So you probably all know that I spent last weekend in Rome. My profile picture is a dead give-away. But I thought I would share a little bit about my trip. As always, I will mix some life lessons in with some humor (because I can't seem to avoid awful situations that are hilarious when you look back on them.) And I will try to paint a nice picture of the city for you. (of course if I don't do a good job, I have an entire facebook album dedicated to my trip)
The story starts about 2 weeks ago. My friend Lindsey and I are walking out of a class and we look at our schedules only to realize that we didn't have any classes on Friday September 30th. A day off in this school is really something special. For the whole semester we only have 2 long weekends for mini excursions, and in that moment Lindsey and I were faced with the fact that we had ANOTHER long weekend, that we hadn't known about and we needed to make the most of it! There were 9 days to go, to plan something, to take a trip, and the words "let's go to ROME!" slipped out of my mouth. 2 days later, after much credit card hassle and insane travelling research we had plane tickets, and 6 days later we were on a plane bound for Rome.
Rome is stunning, it is really so beautiful. Every time you turn around you spot another ruin, or another ancient building that was constructed with so much beauty and precision that it makes your jaw drop. I have mentioned how much I love the history in France, well in Rome, I was in a city that was even OLDER than any city in France. I loved it. There is so much to take in, Lindsey and I walked around the city marveling at how well the old and the new blended to create such a wonderful place.
A mix of ancient temples, a massive blood sport arena, and the capital of the Catholic Church make up this city. It is a bizarre mix, but Rome wouldn't be Rome without them. The Colosseum is both beautiful and terrible. The structure itself is stunning, but when you learn about the blood sports it churns your stomach a little. The Colosseum was the home of the Gladiators, who were paid to fight, but it was also the place where many prisoners breathed their last, in front of thousands of onlookers. It is believed that the Colosseum held about 50,000 people, and that it was packed every time it was open. Everyone loves a spectacle, but i have a hard time understanding people who watch other people die for enjoyment. But then you have to wonder, would people from another culture or another time find our sources of entertainment sickening?
The pagan temples and the Vatican are within walking distance of each other. It could actually be said that the Vatican is the reason the temples are in ruins because when Christianity became popular in Rome, the temples were torn down and used to create Vatican city. Although I don't agree with the things the pagan temples stood for, it saddened me to see so much history lost. I suppose they thought they were doing what was right, but I can't help but feeling that love and kindness are a better witness than destruction and condemnation. Of course, I could be thinking way too symbolically about the whole thing. At least a few buildings (temples that were converted into churches) were saved so we could have an idea what ancient Roman life was like.
This whole trip has been a huge lesson in Catholicism for me, thanks to my dear friend Lindsey :) Considering that Catholicism was the only form of Christianity for a very long time, and Europe was one of the first mission fields of the early church, there is Catholic stuff everywhere! I've been in so many cathedrals so far, and Rome was no different, except they are called Bascilicas. So Lindsey has been kindly answering all my elementary questions as we tour these amazing churches and I have to say: I understand. I understand the Catholic faith (well at least better than I did). The Catholics, just like the Protestants, have really good reasons for everything they do, and they have scripture back up. So who was I to ever say they were wrong? Maybe, just because I don't always agree, doesn't mean it is wrong. I've reached the conclusion that while there is only one way to Heaven (Jesus) there are many ways to practice your faith, and worship. People have the right to develop their relationship with God in whatever way is most comfortable for them. And anyone (catholic or not) should visit Vatican City if they have the chance because it is beautiful.
Once again, I feel like I'm growing up here in Europe. I've finally stopped fighting it, I can't be a kid forever, and there are definitely some perks to being an adult. I can't believe that Lindsey and I booked our own tickets, and hostel and toured Rome on our own! While we had some bumps along the way, (we accidentally got on a train bound for Pisa, luckily we got off before it left) and we got lost a few times, and almost missed our plane, it was such a learning experience. I've found that I am capable of more than I ever imagined, and I'm excited to keep going :)
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