Post # 25: When in Rome...

TheColosseum, ArcoDiConstantine, RomanForum, PalantineHill, ForiImperiali, ChiesaDiSanPietroInVincolo, CircusMaximus, ThePantheon, Piazza Navona, PiazzaDelPopolo, FontanaDiTrevi, PiazzaDiSpagna, The SpanishSteps, St.PetersBasilica, VaticanMuseums, PiazzaDiSanPietro, IsolaTibernia, GiancoloHill, ChiesaDiSantaMariaTravastere, BasilicaDiSantaMariaMaggiore, GalleriaBorghese, PortaPia, BascilicaDiSanGiovanniInLaterno, TheGiantFountain...

(let me pause for a breath)

Pizza, Pane, Spaghetti, Spaghetti alla Carbonara, FetucinniAlfredo, Rigattone, Ciacolata, Gelato, Panini, CacioEPepe, CarciofioAllaGiula, Armiciano, VinoDellaCasa, Bucatini, Antipasti, Primi, Secondi, Krunz, Risoto, Tramezzini, Lasagna, GnochiAllaBourguignonne, Insalata, FioreDiZucchini, MozzarellaDiBuffala...

So what exactly do the Romans do? When we first arrived in Roma Termini, the stars were in our eyes instantly, and we wanted to see the typical vision of a Roman, which is of course a well dressed person on a Vespa laughing, hair waving in the wind, ans they wisp down the streets. Let me be clear, that is what they do; but what is the true essence of being a Roman? What do the Romans do?

After the stars left our eyes, we realized how different this city is from the others that we have visited. Here, rather than the modern human clearly trying to preserve and hold up the ancient relics of history (which I don't think is bad at all), it seems that real life, modern life, or any semblance of our current humanity, is encroaching on the very essence of our past. The rough and most uneven cobblestone streets beg to be forgiven of the burden of thousands of cars that they carry on a daily basis.  At every turn, one is presented with a new relic, old building, or ancient statue; there are so many of these, in fact, that they can't possibly all be on the map, and yet each one would be the treasure of any other city. New developments are constantly halted by the unearthing of some new archeological site, such that houses frequently have half dug basements as the result of running in to some sort of ruin that may be of significance. There is no neon lighting here, no Starbucks (what!!!), and only a penance of McDonalds.

These are all good things, though. In fact, they are quintessentially Roman. If you take a minute and dive down a side street in Travastere, you can find restaurants where the English-speak is sparse, but the food is good enought to make your toes curl, and cheap to boot (try 18 dollars for a full meal for two people). They don't need neon or newness here. They need time to enjoy all of these things. They need good food and conversation. They need cramped quarters in heat which would make a Georgian break down.

So what do the Romans do? They enjoy good food and cheap wine. They go on strike, which I believe that they do so that the common workers can enjoy the city; it's your bad luck if it happens to be your holiday. They see monuments everywhere. They are devout Catholics. They are experts in fine art, clothes, and fashion. To do like a Roman does, I think you would need a lifetime. But boy, we had a blast trying to fit a lifetime into four days.

All of the things listed above we either did or tried to do, or ate or tried to eat. While absolutely exhausting, it was perhaps the most amazing experience of the trip. No matter where we go, we have a perfect view of something beautiful. Italian villas with vines growing down the side all the way to the Pantheon. What can you do but spend the day roaming the streets, and then sit down at a cafe for some cacio e pepe? We tried our best, and I think we may have come close: while in Rome, we did as the Romans do.

Drew and Nicole