Broadening Horizons

Tivoli Gardens – Villa d’Este
It was an experience so overwhelming that I would never wish to erase it from my memory. The sun was blissfully shining over our ignorant little group of high schoolers. We were only 16 and we hadn’t the slightest clue that we were about to enter this green paradise that was going to change our perception of what we then perceived as amazing. It was noon and I was with my two best friends, separated from the group, exploring on our own. We were wandering from one street to another, exploring those new cities, new cultures, grasping the new experience and trying to store as much as possible into our hippocampus, so we would always be able to relive those exquisite memories. As we entered this completely foreign part of the city, it was there, right in front of us. The famous Tivoli Gardens, the treasure of Italy, the thing that the tour guide was talking so highly of all morning, with the utmost respect and admiration. As I stepped through what seemed like an old gate made of ancient stones, I instantly realized why this place was so highly spoken of. I felt a magical breeze passing right through me. For a second, all the other noise was gone. It was just me and this blissful wonder that embraced me and welcomed me warmly. All I could hear was the calming sound of the water rapidly dropping of a waterfall. I heard it from the left. Then I heard it from the right. It was all around me. As I was running down the stairs rushing to grasp the moment, everything started turning green. It was ravishing. Perfectly lined trees and flawlessly cut bushes, tiny rivers, misty waterfalls, startling fountains. It brought me back to my childhood when I was watching the Disney movies with my mother and she was telling me of this great place that I was going to visit in my dreams that was just like the ones in the movie. I dreamt of this place without even knowing it actually existed. And there it was, the Villa d’Este, rising above every tree and every bush, the graceful architectural wonder, the pride of Tivoli. The most glorious fountain of all was right in front of the Villa, covered in dreamy rainbows, making it look even more enchanting than it already did. And right at the very end of it - calla lilies. My favorite flower at my new favorite place in the world. The feeling was inexplicably overwhelming. All I could feel was serenity. And a wish to recall and cherish every detail of every moment of every step of this wondrous experience.