There is it!

It didn’t matter that I had seen it before. When the bus turned the corner and I saw it again my eyes couldn’t be big enough to take it in. There was the Colosseum. I was ducking and crouching on the bus to try and see out the window to take it all in.

“It’s funny to watch people walking by and not even look at it.” I said, as I watched the locals on their way to work. Walking beside it just like every other day.

But then again, I was quickly distracted by the free fizzy water on the side of the road!! Rome is now my new favorite city!! I couldn’t believe it, I thought it was just a rumor, but it’s true. No need for the soda stream, which I was so sad about leaving at home, I can get it on the street for free!

We spent the afternoon walking around and seeing all the major sights! I look like such a tourist with my phone in my hand snapping pictures of everything! Yes of course I need 7,000 pictures of every monument. But then the city and the people, the shops and the ground are all so photogenic that it needs to be captured.

As we walked this one street we learned that it had been made with volcanic rock and this was the street the apostle Paul would have walked! Say what?! Let me just take a picture of my feet standing on the same rocks.

While we were walking Larry mentioned how we are going to see all these sights multiple times throughout the semester. But each time it would be from a new perspective. Sometimes for fun, or photographs, sometimes for history or culture or art. I think that’s what I’m most excited about. Is to appreciate the city in ways I never could if I was here on my own.

We stopped by the very crowded Trevy fountain and of course I needed to throw my coin in! Lindsey McGuire! (Here’s a link to my movie trailer)

One of my favorite moments was walking into one of the churches and seeing the paintings. My friend looked at one and became so emotional. I thought it looked like all the other paintings. One that wasn’t even that impressive. I walked over to her and said, “Can you tell me what you are seeing?” It was the calling of St. Matthew. She then explained the contrast of the light through the window and Matthew’s shame. And how it represents Christ bringing light into the darkness of our shame. It gave me a new appreciation for a painting I never would have stopped to look at.

We began our walk home. Passing by the musicians playing in the street as the pink sun was setting behind the piazza.

19,000 steps later and my back hurts, feet are tired but I’m so full. And so is my camera.