Let Sun Draw Wanderlust

A week before leaving for my Italy trip back in 2012, a Parisian friend in my office asked me which city I would visit. “Rome and I plan a day trip to Pisa by train,” I answered. While sipping his coffee he said, “You’ll fall for Rome. It is way more than just a state of geography. Like Paris or New York, I think you’ll see a part of yourself there.” I thought it was the caffeine or just him being what French guys are usually accused of: sentimental.

When in Rome, I figured it out bit by bit. As I saw the famous Colosseum, my heart broke a little. It was just across the metro station of Colosseo, surrounded by crowd; tourists and students; horse-drawn carriages and sellers of Italian* souvenir; families with bambini and couples in love (hands full with camera and gelato); street artists and other street folks. It looked grand yet exhausted, like a granddad that had to tell his grandchildren about those great old days again and again to make them proud.

The rubble of ancient Rome was just a couple hundred meters away from The Colosseum: Roman Forum. Imagine something magnificent that had been there long time ago but it still gave you shiver. The memory wasn't yours but it was intense. In contrast, the sidewalk along The Forum was filled with pedestrians living the present; going to work, taking pictures, kissing their lovers, or shouting to each other.

I walked to Trevi Fountain before back to my hostel which was located 3 blocks away from Termini. I passed by old buildings with stuff in vogue, countless rows of parked scooters, tabacchi selling stamps and tickets for tourist, ristorante with vague mouth-watering aroma and cafes with indistinct clamor of locals over their espresso.

There I thought; my friend was right. I found Rome inside of me: the day to day passion; the part that would never let the nostalgia goes; the part that would stay because it is now present. As Italians greet ‘Ciao’ it can be either ‘Hi’ or ‘Bye’. I believe that Rome is used to both of them because it lives in between, peacefully. Life goes on. People have built pizzeria & gelateria near what remains from the glorious past. More people come and go. Some stay and even more fall in love. Pictures are painted. Lessons are learned.

It was the first time I saw the world in me and ever since, each traveling experience has turned into a journey inside and out.

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*made in China