It's A World Made Of People

How can you not love Rome?  There is this sense of movement all around you and an air of excitement.  

People are in hurry going in all directions. There are lines everywhere as people wait to by tickets or at the entrances to the museums or take pictures in the Forum - even lines at the drinking fountains.  

They are never idle.  There is to much to do and see.

We walk down the streets flowing with the river of people.  There are the hawkers in the middle of sidewalks interrupting  the flow peddling ice cold bottles of water.  Clouds build and the sky darkens.  A few rain drops fall and now the hawkers are selling umbrellas.  The first thought is where have they hidden their stash of supplies. Segways dart through along the edge of the streets dodging through traffic. Deals are offered for by-passing the lines at the Colosseum and the Vatican, or a tour of the city riding a Hop-On/Hop-Off bus.

I found Rome a mixture of:

•    Hustlers working for a Euro

•    Sightseers looking to explore  an ancient empire

•    Students trying to follow art development from Romanesque through Renaissance to Baroque

•    Workers around each corner as it seems all of Rome is either under new construction or renovation

•    Newlyweds honeymooning

•    Retires searching for the taste of life they feel they have been missing

•    Young and old connecting with each other as they stroll the streets in the afternoons and evenings

About the time you thought you had the sidewalk to yourself along comes another tour group following a raised umbrella or a gaggle of youngsters in school hats herded by harried teachers.

We met people from all over the world while wandering around through the museums, at the archeological sites, in the churches and in the restaurants.  They were in all different shapes, sizes, genders, ages, and nationalities.  

Individuals and groups had come to Rome to explore a common heritage based in a Greek and Roman culture which lasted for 2,500 years before Christianity and 2,000 years of Christianity.

I found we had a lot in common.  As we stood in the ancient ruins visualizing where people had gone about their daily lives, looking at sculpture which flows with movement or before frescos like Michaelango’s, we realize that it is all temporary.

All we have is each other on ball of dirt hurtling through space. We need to understand each other and we need to understand ourselves.  Thank you for reading. Leave me a comment or send a note.  Rob

Picture:  Vactican Museum.  Taking pictures of each other to show they were there.