I arrived in Rome Friday night relieved that I had made the flight at all. If I had missed it, it would not have been my fault but rather the traffic/bus system in Istanbul, a 45 minute direct shuttle to the airport took 2 hours giving me just 35 minutes till my flight ended boarding. It was too close for comfort for me. Regardless the flight was smooth and I made it to Rome easy. Note to anyone traveling to Rome, the airports are far away and you must take a train into the city thats 14 Euros but the train ends at 1135pm so you can take a shuttle for 15 Euros instead. I am staying with a friend of mine who lives literally blocks from where my hostel was the last time I visited Rome.
Gabe was an amazing tour guide, not only was he able to give me a better insight to the city since I was not forced to look at a map the whole time but he also knows all this history and structural information about the buildings, the roads, the plazas and the villas of Rome.
This being that he is an architecture major and currently going to grad school in Rome for the topic. We started off at the Thermae Diocletian an ancient Roman bath/spa build back in 283 AD. Now they resemble more of a church which they were later turned into but of course with Gabe's help it was still possible to imagine what the rooms were originally intended for. One piece of information that I thought was really interesting was that there is a Pope Pius (if I remember right) but he decided that all the streets in Rome needed to be straight and connected to main points of interested (most of them churches). So while standing in front of the Obelisk outside
Santa Maria Maggiore you can see the Obelisk at the top of the Spanish steps several blocks away... and then to the next and so fourth. The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore was one of my favorite churches. It is one of the four most important Papal Basilica's in Christiandom, it contains classical and traditional roman architecture and is famous for the reason behind its construction. The council of Ephesus (done in Turkey, death place of Virgin Mary- see this blog post-) Dedicated it to the Virgin Mary after deciding she was the "Mother of God".
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| Thermal Bath |
This being that he is an architecture major and currently going to grad school in Rome for the topic. We started off at the Thermae Diocletian an ancient Roman bath/spa build back in 283 AD. Now they resemble more of a church which they were later turned into but of course with Gabe's help it was still possible to imagine what the rooms were originally intended for. One piece of information that I thought was really interesting was that there is a Pope Pius (if I remember right) but he decided that all the streets in Rome needed to be straight and connected to main points of interested (most of them churches). So while standing in front of the Obelisk outside
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| Ecstasy of Saint Theresa |
Next we went to see a painting called The Ecstasy of Saint Theresa. In the Cornaro Chapel done by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, an artist that I have grown to be really interested in since returning from Rome. This piece of art is a sculpture of white marble and portrays a story of the Saint Theresa who was visited by an angel of God with a burning spear.... there are very interesting interpretations of the piece, wikipedia it.
We continued a walk that took us to the worlds best gelato place, the Trevi Fountain, and Piazzo Navona. Both places have some interesting fun facts one should know,
The Trevi fountain actually has very little water pressure yet it seems loud and fierce when you are there... why? Because of the way it was made with the jagged rocks, the huge statue, the flow and drops of the water as it cascades down all lead you to believe that there is a powerful water source pushing the flow when in actuality its a mirage.
Then the Piazzo Navona has a fountain in the center which is dedicated to the worlds 4 largest rivers at the time. But there is a hint of artist rivalry in that all the persons in the fountain are turning away in "horror, disgust, or fear" from the building which the plaza was made for, the church of Saint Agnese. Why? Possibly because the fountain was made after the building by Bernini who it was known for not liking/getting along with fellow artist Borromini who build the church. Feuding artists. We were out an about all day, walking an entire circle around the city somewhat following the Papal pilgrimage designed for the new Popes to travel before stopping at St. Peters Basilica. It was filled with villas that I would not have noticed otherwise, a cappaccino on a terrace where monks used to sit, oh and the best part... I learned how to play the game Magic.
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| Trevi Fountain |
The Trevi fountain actually has very little water pressure yet it seems loud and fierce when you are there... why? Because of the way it was made with the jagged rocks, the huge statue, the flow and drops of the water as it cascades down all lead you to believe that there is a powerful water source pushing the flow when in actuality its a mirage.
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| Piazza Nauvo |
Then the Piazzo Navona has a fountain in the center which is dedicated to the worlds 4 largest rivers at the time. But there is a hint of artist rivalry in that all the persons in the fountain are turning away in "horror, disgust, or fear" from the building which the plaza was made for, the church of Saint Agnese. Why? Possibly because the fountain was made after the building by Bernini who it was known for not liking/getting along with fellow artist Borromini who build the church. Feuding artists. We were out an about all day, walking an entire circle around the city somewhat following the Papal pilgrimage designed for the new Popes to travel before stopping at St. Peters Basilica. It was filled with villas that I would not have noticed otherwise, a cappaccino on a terrace where monks used to sit, oh and the best part... I learned how to play the game Magic.
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| Gillato |
That night after a good solid 3 hours of playing magic we ventured out on the town to one of Gabes favorite spots where we discovered a new law in Rome. No drinking more then 3 steps from the bar door. Well try doing that with a packed bar and where most people dont care about the new rule. I learned that if you order a gin and tonic you get it in a plastic cup and apparently the police will assume its water and you wont be bothered as much as the people holding beer. It was a fun night and we met some interesting groups of people but it was annoying being asked to move (2 feet) every 5 minutes.
One of my favorite aspects about cities like Rome, with all their ancient, and glorious architecture is their churches, mosques, synagogue and what not. My favorite part is their domes. They seem to all have an amazing ability to capture whoever looks up into them and when I am looking up all i can think about is how breathtakingly beautiful they are. Most of so detailed, so decorated that I get a neck ache trying to take it all in. Some like the one below are simpleyet just as beautiful.
Another thing I tend do have a habit of doing is taking photos of doors. I have numerous photos in my galleries ( on my computer) of doors. I love the idea that you dont know whats behind them, some are locked to us and we will never know. Others are open to us and its our choice to go through them or not, like our choices in life. Some are decorated some are plain but they all sure a purpose an thats to let you in, keep you out, to hide or share. Doors ar are a great metaphore for life and its choices as well as its lessons. I use my blog for example as a door to my travels and experiences one that my family and friend can enter and hopefully enjoy.
Rome the second time around was much more enjoyable for me because I went through a different door to get there. One that more suited my personality, for this reason it was more enjoyable and the experience will always be remembered.
Rome the second time around was much more enjoyable for me because I went through a different door to get there. One that more suited my personality, for this reason it was more enjoyable and the experience will always be remembered.
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| This is the ancient entrance to Rome |
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| Romulus and Remus.. |
The above statue is hilarious to me, it represents the story of how Rome was created. By two twin boys who lost their mother and where then raised by a she Wolf. I love wolves and think they are amazing creatures as well as beautiful. I hate that they have a bad name and where so destroyed back in the early 1900's. This statue was seen on monument hill but there are various versions of it all over the place.
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| St. Peters Chains |
My last day in rome was spend alone, I was able to see my most favorite spot. The Pantheon and sit down with coffee, draw and write about what this place means to me. This buildings name means "to every God." It was dedicated to all the God's that the Roman empire worshiped. I take that a step farther and think that it can represent all the Gods of the world. Then look at all the people in this area, in this building eating in the plaza outside, listening to the music, working, sightseeing, lingering here and there. If people can do it here in this place of all God's why not int he world? Just gets me thinking.
The opening at the top of the dome the "oculus" leads the heaven.
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| Vatican City below me |
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