Adventures in Roma - Part I

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Waking up in the early morning in Rome is unlike any other feeling I’ve ever had. I’ve woken up in San Francisco and stepped out into the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley life, and I’ve been comfortable. But something about finding yourself in the beautiful, historical and memorable city of Rome and being lucky enough to have the whole day to yourself – or the entire week – is purely a dream.

The second week of January 2018, I fell in love with Rome. Just outside of my Airbnb, I found myself aside ancient ruins which had been taken over by cats. A ten-minute walk brought me to the Trevi Fountain, which I had to visit three times to get my fill, and it still beacons me back to this day. Halfway there, I stopped by the Pantheon, something I had only read about and dreamed about visiting. Seeing the amazing architecture throughout the building was enchanting and nearly brought tears to my eyes. Though I’m not certain where I stand with religion, there is something so amazing about standing in a room where people have worshiped for thousands of years. 

In summary, everywhere you walk in Rome is like being engulfed in an art gallery which is never ending. Sometimes it’s overwhelming. I felt like my two eyes were letting me down, as they only allowed me to take in what two eyes could see. I think I could live a lifetime in the city and never truly appreciate every detail, every inch kissed by the creators.  

The next few blog entries will be about my travels to Rome. The memories of Rome have been itching to get out of me and to be shared with the world. 

 

Just outside of our apartment in Rome

Just outside of our apartment in Rome

Manchester Cathedral

I think the best way of getting to know a new city is by getting lost inside of it. I came across the beautiful gothic-style Manchester Cathedral, which was constructed in the late 1400's. (We don't have any buildings  near that old in America, especially California, so it's always exciting to see old architecture!). While in the gorgeous building, I was hit with nostalgia when about 40 school children were walking about getting a tour of the building and receiving a coloring book to decorate the murals inside the cathedral to their own liking. I don't know much about Manchester history, but I do know that it was bombed twice - once due to a German bomb in 1940 and the second time (June 1996) by the Irish Republican Army. Thanks to Wikipedia for giving me some quick information while standing inside a relic holding so much history!

Anyway, below are some pictures which fail to capture the beauty that is inside. It looked like they were doing some repairs on the stonework beneath our feet.