About Faces

Rome was like no place that I’d ever seen and even though it sounds cliché it really was more striking than any pictures or descriptions that anyone could imagine. It is not at all what people imagine it to be. There are no people running around in togas singing “O Sole Mio”. Each day was filled with endless amazement and jaw-dropping wonders of the ancient world. I was stunned by the shear volume of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and Last Judgment. The artistic genius and dedication cannot truly be appreciated until one is standing in the middle of a true masterpiece. I was most impressed by the Villa Borghese and gardens. While it may not be featured in all of the guidebooks, it is a hidden gem that houses a wide array of priceless art. Every square inch of every wall was enveloped by paintings, mosaics or frescoes. The Villa was the work of art. No surface was left unadorned.

Rome is such a culturally rich city. The food and the shopping was an experience unto itself. Adopting the Roman lifestyle for a week helped me appreciate the way others live. Everything seemed to be more beautiful and life seemed to be better. The people actually took time to enjoy life. It is not as hectic or fast paced. The Italians have a strong sense of family, which is a concept that seems to be lost in America. Sunday dinners together are practically mandatory and missing one is as bad as original sin but, who would be foolish enough to miss out of the delicious home cooking. Three hour breaks during the day are still the norm but, while the lifestyle is still fairly traditional, Rome is a very modern city. There is a perfect balance of old and new. In the shadows of the towering Coliseum there are trendy coffee shops filled with sleek, contemporary furniture. While my feet walked atop thousands or years of history, modern boutiques lined the streets that Caesar and Marcus Aurelius once ruled. I was amazed by how the heart of one of the oldest civilizations had adapted and remained an epicenter of culture.

Rome marked the first of a string of vacations to several other countries. Since then I have been filling the pages of my passport with the stamps of many other amazing and wondrous places. My trip to Rome has fueled my fervor for travel, culture, and art. And while it was sad to say “arrivederci” to Rome, but the world of travel was opened up for me, and I could hardly wait to see where my travels would take me next.