59: when in rome

12.26 - 12.31

Holy moly, it has been too long! Where were we...I was in Germany for some hours, then returned to Boston so I could start my journey into library school. The goal? To attain an official masters in library science to become an ALA-accredited librarian...aka to become my dream job of KEEPER OF THE KEYS TO KNOWLEDGE (though I'm finding it's not a keeper of keys but even better, a sharer of keys).

But I'll get into the whole library shenanigans a little later because, well, ROME! Yes, as they say, all roads lead to Rome. And with K,M, and K--a trio of travellers who, in each their own ways, make me want to become a better person--I was able to taste, hear, see, smell and experience for myself, The Eternal City.

So what was Rome like? Imagine a century-aged wine in the most contemporary MoMA like wine glass. New and Old. Mixed into one. Merged into one. IS one. Essentially, on our walk from the apartment to the post office, we'd pass a glitzy Dior-sponsored display of Christmas lights then turn into a plaza where the Pantheon, the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome AND first built in 27 BC, was proudly still standing. And you may say, "ah, that's just one very specific route, my friend" but...my friend. On any and every route through the city, we would pass a church from the 17th century or an obelisk from Augustine's reign or a piazza from the 15th century... this city truly overflowed with history. AND, what's even more incredible is just how well preserved and ordinary the remnants of these empires are. It reminded me that the USA is still a mere toddler compared to the ancient empires that reigned with gusto thousands of years ago (and feisty one too, as we've unjustly taken lands from too many peoples in the 250 years we've been here.)

ROME IN FOOOOOOD