Sotto il cielo di Roma
Jun. 1st, 2019 08:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jairpeltier posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
walkingancientrome_2019What a wonderful time it has been. Thus far I have thoroughly enjoyed my trip. Today we went to Tarquinia. I was very much enchanted. The little city had everything one would ever need... especially if one were, to say, need a five liter jug o' wine. Yet again we see the reuse of space. As I approached the Cardinal's chapel I felt a sense of connection to the old palace. Not only was this place a modern museum for the ancient people who lived here but at one point it was the home of prince of the church; my church, the Catholic church. I was both delighted and humbled to enjoy such a place.
At the church down the street(the name escapes me at this time) I made a genuine connection to the man at his post. This man need only give tours of the church but at the very end he beguiled us with his rendition of one of my favorite songs; "That's Amore" alla Dino Martini. As he started strumming his guitar I immediately understood the chords and joined in the song. As the lyrics go "hearts will play... tippy tippy tay." My heart indeed played likewise. Genuine human connections as such are what I live and breath for. It's not enough for me to say "hey I went to Tranquinia once" but it's more than enough to say "I sang a meaningful song with a Tranquinian man guarding a church."
As I explored the tombs of the necropolis with my dear friends I felt(yet again) another sense of my own mortality. Many people shy away from such topics but I embrace them. I rather enjoy visiting the dead and pondering my own existence. At the end of the day what more can we do? The tombs were elaborately decorated and reflected a common hope that I believe all humans have; the hope of a life after death. These ancient peoples did not simply chuck their dead at the end of it all but in their own spirituality found meaning in it all. They took up the task of decorating elaborate tombs and indeed visited them on an annual basis. They took it upon themselves to ensure their loved ones would be guaranteed a comfortable afterlife. Whether or not there is a life after death one cannot help but admire the genuine love these people had for their dead and the genuine faith they had that everything would be alright. As the day winds down(as well as my jug of wine depletes) I look forward, yet again, to an evening in Roma.
At the church down the street(the name escapes me at this time) I made a genuine connection to the man at his post. This man need only give tours of the church but at the very end he beguiled us with his rendition of one of my favorite songs; "That's Amore" alla Dino Martini. As he started strumming his guitar I immediately understood the chords and joined in the song. As the lyrics go "hearts will play... tippy tippy tay." My heart indeed played likewise. Genuine human connections as such are what I live and breath for. It's not enough for me to say "hey I went to Tranquinia once" but it's more than enough to say "I sang a meaningful song with a Tranquinian man guarding a church."
As I explored the tombs of the necropolis with my dear friends I felt(yet again) another sense of my own mortality. Many people shy away from such topics but I embrace them. I rather enjoy visiting the dead and pondering my own existence. At the end of the day what more can we do? The tombs were elaborately decorated and reflected a common hope that I believe all humans have; the hope of a life after death. These ancient peoples did not simply chuck their dead at the end of it all but in their own spirituality found meaning in it all. They took up the task of decorating elaborate tombs and indeed visited them on an annual basis. They took it upon themselves to ensure their loved ones would be guaranteed a comfortable afterlife. Whether or not there is a life after death one cannot help but admire the genuine love these people had for their dead and the genuine faith they had that everything would be alright. As the day winds down(as well as my jug of wine depletes) I look forward, yet again, to an evening in Roma.
