walkingancientrome_2019 | First Journal 30/5/19

Wow, can I just start with how I love Rome, haha. Everything is exactly what I expected and more but also not what I expected at all. It's like a perfect juxtaposition of ideas and places and realms and food and people. Rome is everything I imagined it was: this perfect, classic place with beautiful buildings and art and rich history everywhere, and it is! But there is also graffiti everywhere and trash on the side of the streets and even in a place as regal as Rome there are still really cheesy side street stores that sell like silly machines or toys or things made for kids to make them laugh; basically a tourist trap. There is a sense of richness and worth and meaning and wisdom with every turn of the corner, but then at the same time I feel like I'm reminding myself that I really have no idea what I'm looking at and I'm always questioning is this place real or authentic or is it again, a tourist trap. Secondly, I'm totally a tourist, but there's also like people that just live here. Like this isn't universal studios where they remade Diagon Ally and its not just for show. These are real people, again, who LIVE here, have a job here, have a life, have a family, have friends, have a purpose and are an integral part of the city. Not just to learn about history or humanities or to go on a trip to see really really ancient ruins. That kinda blows my mind. Also, Rome is one of the oldest cities in the entire world! The way it's been run and governed has changed so many times I probably can't even imagine, so I'm stuck wondering, now, how this city just works. It's like the bee movie when the bee's cross the street and all the cars just perfectly drive around them at an insanely quick speed. I just get this feeling of harmony within the chaos. Everyone is exactly where they should be, but I just want to see it all so I never feel like I can stop moving. Then the food! Wow, it's all so amazing, right? Like, everyone said the food would be good, and I can definitely agree, but the crazy part is: it's also so simple? Like I just had a sandwich today and it was just meat and cheese and spinach toasted between to white slices of bread... so simple? right? but again something about it was so good. I guess it comes down to the quality. Italy is basically a whole new way of living (duh). Everything I've noticed so far has amazed me. I'm just stuck trying to make sense of something I know it would take years for me if ever, to understand. But already after only being here two days, I love it, and I know this is exactly where I'm supposed to be right now. Ok, I'm done. Arrivederci! -Megan Ellingboe

Cappuccino count: 3. Day:2.