The plane started to descend from the clouds of the sky, and from the tiny plastic window I could see the coast of Italy below like a detailed map unfolded across a table. Amanda and I held hands as we dropped closer and closer to the ground; trying to catch our breath from the excitement. Before long we were rushing through customs then to the bus, and then through Rome on the way to the hotel. It wasn’t until that bus ride did I feel like I had arrived.

Even the airport and half of the bus ride felt like a foreign land to be me, but no different than if I traveled to Texas or Salt Lake City where the culture is different from Pennsylvania’s. Hell, even penile graffiti seems to be universal in Rome.

It wasn’t the language barrier or the sudden change in fashion that made me realize where I was. When the bus pulled around the street corner to reveal the giant structures like the Coliseum, the Pantheon, and the Piazza Venezia was when I finally realized where I was, where I was going.
Rome is a beautiful place; it is truly amazing. When I look at the ruins of ancient Rome and the Coliseum, I can’t help but try to create stories behind each crack, each missing puzzle. For example, during the tour of the Coliseum, our tour guide, Christina, mentioned that people weren’t suppose to eat during shows. However, when archeologist examined the waste system of ancient Coliseum they discovered peach seeds and cherry seeds, chicken bones, and other fossils hidden beneath the stone. It’s amazing to think that something so simple as breaking a rule and eating a peach in the stand would result in revealing historical information that would be otherwise lost.

Maybe it’s because I’m not from Italy and I’m not use to the architecture, but I literally can’t compare any Italian buildings to something we have in America. The United States has beautiful buildings and scenery, but we don’t necessarily preserve them like Italy does. It’s mind boggling to me that a 2,000 year old amphitheater holds up better than any building we’ve had in the united states. Not that it’s a bad thing, but it makes me appreciate ancient romans and their ability to create something so strong and sturdy without the machinery we have today