Adventures are the best! Two days ago at 4:00, I struck out from Atlanta, GA for Roma, Italia. I was scheduled for a direct flight that would put me into Fiumicino airport only 20 minutes after the New York crowd arrived, and we would then find our way to Trastevere together and meet the class. It was a great plan, but not quite what happened.
First, my direct flight way delayed, getting me in an hour and a half later than originally scheduled. The flight was also oversold, so the announcements to "please get off this flight" were tantalizingly repeated (they were offering to pay for half my ticket!). Given that I had to meet the group Sunday, I figured there was no chance of being able to take the deal, but when I talked to the gate agent, she was thrilled that I was available for the switch, put me on a flight to Venice that, after a Alitalia connection, got me to Rome only an hour and a half after the expected arrival of my first flight. And they took care of half my ticket cost! Yes! More for the gelato slush fund.
That switch was the best thing that could have happened. Onboard, there was a rainbow out my window somewhere over Virginia, a blaring full moon that lit up the Atlantic somewhere East of Iceland, and the captain did a fly-by of Venice on his way to Marco Polo Airport, and I could see the spires of St. Mark's from 4,000 feet. The sacrifice for all of that was that Delta left my bag in Atlanta. But that also ended up working perfectly, because instead of having to roll it around all afternoon, I was traveling light. So instead of heading directly to Trastevere, I had fun getting lost downtown.
I've never been in a more bewitching place. Everywhere I turn there is some statue, monument, fountain, or mosaic I've seen in books. Better yet, the restaurants, bars, and gelaterias throw the scent of fresh tomatoes and coffee onto the streets. Best of all, EVERYONE is speaking Italian, which is the most expressive (and pretty) language on earth.
As I started wandering toward the river from Termini Station, I climbed the Quirinal Hill and saw the Palazzo guarded by posh guards with machine guns. Two minutes later, I dodged down a stairwell, and saw piazza Venezia take over the landscape. It is massive centerpiece — sort of like a birthday cake as people call it — of bleached white marble flanked by bronze horsemen and dual tricolore flags. Continuing downhill, still pretending to follow my map, but happily lost, I found the Pantheon when I was looking for the Tiber. It was just around the corner, casually sitting there. Open. They just let you walk in. So I did and sort of strained my neck staring at the ceiling.
But by that time I started to realize that I might need to actually focus on the map. Fortunately, the Pantheon was extremely well marked and made for a great landmark. So found again, I strode back through the Largo Argentina and followed the trolley tracks to Trastevere, the neighborhood where we are living in the Piazza of Santa Maria di Trastevere (a beautiful gilt church).
Thankfully, the gang wasn't too upset about my plane confusion, had not waited past 12:15 at the airport and had easily found their way to the fountain. After a short wait, we met with our Professors and moved into the apartments. The rooms are lovely - ours has 13-foot ceilings, a great kitchen, and living room that fits the entire class. The marble stairway leading to it is epic.
As I was sitting in the piazza before dinner yesterday, I realized I couldn’t think of a better place to spend the summer. I’m just so excited to be here!
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