Our Arrival in Rome

What struck me as the most interesting thing about Rome is the intermingling of the old and the new. In most ways, it is completely modern.  Yet, in the middle of it all are buildings and ruins that are hundreds and even thousands of years old.  I had imagined the ruins as being fenced off and kept as a tourist attraction on the outskirts of town. Instead, it all exists in a seamless blend of old and new.

We were met by a driver at the airport named, Claudio, (pronounced Cloudio) and he was completely fearless in extreme traffic conditions.  What was refreshing, though, was how he could be both very aggressive and then yielding and polite simultaneously.  This was a characteristic of both the men and women which we found very appealing.  They had a balanced nature.

After about a 45 minute drive we turned a corner onto a quiet cut-de-sac where we would stay in a rented flat.  The cut-de-sac lead to a side entrance of a large and prominent cathedral that actually housed a Michelangelo statue.

Priests and nuns frequented this entrance and there was a constant coming and going of clergy.  Every afternoon around 4 we could hear the nuns singing.  Along with the sounds of church life, we heard birds singing, children laughing, and the locals chatting as they walked their dogs.

Immediately we noticed and appreciated the shrine of Mary that graced our building.  It was wonderful to be in a city that integrates it's religious traditions into the fabric of everyday life.  

In Rome our admiration for the small details of life began.  All the beauty of old-world craftsmanship  of everyday items like doorbells.... 

and doors!  

Anyone who has had the good fortune to visit Europe, has most-likely fallen deeply in love with their doors and windows.    

This is the window, and view from our window, from our sweet rented flat.  What a joy to look out on a view from a residential neighborhood rather than from a hotel.  

After settling in to our little love-nest we set off to explore the neighborhood on foot.  

Following the winding streets, we would come to one beautiful piazza (town square) after another.  The outdoor cafes all looked incredibly inviting but we eventually settled on one with the most friendly and inviting waiters.  Later we realized that waiters that were bilingual and catered to tourists were almost like performing artists.  They elevated the art of service to a fine-art filled with flair and showmanship and significantly added to our dining pleasure.