It's a rainy day in Rome. Which makes me feel slightly better about being so lazy. There is something about a full week in Rome that is exhausting. You are constantly being bombarded by things- language, food, culture, people, architecture- it's easy to get over stimulated. So today is a good day to rest, read, and write.
Do you ever get the feeling that you are experiencing so many things at such a rapid fire pace that you can't possibly be able to appreciate them or recall them to the extent that you would like? I am trying to take things slow here in Rome, I have three more weeks, I don't need to rush around and see everything at once. But it ends up happening anyway. No matter how slow I try to take things there is just too much to see-- even when you're not looking.
Yesterday is a perfect example.
I visited four churches in Rome- La Chiesa Del Gesu, La Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio de Loyola a Campo Marzio, Basilica di Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, and San Luigi dei Francesi- all with significant both historic and artistic- just don't ask me for more details then that. The churches run together after a while, especially when you see them one directly after the other.
Then, while trying to take the bus back to my appartment, I took the wrong bus and ended up by the Vatican city. I took the metro back to my apartment, grabbed a quick lunch of brie, salami and bread, lay on my bed for 20 minutes with my eyes closed, and powerwalked 30 minutes to my next adventure.
I met three other girls at a museum with an exhibit featuring Salvador Dali. I had seen several of his pieces before, especially the ones that have made it into mainstream pop culture, so when I saw the sign for the exhibit I wanted to go. At first it was a casual desire, but then after several failed attempts at going, I became obessed with seeing this museum. I tried to see the exhibit on Monday but slept through my alarm. Wednesday I had planned a group trip but we had a group excursion. Same with Thursday. On Friday I WOULD NOT BE STOPPED. And I realized, I LOVE DALI. I don't even know how to describe my love. He is so cool. He just is so weird. I think he taps into a whimsical side of me, he's work is so specific, so distinct. I know he is a surrealist (there is a quote from him that says, "The difference between me and surrealists is that I am surreal") but his work captures emotion and reality so concisely. Kinda wish I was his muse....... Ahhh well..
On the way out of the exhibit we stumbled upon a second artist, named Enzo Fiore, who I also really liked. He does portraits and sculptures using resin, dirt, sticks, roots, and bugs. Very cool, you should google him.
After the museum we met a couple of other people and headed to an early dinner. This was my first meal out for dinner, and we all splurged. It was wonderful. I started the evening with some bread and balsamic vinegar-oil mixture, a glass of red wine, moved onto bruschetta, then spaghetti, and finished with some tiramisu and sparkling wine. $27 later I was very satisfied with my meal out. I've been trying to save money and cooking for myself, which is really actually quick fun and delicious, but I feel like I'm missing part of the experience if you don't eat out!
After that we caught a bus to the Colosseum to see the Pope. No big deal really. I'm not religious but I think that seeing the Pope is kinda a once in a life time sorta thing, so we had to at least stop by and hear him speak. Except he just stood there for an hour while religious things in Italian happened (aka, doubly confusing to me). Then for the last 15 minutes he said some stuff that I actually did understand a little bit of because he spoke very slowly. So yeah, that happened.
We had planned to see a movie last night too but the Pope took too long so we ended our night there and I went to bed, my feet burning, my head swirling, and my whole soul glowing.
This is my life everyday. I can't always write it down, I can't remember every detail, every taste, every conversation, every picturesque moment, every laugh, every adrenaline rush, and it absolutely kills me.
Last night, the moon was full as it shown over the Colosseum. The Colosseum was lit up and everything seemed to glow. Nuns and priests flocked in groups of black, white, and grey towards the stage where the Pope would be. I saw so many wonderful things yesterday and that is the one image that is completely concrete. And that is a little stupid I think.
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