I thought I should go to the post office first, because tomorrow is the last full day, and should likely be when I send any packages out, and I don't like leaving it to the last minute, because anything could happen, especially when I don't speak the language.
I was very happy to find out that the post office was a block away! I was not happy to find out that I had to wait 35 minutes with number P069 in my hand, and then another 25 minutes while the lovely man who helped me found me two boxes... totalling 4.60€. I'm still not clear why it took that long.
Anyhow, that much time was not expected, and I then knew that if I went to the Vatican, which closed at 4pm and takes 45 minutes to get to, I would be too rushed to enjoy it. Tomorrow it is.
Today instead, I went to a few places. I saw the Roman Forum, walked down fancy street (will explain), saw Piazza Venezia, and somehow ended up at Piazza del Popolo.
The Roman Forum is intense. It began with me taking the bus about five stops, and getting out where I knew I was supposed to. Now, I'd like to say I walked the few minutes I was supposed to and found the forum, which is massive, by the way, should should be impossible to miss.
Yeah, I walked around for 40 minutes, up and down the "right" streets, couldn't find it, and got a little annoyed. Thankfully, two gentleman nearby spoke English, and pointed me in the right direction.
Yeah, I still couldn't find it. I have no idea what my problem was. A taxi solved it, and 55 minutes from door to forum, the day finally began!
This below two pictures of about and of a structure that has existed since 179 BC.
It and the rest of the forum gave me this feeling of... I just, things existed way before us, and they will exist way after. Maybe all of the crap we think is crap really isn't, and we should just enjoy our lives as best we can, because in the grand scheme, we're specks in a very large history and future that is pretty much beyond our control.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for recycling and trying to make the world better for our kids, it's just, let's all breathe a little more calmly while we're doing it, because we only have so much time in our turn.
Love this shot the guy is half missing and sitting on a chair (below).
He existed, and even though half him is missing, he's still important and relevant to the people that have come after him.
That's kind of the point, I think. Exist in a way that people will remember you with a smile on their face and to learn something from the things that you did while you were here.
Yeah I know, I just want way philosopcal with a broken sculpture, but, I'm in a thinky mood! lol
Someone spent a part of their life in a completely different time in history carving this. It's hung out, been through different centuries, wars, disasters, rulers, vandalized, and the work of one person still exists. It's "just" a flower, but that came from a human beings hands, and I got to see it today.
It wasn't the main attraction. Not even a discussion point, but it mattered at some point. It was likely someone's livelihood, put food on the table for someone, allowed someone to provide for their loved ones.
A somewhat overarching shot of just an insane overlap of years and rulers and structures. It's was pretty amazing to walk through. A definite must-do if you plan to visit Rome.
From there is was just a long stair climb away from Piazza Venezia. It's a pretty beautiful space, and there were these two young guards with guns at the front. I cannot imagine how long they're there, and I didn't see them move once. What could they be thinking, and what kind of insane shoes must they be wearing? I feel like it's their duty as military, yes, to guard things, but this must be some sort of "earn your way" thing, that all young military people in training have to do.
I could never, much respect.
After that lovely piazza, I walked along a street that I can only describe as the Yorkville of streets. It was nowhere that I could ever shop, and much like last year, the place that I best fit in was the chocolate shop!
The packaging is beautiful and I now own these puppies. Chocolate's coming on home!
After those good choices were made, I kept walking, making my way to the Piazza del Popolo. On my way I ran into this very eccentric man, who was selling what appeared to be watercolour paintings. Now, I'm aware that a lot of these things are fake, copies or mass produced by people. It's very possible that the one I bought (10€) is one of those things. It's also very possible that this crazy dude painted it. Either way, I love it.
This is the painting.
And this is the painter, eccentric as all get-out, even holding the painting upside down. Just love it.
After that exceptional encounter, I walked more, running into a very cool stationary store, and buying this rolled paper necklace. It's handmade by a woman in Rome, and it's very long and more vibrant than this picture shows.
The street was long, because then I ran into (not literally, that would be frowned-upon, and let's be honest, I ain't runnin' nowhere on this trip) a really beautiful church.
I finally arrived at Piazza del Popolo, and it was quite lovely.
These are the twin churches that I heard about, and they're stunning.
Then it was dinner time. It still looks light out here, but it was the very end of the light. As you can see, the shadow from a pillar in the middle of the Popolo-place was being cast on the background. I'm not sure what that had to do with anything, but to me, it means night is coming! Ha.
I decided to go to Rosso Pomodoro, and if you'll recall, that's the name of the restaurant that the chef was from from yesterday's cooking day. So I get there, rush hour traffic funtimes and all, and I find out that it was just a meeting point and the chef isn't even associated with the restaurant... burn. I ordered food anyway, and it ended up being pretty good.
I took half of this badboy home, and it acted as a delicious late-evening overindulgence.
Tomorrow is my last full day in Rome, and to be honest, I could use a couple more days. But I can't complain, I'm headed to Venice next, and I hear that it's going to have a more relaxed vibe. Works for me!
Vatican, its museums, St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel are tomorrow. It's going to be a big one!
Night, night everyone!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Leave your comment here.