Mr. Wonderful and I arrived to Rome Saturday night at 11:00 p.m. Exhausted and famished, we were anxious to get to our little apartment near the Spanish Steps. But when our driver rounded a curve and the Coliseum was to our left, strategically lit against the night sky, food and a bed no longer mattered. We were in Roma!
We ate dinner close to midnight and every bite of proscuitto, every morsel of tomato, tasted like the best I'd ever had. The wine was like water, quenching my thirst. It is so easy to sink right into this city.
So here we are thousands of miles from home, and yet so much is familiar. Mr. W remembers the street grid from his other visits. He navigates like a local. Our favorite gelato shop is right where it was before. And the best treat of all: I have a friend in town!
My ex coworker from long ago—and currently amazing travel blogger—Janice (of After the Artist's Way) is here. So amidst the throngs of strangers, Mr. W and I met up with her to visit the catacombs. There she and he are, walking to the bus station after our tour. She is decked out in her Vatican best, looking like she's lived in town for years.
It's funny to be so far from home and having such fun with a once local friend. It's funny that she and I had seen each other only once in about 6 or 8 years, and yet our paths crossed enough that we could enjoy a whole day together. This world is very small. There's no way to fully experience that than to get out and see it. It astounds me every time I travel.
Funnier yet is that we have other family friends who will be in town when we return to Rome after our Amalfi Coast stops. What are the odds? We'll try to meet up with them too.
Here are Janice and I enjoying a dinner near the Trevi Fountain. It was lovely to be able to share the experience and talk about boys and giggle. It was wonderful to be reminded again of just how tiny this earth really is.
6 comments:
Eeeeeeeee you're in Roma! What a magical, magical place. I bet you'll remember that it's better than Paris after a couple more days! Eat as much bufala and prosciutto for me as you possibly can!!!!! And go have a drink in Piazza Navona :)So so so so jealous.
So, we just got back from Honduras last night, and I have to share this story with you because it relates to your post. We were wandering West End on Roatan on our last night looking for some local trinkets to take home to people when we happened upon Captain Dusty, a tall older sailboat captain who happened to be manning his wife's jewelry table for the night. We were chatting and he said he'd been living in Honduras for about 20 years, but was from the US. I asked where and he said LA area. I mentioned I grew up in LA and he asks, "What part? I'm from Tujunga." I actually ran into some guy on an island off the coast of Honduras from Tujunga. What the hell are the odds???
Oh, i see how this works. You don't see Janice for years until we have dinner, and now the two of you are globe-trotting dinner pals. Don't make me come over there....
What a delight! I am so glad you are sharing your trip as you go.
You're so right. We just jumped right in like we saw each other last week. I had a lovely time with you (and a slightly creeped out time at the catacombs). I think we should keep this up just so Jeff DOES come over here.
Em - There has been A LOT of proscuitto and cheese consumption. And the first of many capreses last night. Navona is the best, isn't it? We went there twice to walk around.
Hunner - That is so crazy! What are the odds. How funny. Can't wait to hear about your trip.
Jeff - You know you want to book a flight. Just do it already and get over here...
Sizzle - I'm equally glad that you're reading what I'm sharing. :)
Janice - Yes! It was so much fun. Maybe if Claudio had been at the catacombs, you wouldn't have been so creeped out. :P
Post a Comment