In Vienna: Italy is Amazing!!

11 June 12

I finally understand why Italy is such a popular vacation destination! I have only seen Rome, Naples and Capri but it all amazingly filled my eyes with such beauty and history that I cannot wait to go back. I met Natasha on Wednesday morning, the 23^rd of May at Fiumicino airport outside of Rome. Seeing her again was great as she is someone who I connect with even beyond our similar career paths. She is so much fun while also being thoughtful and able to look out for her friends. The chance to experience Rome with her made me smile inside and out!

We did so much in our 6 days in Italy but the two that were my most favorite included the day we went to Capri and our visit to see the Colosseum (aka the Flavian Ampitheather, est AD 80). We departed for Capri the day after we arrived in Italy and from seeing the beautiful countryside on the drive to the port in Naples to the city of Naples itself, we were off to a great start! The 45 minute boat ride to the island of Capri got a bit difficult for several of the passengers due to the choppy seas (though I loved it, it was just like a kiddie rollercoaster!). When we got to the island we had blue skies with a few clouds – it was perfect! Our tour took us from Capri up the small winding roads to the top at Anacapri (translation: above Capri). The views were amazing and like nothing I have seen before – the mountains, the tucked away houses and buildings, the sparkling turquoise and blue water, the green lush foliage – it was perfect.

After days of walking the streets of Rome, touring and enjoying delicious wine and food (with an unplanned night of debauchery at the local clubs in Testaccio), it was finally time to visit the Colosseum! We had passed it several times as our bed & breakfast was only a couple of blocks from the immense structure. At the thought of finally going in to the place where so much blood was shed and so many Romans yelled for more, I was beyond excited. When we got inside it was early and the crowds had not yet arrived – I was able to take it all in and identify where the emperor would have sat, where the gladiators would have entered the arena as well as where the victor would have walked out through the Gate of Life. There was so much here, I felt as if the building whispered tales to me as we stepped on stone flooring that have felt footsteps for centuries. It was a place of bloodshed, death and gruesome “games” but it is also a place of so many stories. Most importantly, it is a place that symbolizes what went very wrong with the culture of the Roman Empire; it is our reminder that when we call for blood, we beg for our own destruction. The Colosseum can teach us so much.