was the calm and gentle dispositions of every worker in that town, or the peaceful energy resonating within the city walls, but it was different from any other Tuscan town I've visited. I can definitely see myself living there someday!
The next day I had a trip to Perugia solo. Yes, by myself. The story behind the "how" is one of great personal healing, but I have to leave it out due to the third party that was involved. Anyway, I felt compelled to go to Perugia because of the Eurochocolate festival! It was a dream come true; there was chocolate everywhere!! Now, I've had a lot of really good chocolate in my day because of how tasty my grandmother's chocolates are, but this was the best chocolate I have ever tasted in my entire life. The flavors were intense and creamy and perfect. Needless to say the chocolate I bought was gone within five days (and that's even a record for me!). Besides the chocolate, I loved my experience in Perugia because of an art exhibit I found while walking around. I wasn't planning on entering but something told me to so I did, and it was the best decision I made all day! The owner and his assistant were very kind and helpful with the language barrier. The woman showed me around the exhibit, explaining to me in Italian what techniques the artists used and how they were made. It was inspiring to me because it was a technique I had never seen before, but it is possibly the most beautiful technique I have ever laid eyes upon! The colors were beautiful and vibrant, and they all depicted nature in its various forms. My favorites of course were those that donned leaves in swirly designs with striking uses of red and gold and other warm colors. It may sound cheesy, but these pieces of art grabbed me and pulled me in; they spoke to my soul in a way that I've never felt before. I knew that I had a divine appointment with this place so that my creative soul would alight with a new kind of fire; a more intense, hotter fire. I felt alive!
My day around Perugia was rewarding to say the least, but the cherry on top of a great day happened while on the train ride back to Florence. I had grown tired after a full day of eating chocolate and walking around, so for the first half of the ride back home was spent sleeping. How I maintained a deep sleep throughout I cannot tell you--I surprised even myself. When I awoke, I realized that there was a man replacing the young girl who had been there upon departure, sitting straight across from me. I've learned to avert eye contact here, because sometimes just a quick, less-than-half-a-second glance will give a man the wrong impression, so it wasn't until he closed his eyes that I gave him a good look. What I saw made me have to hold in laughter, because he looked almost exactly like a frog. He was dressed in a shiny green jacket with brown slacks that were too short for his legs, revealing matching green socks and sharp-pointed, brown leather shoes. He wore glasses that hung down on the very tip of his bulbous nose and had a tuft of gray hair on the top of his head, and his cheeks hung down past his chin, making his mouth look very small compared to the rest of his face. When he opened his eyes, they were directed right at me, and I saw for once how bug-eyed they really were. His movements were slow and sure, and when he yawned, I half expected to see a long pink tongue shoot out of nowhere to catch a fly or two. Sadly, that didn't happen, but it was one of the most amusing things I've ever seen while riding the train, and it's never been harder to hold in my laughter. The thing that caught me the most off guard was the noise he made after his yawn. It wasn't like the normal sound you would expect someone to make, the one that sounds like a lazy lion's yawn. His was more like a sharp croak that seemed to echo within his throat two more times...exactly like a frog's would sound! The funniest thing about it was that the rest of his face made no change; his facial expression remained the same, as if he had not just made an alarming sound. I had to hide my face and bite my lips together to keep from bursting out into a boisterous guffaw. I'm laughing now just thinking about it...oh boy. He unexpectedly made my day even greater by providing me with such humor!
Within two days I experienced the best chocolate in the world, heard beautiful music, was inspired by amazing artwork, spoke more than two fluent sentences in Italian, and was graced with the presence of an amphibian. I think it's safe to say that I've learned the art of adventure.
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