When in Rome

People say that it’s often the journey that holds more significance than the destination. Some of my best experiences so far in Rome have been the “side quests” or the spontaneous little adventures that arise on my journey while navigating the Eternal City here abroad. I often find myself doing things just to do them or not, and declaring… “when in Rome.”

I saved space in my suitcase for my Frommer’s Italy Travel Guide and my Lonely Planet Rome Guide, but when my plane touched ground, I came to realize that I would not have time for everything.

It was my first full day in Rome and my roommate, and I tried our best to get acquainted with our new home for the next four months. We attended our morning orientation at the American University of Rome and set out to see the city (after cappuccinos and croissants of course). We crossed the Tiber River, the gateway to the city’s heart, and were in awe. The sights – the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, and the Colosseum! The food – croissants, pizza, and spaghetti – all delicious. And the Italian people, they all seemed so happy. The touristy places were cool, but crowded and difficult to maneuver. The lesser-known places were the hidden gems and they were often hiding in plain sight, if only more people would slow down.

Later that evening, we got a call from our new friends whom we were sharing an apartment with. They wanted to see the Italian premier of A Complete Unkown. Naturally, knowing nothing about this movie my roommate and I agreed to head to the red carpet. We thought why not, and turned to each other and shrugged.. “when in Rome.” One thing led to another, and the night raged on. It was the best time.

I made peace with my impossible itinerary and decided to take it easy and really try to live the Italian experience. Italians have this saying and embrace it in their day-to-day lives: “il dolce far niente.” It means the sweetness of doing nothing, giving your brain a break from the chaos that is often the American way of life. It was refreshing.

So, over the next few days, I made plans to see my top locations all over the whole of Italy, but left room for relaxation and spontaneous excursions unplanned. I made plans to allow for the unplanned. I left room for my new Italian life to grow and flourish.