Revisiting Rome

I can't believe it has been 1 year since our amazing trip to Italy. "Our trip is Sherrie & Rick Bavec's, Bill and my trip of a lifetime that started with a wish from Sherrie to spend her 50th birthday in Italy. Remembering back gives me such joy as every moment almost without exception was perfect. Of course how could it not be when you get to travel to the Eternal City with two of the best friends that you ever had or will have in your whole life?  While I was there, I was just too busy to take the time to record every precious memory.  Now, one year to the anniversary of our time in Rome I want to share some of what made it so incredible. 

First of all the weather not only in Rome but throughout our 11 day Italian adventure was sunny and beautiful.  

Was that a blessing from God or what? Our flight over from Philadelphia was relatively turbulence free and despite the anxiety of one of our fellow travelers we arrived to a beautiful morning in Rome safe and sound.  We then traveled in the wrong taxi to the perfect apartment with a view overlooking the Vatican a bit jet lagged but nevertheless anxious and excited to start our tour on foot of this beautiful city.  Lunch was the first order of the day.  Just a few streets away we began our Italian feasting with what else but pasta and good wine. 

We sent out over the Ponte St Angelo which flows over the River Tiber and could be called the bridge of Angels with an eye toward exploring some of the cities ancient ruins. One of our tag lines for the trip quickly became, "We're in Italy, " as it was amazing to think that after 18 years of friendship we had finally planned and taken a trip together and it became our way of pinching ourselves each day to remind ourselves that we were really here in this magnificent country. 

Onto the Pantheon one of the best preserved ancient buildings in all of Rome... talk about a walk through History!  Today this structure is a Catholic church and this was my first opportunity to drag everyone through and to see every church that I could possibly find along the way throughout Italy.  But to me the beauty of each of these churches and artistic masterpieces found within, calls me to reflect upon the grandeur and majesty of God. 

At this point we found ourselves feeling the jet lag and the effects of it having been 24 hours since we left the US.  Time for us to return to our Vatican flat/apartment for some gelato and a little rest before our planned tour of Rome by night. 

We awoke refreshed well sort of and made our way downstairs to where we were met by Sergio who actually was supposed to have driven us from the airport earlier.  Who knew so many Campbells were coming to Rome on the same day?  We set off at sunset for a fabulous tour of the city.  One of our first stops was atop one of Romes seven hills for a spectacular view of this city.  

 Next, we were off winding through Rome's very narrow streets very grateful for the skill of our Roman driver.  No trip to Rome is complete without a visit to the Trevi fountain to toss in a coin and  hopefully ensure that you will one day return. Our stop here was full of laughs and comic relief .  That coin I tossed was supposed to land in the fountain not hit Sherrie in the eye!  Another highlight was seeing my favorite tea drinker experience her first taste of espresso. Coffee here is served in small cups but it is just the lift for the weary jet lagged traveler.    

On we traveled as the city began to light up past many famous Roman sites such as the Spanish Steps, Circus Maximus, and the Arch of Constantine to name a few.  It was quite a moment when Rick Bavec exclaimed looking out the window, "Look it's the frickin coliseum," we are really in Rome.! Indeed. Once again our evening finished with a wonderful restaurant in Trastaverde with pasta, wine and for the truly adventurous American, fish served with the head on.  A quick taxi ride and a stroll back next to the Vatican as the busy city quieted down for the night. 

The frickin coliseum! 

Sleep followed by another dawn of another glorious day.  Perfect for our tour of the Vatican Gardens.  Nothing like a beautiful Spring Day to  enjoy sunshine, flowers and spaces dedicated to inspiring faith and devotion.  Strolling  along the paths on a relatively quiet tour past beautiful flowers and impeccably manicured lawns and shrubs, it was not difficult to imagine the Pope on a quiet day or evening taking out time to pray and reflect or pausing to listen in a way that allows each of us to experience God's presence in the silence of our hearts. 

Next stop the grandeur of St Peters Basilica.  Here I got my nickname "Vicapedia."  I was determined to take in every nook and cranny of this place I had dreamed about and watched on television all my life growing up Catholic. So much to see!  As I look back, there are not many photos of St Peters as it is dedicated as a place of worship and photos are deemed to take away from this experience.  First stop was Michelangelo's Pieta where you gaze upon one the artist's most famous works. Walking up toward the main altar there is the bronze statue of St Peter germs or not I was determined to wait my term to kiss the toe of this statue out of respect for our first Pope. Onward to the majesty of the main altar and then below to the tombs of many popes including John Paul II whose life and writings have been such an inspiration to me.  I hope to live to see the day when he will be declared a Saint.  Also in the main church, we spent time gazing upon the glass coffin of Pope John XXIII famous for his reform of the church and now canonized.  Since travelling to Rome, I have had occasion to read his book Journal of a Soul and learned more about the remarkable spirituality of this great pope. 

Finally our stomachs demanded that we leave St Peters and make our way to lunch.  Bill was starving. More wine and more pasta for me.  Next a stop at Soprani which we had been directed to by our deacon in Warner Robins for a few religious mementos and souvenirs.  Truly was the dollar store of the Vatican.  We returned back to our flat again to prepare for our evening visit to the Vatican museum while our boys shopped for a stay in dinner at a local market and of course more wine.  

Our tour of the Vatican museum was amazing.  We had an American graduate student from Temple University who educated us on the treasures which have been preserved from ancient times.  Many of the artistic works found within including paintings, statues and tapestries offer a visual journey through the history of faith depicted by the greatest artists in the world including Rafael, Leonardo and Michelangelo. The Sistine Chapel is breathtaking.  Gazing at the genius painted by the young Michelangelo who did not even consider painting to be his preferred medium., one is completely awestruck.  We had chosen to tour the museum during the evening and the setting sun and coming of night brought a beautiful close to our full day in and around the Vatican. 

We returned to our flat a short walk across the street to unwind, eat and prepare for our departure to Venice the following day.  During our time at the Vatican museum, an overseas call brought some sadness over this day as we learned that one of the Bavec kitties, Teddy, so very special to the entire family especially their youngest son was suffering from cancer.  The prospect of losing a pet for someone who loves an animal and especially for a young adult who is new to facing loss is very difficult indeed. Being an ocean away and not able to comfort your child is tough but we were in Italy with 3 more cities and 8 days till our return flight so after a long Skype call, Sherrie and I decided to head downstairs to the street below in our slippers and PJs...that's right our jammies...love the Americans for class and style!  We had to have one last taste of the best gelato in Rome at the Old Bridge Gelateria.   Next day, we would begin another chapter in our Italian adventure after all we were still in Italy, together on the trip of a lifetime! 

Nighttime in Trastaverde