I just returned from a week in Italy. It was a blast! John and I went to attend the Summit Conference with Liberty League International (it was spectacular as always).
There were so many things that I loved about Rome: the Colloseum, the Pantheon, the
endless, ageless architecture, the Palantine, Trevi Fountain, the food, the people, and so much more!
Coming from Arizona, where everything is pretty much less than 100 years old, being in Rome with architecture that is still standing from before Christ, was awesome. I used to think that the old churches and such that were 200 years old in New Jersey (where I grew up) were incredible...now they pale in comparison. To see the quality of structure, the passion of design, the intensity of the artwork and the commitment of the artists was inspiring, to say the least. There is so much history in Rome...more than even 1 week could allow us to digest.
John and I joined our friends Shane and Michelle for a tour of the Colloseum. Not only was it far grander than I ever anticipated, it was filled with so much history. I could actually feel the energy of the stones radiating through the facility. Walking in, I never imagined the height of the arch ways (about 3 - 4 stories high). I never imagined, that without cranes and all the modern machinery, that archways could be built so huge and solid...solid enough to ensure earthquakes, fires and centuries of weathering. As I walked through the immense halways and up the ancient staircases into the main Colloseum areas, I could envision the gladiators fighting battles within the walls, hear the cheers of the Romans...What a time to live! I was almost waiting for Russel Crowe to come running through the entry gates!
There were so many memorable dining experiences. The food was incredible (too incredible!...needless to say I hit the gym first thing this morning), the wine delightful and the atmosphere so relaxing. We enjoyed several the of the quaint little cafes for cappuchinos and expressos, as well as some delicious gelato (found on just about every corner). No surprise that Starbuck's was nowhere to be found!
We took a Taxi one evening to enjoy a dinner with friends at a unique restaurant (who's name escapes me at the moment). The restaurant was incredibly authentic (go figure..it's Rome!) with beautiful stone walls and artwork, brick floors and well hidden down a narrow ally way within the maze of rome. John's family is Italian and I've had several dinners with them...the huge amounts of food prepared for days, hours of dining and multiple courses, loud conversation, even the occassional argument! This restaurant was quite the same...an abundance of everything, freshly prepared. The food was delicious
and the atmosphere even better. The restaurant is built on the former restaurant (below street level...the street level was raised due to flooding), so after dinner we went downstairs for a tour. Beneath the old restaurant (yes, old...more than 400 years old!) is an ancient Christian prison that is 2000 years old. We enjoyed a drink of champagne and loudly sang folk songs admiring the acoustics of the old architecture. There was even a natural dipping well that used to be outside of the old restaurant!
The taxi ride in itself was an adventure, narrowly inching along the one way snake-like streets between the shops, cafes and buildings. The taxi drivers are truly gifted...how they know to find anything is beyond me!
Everything in Rome tells a story...you walk down the street past some relatively modern buildings (100 or 200 years old) and then stumble upon the Forum...acient! The old and the new are weaved together, telling the complex story of Rome through the centuries. To see such a structure standing after thousands of years, with it's incredible legacy of history, each brick telling a unique and powerful story, was a treasured moment. All of the Roman ruins we visited were designed with such passion, built to make a statement and to last. They were testaments of a person's life, a country's legacy to the world. And for this, they are visited by millions each year, in awe of their immense contribution to the development of the modern world.
One of my favorite sites was the Trevi Fountain. It is absolutely immense and quite an accomplishment. The details of the fountain are so spectacular and breathtaking...even more so than any photograph can ever portray. It was fun visiting it as well because we ran into a few friends while there.
We spent a day touring the Vatican. Vatican City is a state itself, hidden behind tall stark walls. We had a wonderful tour prepared by my friend Robin. She even got us into the Treasure Room of the Sistine Chapel, where we got to witness first hand some of the immense wealth of the Catholic Church: jewel ensrusted crowns delivered as gifts by Queens and Kings, the gold threaded, hand embroidered vestiments worn by popes for centuries, the tiny embroidered shoes of 19th century popes and the legacy created by Pope John Paul II, who chose to forego the lavish precendents of previous
popes, choosing instead basic garments. There were chalices laden with diamonds and sapphires, rings of the brightest, purest emeralds I've ever seen. It was incredible!
The Sistine chapel was breathtaking...with the incredible fresco paintings of Michaelangelo. I always though he painted them on his back, yet that is not true...he was standing the entire time. Definetely showed me how I can take on someone else's bullshit when they say it matter of fact...I've been believing that for years! The paintings were so real, three-dimensional and brightly colored. They told stories from the Bible in such vivid detail.
Most of all, what I found incredible was St. Peter's Basilica. It took Centuries to
complete and was immense...far larger than I ever expected. The carvings and sculptures were so impressive. I was overwhelmed with the dedication people must have had to commit their lives to building and completing it. Ever inch of the Basilica is decorated to tell a story of a pope or from the Bible. Every sculpture is exceptional...and there were thousands!
The day before we left, John and I spent a relaxing day walking together throughout
Rome. I enjoyed the time together, visiting Palantine, walking past the Basilicas, and touring the shopping district. We enjoyed a great dinner off the street in one of the many open air restaurants.
All in all, Rome was incredible. I must admit I was a bit shocked by all the grafitti and the prostitutes (I mean the Catholic church is right there!), but even with that, there's something magical about Rome. Maybe it's the food or the coffee or the majestic sites...but Rome is a place I definitely want to go back to.
International travel is quite an eye opener. The US dollar is pretty much worthless in Europe...in Italy, the Euro is about 1.5 times the dollar and in England the pound was 2.2 the dollar (a train ride from the airport to the city was 59 pounds round trip for John and I...equivalent to about $130.00 US). A taxi cost about 45 pounds or $90.00US....it's kind of crazy how little value our dollar has. That absolutely had me thinking about the state of our economy and how urgent it is for people to become self-reliant and prosperous.
I love being an entrepreneur...the freedom that comes from knowing I am in control of my life, my time and my income is very freeing. Especially since I market in the UK and make twice the profit in US dollars!
