I woke up late today for the first time in a long while since I started my travel. Primarily because I wasn't jetlagging anymore. Today I promised myself, I am going to take everything slow. I relished my breakfast which was plentiful in my lovely hotel. I left the hotel later than usual for me, but right smack at the peak hours of the metro. The metro to the city center was packed. I was very cautious of my belongings as people were really packed like sardines in the train. My stop was Colosseo which led me to the massively impressive Colosseo. The walk up the exit and stopping at my tracks by the sight that's in front of me always got me. It got me in Barcelona. Now in Rome. The Colosseo was grander than what I imagined it to be. Inside was even more breathtaking. I would stop from my walking and just think of how many people could be accommodated by this massive arena. And how many died just to put on a show to the people.
Being in Europe for almost two weeks now, I must admit that I have not met a single traveller like me. So bumping into one was a pleasant surprise. It proved to be convenient as well because I now can be included in my photos with no sweat. Somebody could take a photo of me in the shot, no longer at close range. The little price to pay was just to return the favor. So I met this Pakistani guy who like me was going around Rome on his own. I found out that he had just arrived and wasted no time in becoming a tourist like me. He was a pleasant guy and I had a nice time talking about a lot of travel stuff, occasionally interrupted by a flip flop of photo shoots. We soon parted ways and I ended up with dozens of Colosseo shots with me right smack at the center.
I decided to linger a bit more, finding a nice spot in the shade because the spring sun was becoming too hot for my comfort. I noticed that there were a lot of American tourists in Rome in group tours, which eased off the pressure of the language barrier. Italians can very well understand English, even though you hear a lot of the native language being spoken around. As I walked around a little bit more, I saw from across the Roman Forum or the Fora Romano. I decided that that would be my next point of destination.
As I walked near Fora Romano, I realized that I have underestimated the whole place's expanse. To call it sprawling is an understatement. I was dwarfed by the big Roman columns and ruins that surrounded me. It was the grandeur of Roman architecture at its finest. I thought to myself that the Roman empire literally subscribed to the idea that the larger it is the better. Walking for about ten minutes into the place, I was passing along ruins after ruins after ruins. I was feeling a little bit tired from walking because words can't describe just how expansive the whole place is. I walked up the Palatino and got a better sense of how much I have walked down there. Being up at the Palatino afforded me some time to rest and decide where I wanted to go next. It was near lunchtime when I started to walk towards Piazza Navona, keeping an eye for a restaurant where I could have my Italian pasta. I chanced upon this Roman Catholic priests' calendar in one of the souvenir shops which my friends and I were talking about via email. It's basically a collection of photos of good looking Italian priests. No, hot Italian priests, may God forgive me? I bought one as a souvenir and a show off to my friends back home, knowing very well that I would probably be the only person in Manila to ever own one for 2008.
I was off to Piazza Navona after having my Italian pasta at this quaint restaurant where the staff was very nice. I was navigating around Rome and just absorbing and enjoying the sights and sounds of this beautifully chaotic city when I finally reached the Piazza. Too bad the fountain was being repaired. But the biggest source of amusement for me came in the form of these African vendors who were selling all things fake. Fake designer bags, fake designer shades, fake artwork, it was surreal. It got better as the police arrived and there was a big cat and mouse chase that happened at the Piazza. I was sitting at the middle of it all, amused and reminded of the vendors being chased by the MMDA staff in Baclaran. But this had a much nicer backdrop. My attention was caught by a male opera singer who entertained guests in the surrounding cafes by his rendition of Nessum Dorma. Wow, to hear this favorite Italian opera of mine being sung by an Italian opera singer in Rome really capped my day. I got goosebumps. I suddenly felt the whole experience of la dolce vita come to life right there. And I instantly fell in love with all things Italian.
I was such in a 'la dolce vita' mood that I decided to look for a gelateria and have one while I walked through the rest of the streets of Rome. With a dark chocolate gelato in hand, I went about my way around the city, eventually going back to the Spanish steps then to Piazza di Popolo where I did a bit of window shopping.
As I ended my second day in Rome, I realized that I love this city. I can live here. Life is easy going. The Italians are warm. And the city is chaotically beautiful. It's like you're living and basking in a culture that is both rich and familial. La dolce vita indeed, I told myself, as I lay in my hotel room watching the grand finale of Gran Fratello, Italy's Big Brother.
