11:26 AM
4 sights to go.
I smile naively at the brunch on my plate. My roommate, Annamaria, has two friends visiting us in Rome this weekend, and we’re determined to show them everything. Walking the entirety of the city in one day shouldn’t be that tiring, right? Listen, we aren’t completely clueless, that’s why we decide to start our day with a hearty meal.
The four of us sit at a square table at Maccanismo, Annamaria’s favorite café. Around us, people speak in Italian over coffee and croissants, and I can’t help but laugh at our “American” meals which consist of eggs, bacon or sausage, and toast. I’ve found if a meal here has more than one component, it’s often described as American. The aroma of espresso engulfs the establishment no matter what time of day it is, and our waitress whizzes by, keeping her customers happy. We finish our meals and take a moment to mentally prepare for our conquest.
Let the games begin.
12:33 AM
The Victor Emmanuel II National Monument.
“It’s basically the White House, but in Rome,” Annamaria tells our visitors about the grand building before us. Neither of us is completely sure what the building is used for, but we reminisce about the week before when we stumbled upon the new President of Italy delivering a speech on the stairs. We smile for pictures, passing our phones to one another and laughing at our cheesy poses.
The clouds in the sky threaten to release rain, but we opt to ignore the possibility of our marathon through the city being disrupted.
1 sight down, 3 to go.
2:41 PM
The Colosseum.
After waiting for our scheduled time, we find ourselves inside the Colosseum. Our usual conversations cease, as we take in the sight before us. Looking down, our eyes are met with a labyrinth-like structure made of segments of stone walls. As our eyes travel upwards, the enormity of the Colosseum truly strikes me. The image of Romans cheering on gladiators materializes in my mind, and my mouth unconsciously opens in amazement. “Do you think people sitting in the front row would be splattered by blood?” The question escapes me before I realize the violence it depicts. My roommate’s other friend, Sirena, scrunches her face in disgust.
We walk the circumference along with the other tourists, obediently reading signs as we go. Although it’s apparent that the Colosseum wasn’t built yesterday, I have to say, it’s aged well. I hope I look as good at nearly 2,000 years old. After a quick stop in the gift shop to satisfy mine and Lorena’s search for postcards, we move on.
2 sights down, 2 to go.
4:12 PM
The Trevi Fountain.
“3, 2, 1…” I hear Lorena behind me as I lead our group to the Trevi Fountain. Her countdown, initiated by the sound of rushing water, puts a little pep in our steps, and when the fountain comes into view we each stop involuntarily. Despite this being my fourth time at this monument, I’ve reacted the same way each time, and don’t suspect that will change. Stopping is necessary to be able to take in the beauty of the massive monument.
The subject of so many tourists’ dreams is much larger than I’d expected, filling the Piazza, with any space leftover being engulfed by people eagerly throwing coins and taking photos. We’re no exception, as we maneuver our way through the crowd to get a closer look. The light blue water sparkles as sunlight shines through the clouds, causing debates as to whether the bottom of the fountain is painted that color or the water is dyed. The details of the architecture demand close inspection, as horses and humans erupt from the marble. Once we make sure Lorena’s “Lizzie McGuire moment” has been sufficiently created and captured, our journey continues.
3 sights down, 1 to go.
6:52 PM
The Spanish Steps.
In hindsight, visiting the Spanish Steps at the end of our day may have been a bit unwise. Nonetheless, the four of us climb those stairs with as much energy as we can muster, ignoring our aching feet just as we ignored the rain clouds. From the top, we can see the lights of Rome under a clouded sky that the moon tries to penetrate. The beauty is entrancing, and if it weren’t for our hunger, I’m not sure we would have ever left.
As we descend the stairs, I miss home for a moment. The stairs that lead to the Philadelphia Museum of Art are lovingly referred to as “The Rocky Steps,” because of their role in the film Rocky. Whether it is appropriate to compare the Rocky Steps to the Spanish Steps, I’m not sure, but my mind does it anyway. I chuckle at the memory of my brother and me running up the stairs like the boxer in the film.
4 sights down, 0 to go.
9:37 PM
It feels like days since we last sat down for a meal, despite only being hours. We laugh and talk about all we accomplished, eventually trying to decide who is the most tired. Although the sights in Rome are incredible, I realize my favorite moments of the day are the product of being with the people around me.
1 adventure down, countless to go.
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