The Roads that led me to Rome

Ever since I can remember , I dreamt of visiting Italy. Over the years my dreams of Italy  grew...  Looking back I can remember my first encounters with Italia: Pizza Napolitana with my dad at the still famous  Pizzería Tito in Tegucigalpa, with its walls lined with posters of Florence, Venice and Rome ; the 1986 Italian team at the World Cup with Paolo Maldini ; the hyper romantic lyrics to the songs of Eros Ramazotti and Laura Pausini ; work as a Brand Manager for Benetton perfumes in Honduras...

Funny to say it , but Paris took me to Italy. While working as a Brand Manager for a perfume and cosmetics company , I was invited to a training in Paris, the week before Easter - which in my side of the world usually means a week of vacation-, and although the thought of visiting and discovering Paris made me extremely happy , I could only think of taking a short flight over the border to visit Italy once my training was over,  and that I did. One of these days I will look for my pics - pre Smartphone camera era - of that first encounter face to face with Italy.

 Needless to say it was love at first sight. This happened in 2000. I later returned in 2004 and in 2011 , but today I want to share a bit of my beautiful experience in Rome a couple of weeks ago. I was blessed with the opportunity to be part of a wonderful group linked to coffee in Honduras who participated at a trade show in Italy. This also gave me the opportunity to take a few vacations days and visit some amazing sites . This was a healing trip in many aspects, a point of crossroads in my life  where I chose to cross and look ahead.  It was was amazing to discover , live and fully enjoy the roads that took me to  the eternal Rome in 3 wonderful days .

 

1. The Sky Road : Enjoy the ride ! Note to self.... no worries about turbulence

I am not much into flying... believe it or not...I always try to get a seat near  a window and above the wings, as this is the most stable area of the plane... ( as in... it won´t shake as much as further back in the tail ) ... Most economy class planes have the 2 4  2  seating arrangements... Talk or at least smile to your neighbor ... I have met some extremely interesting persons on my last flights.  Enjoy the amazing view... clouds, blues skies , sunsets, sunrise, mountains, islands, other planes crossing the sky.  And finally, don´t forget to manage your frequent flyer miles !

2. The Unplanned Road : Be open and take the road ahead- unplanned , unknown, unmapped - you will find surprises along the way - like...  Being able to attend Pope Francis' General Audience . I did not plan this , and I was totally blessed by it !

 

When you travel to Europe you usually arrive around noon. I went to my B&B and headed out  as soon as I could, and with no planned itinerary I decided to go to the Vatican, on a Tuesday ... Just to find St. Peter´s Square in full preparation mode for next day´s "Audiencia General".  So from no plan-  I now had a plan .... Pope Francis on Wednesday in Rome.... Happiness ! I am very conscious of my spiritual journey as I travel through life , and this last year has been of profound spiritual awareness. I knew this was going to become a special and treasured memory for me. And that there was a message coming my way.

I caught a glimpse of Pope Francis as he passed by . So , so , so  sweet. The message was on Piety, one of the gifts of the Spirit, and its significance as a sense of friendship with God, that which allows us to come to Him with the trust and the familiarity of a child approaching his Father, because that is what we are: his children. Piety also allows us to be able to reach out in love to  those around us: to laugh with those that are happy , to comfort a heavy heart, to be company to a solitary soul.  I understood that my own road of seeking to be comforted was coming to an end, and that I needed to be more aware of that which I can give to others ahead. I believe God comforts us and sends us helping hands along the way so that in turn we do the same unto others . It's my turn to reach out now.  I am ready and honored .

 And on a funny  & light note, be aware that  St. Peter's Square is a great place for spotting Italy's famous Carabinieri, so keep your eyes wide open !

 

 



3. The Road to a Castle.  I have discovered you can never see all the sites in a city as beautiful as Rome, but that is absolutely OK. Always leave a site to visit on your next trip.  So it was until this third visit that I finally got a close glimpse of the imponent Castel St. Angelo at the Parco Adriano in Rome, with its beautiful St. Michael Archangel crowning it .  San Miguel Arcángel , by the way , is Tegucigalpa's Saint. 

I actually just walked around the park and soaked in the afternoon sun and a beautiful feeling of peace, light and realization .... I was in Rome ! I was making new memories, I was moving on ....

I took one of my favorite self photographs here ... and the caption I used when I posted it was : " With the sun in my face and the wind beneath my wings " .As you travel, especially if you travel by yourself, reach inside and let it be a healing and growing experience. I  hope I can always carry with me , the feeling of wellness , completeness , and optimism that I felt that day at Castel St. Angelo. 

4. The Ancient Road : 

Appia teritur regina longarum viarum

"the Appian way is the queen of the long roads"

The Via Appia Antica is a must if you go to Rome... One of those sites I was not able to catch on my first visits , but that will now be a permanent part of my plans on future trips to Rome.  Beautiful, historical, peaceful, still there. I  absolutely loved it .

 

 

This is the mother of all roads that lead to Rome. Don't miss it !
5. The Road to many happy returns to Rome. When you visit a city as beautiful as Rome, you must believe  with all your heart that you will return . The Fontana di Trevi is not only the most beautiful fountain my eyes have seen, but tradition says that those who throw a coin,  b e l i e v i n g , will surely return to Rome.  Paired up with a spectacular gelato and the blessing of friends to share the moment, this  makes for the best memories and  for the amazing  feeling of a  love affair with Rome that will be continued.

 

 

 

 I will be happy to share tips and suggestions for your next trip to Rome.