During his golden years, Michael Angelo once said “I am still learning.”, so is also my yearning to continuously learn in every chance that I get during my solo travel experiences. My continued journey took me to the Eternal City, Rome. From arts to ancient architectures, vibrant nightlife, entertainment, pastas, gelatos, pizzas, and even people, you name it; a lot was going on that dull moments were nowhere to be found. The hype I got from the first day of my first European travel last 2019 was doubled when I landed in Rome. Hilariously, the location of Fiumicino Airport Railway Station got me perplexed a bit, since it was located outside the airport building. I had myself briefed about it before arriving, but being unsure, I shyly approached an Italian lady to ask for a direction who was very kind to accommodate me though she was meant to go on a different way. She was just so cool with it which reminded me that most strangers you meet on the road are nice and approachable people.
Arriving at the hostel was a bit of a challenge for me. The cobblestone street required my strength to pull my luggage patiently as it was a bit of an uphill road. Yes, I was finally in Rome, walking along ancient roads that existed for a very long time like stepping unto the past. I thought that the hostel is yet another environment, another vibe, another people to engage with but I was warmly greeted with enthusiasm that I felt relaxed and settled in no time. I met wonderful individuals as some of the new guests gathered at the receiving area. Everybodywas just so young at heart and excited while getting to know fellow travellers. The hosts generously offered a free group night walk tour which was so worth it (but as a courtesy, we gave tips to our tour guide). It was definitely a bustling and busy night in Rome, as if nobody wants to put the city to rest. I enjoyed a group dinner too, with some of the travellers I’ve met at the hostel. The staff were very accommodating and friendly too, who even gave me a small map the next day. I remember them being so adorable while discussing with me some landmarks that may interest me during my stay. During evenings, they have a small gathering at the hostel’s outdoor area where all the guests can come together at night and watch singing entertainment, eat and laugh with other guests while getting into random conversations. It felt like the night was always young. :) I honestly thought that Rome gave me another delightful hostel experience in Europe.
M U S T - V I S I T
A T T R A C T I O N S
Off to a sunny day and heading out early, I visited the Colosseum and Arc of Constantine, The Roman Forum, and did random city walks. I expected these sites to be on every traveller’s bucket list, but I never imagined how long the queue was. Nonetheless, it was really worth the visit. The Vatican City is one of the world's smallest countries, so I didn't miss the chance to visit the Vatican Square. The line for visiting the Basilica caught me by surprise because I never thought that the queue will be very long. It will take a whole lot of patience to get a glimpse inside the Basilica. Thinking that the queue will definitely consume my time, I proceeded to visit the Vatican Museum instead. I chose to visit at night expecting a smaller crowd or close to none since it's the last slot for admission time. But wow - was I misinformed? To my big surprise, the night and last admission was unbelievably crowded still. Many tourists had the same impression, but as soon as we were allowed to enter, it all changed into excitement. I met another fellow tourist, a Vietnamese architecture student studying in Germany at that time who decided to have a solo trip to Rome, and we went touring the museum together. Finally stepped unto Rafael’s Room and the Sistine Chapel but we were forbidden to take a photo of Michael Angelo's ceiling painting (since I really wanted to have a memory of it for myself, I was able to sneak my phone to get a photo.) Seeing those frescoes were invigorating to the eyes. They lighted up my imagination of the old times; how must the place looked like and if not for the people who continues to maintain them, we would not have enjoyed these arts that amazingly looked so much alive until to this day.
It was always a sunny and beautiful weather in Rome. My then American roommate invited me to walk around the city together and I did not hesitate to say yes. :) She came to Rome to visit a church called Via di Sta Maria dell'Anima located at Piazza Navona. If I remember it right, it has quite a connection with her childhood. At the church, we were invited to watch an exclusive musical performance for that day. It was a very intimate gathering as there were only limited tickets being sold, so we grabbed the chance and watched the small and intimate, well staged orchestra. No cameras, no video recordings, just pure music interaction. It. was. so. good. The group of musicians played Vivaldi's Four Seasons and at the end gained a standing ovation.
My roommate was in her 60s at that time, a retiree. Over dinner, she told me a story about her complicated youth. As I listened to her story, I realized, that people can just overcome struggles. She also made me realize how mistakes can make a person better, to not despise oneself even during unforgivable times, the power of choosing what is right and freeing oneself from self-condemnation, and that the past is not to be feared but to be forgiven. We had a heartfelt conversation the entire time. I lovelistening to older people because they have so much to say about life. While I am still partly going through it, they already overcame many things. It's a rarity to meet somebody willing to open up a little about their past selves. She didn't even know that her story inspired me, to be kinder to myself. As we finished the night, we walked back to our accommodation instead of riding a bus or a train. I didn't even mind how far we had gone for the entire day by mostly walking. She was really physically fit for her age. While on the road, I took my phone and recorded her leaving me a heartwarming message to remember. She's one person that really left a huge impression on me in just a short while. That's why I cherished so much my Rome trip, because I had many good memories and interactions with fellow travellers.
I also did random walks in the city and didn't forget to try out their “should not miss” authentic gelato! :) My feet led me to Castel Sant Angelo, I presume, is also one of the most visited castles in Rome. People also love to hangout and relax at Piazza del Popolo, a gathering place that is surrounded by many historical buildings such as the twin churches. A walk through with this oval plaza will take you to different exit and entrance points. It is also best viewed within the Terrazza del Pincino, a very beautiful and solemn park. Some sites are also expectedly busy like Piazza di Spagna. The iconic Spanish Steps and the gorgeous most sought after Trevi Fountain, definitely will always remain the busiest and the most crowded attractions in the city. Most iconic landmarks in Rome never run out of visitors as crowds and long queues may seem normal in world's most visited cities like Rome. Maybe if visited very early in the day, there might be lesser crowd. For art enthusiasts, there are also other museums that may catch an interest such as: National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art
For other museum references in Rome, please visit this site:
Many of the attractions are very walkable from each other, so I think, visitors and solo travellers alike will be able to see many sites in a day. I believe the city is best enjoyed by walking around and your feet can even lead you somewhere you didn’t expect of seeing. It was impressive to see and learn the importance of the many historical sites that shaped humanity’s interconnectedness even to this day thru looking back in time. Hence, Roma, as one of the oldest cities in the world, has a uniquely irresistible charm. It is a very inviting city with so much to discover...like you just want to be out there... and Italians too, as per experience, are very tourist friendly. I've noticed that they like to get along and have nice conversations with you which felt very hospitable. They leave good memories and an impression on every visitor. The fellow travellers I've met, they made my entire Rome experience remarkably unforgettable too. If you'll travel alone in Roma, I'm sure you'll be fine. :)
Comments
Post a Comment