Solo Strong

I guess I’ve gotten used to this. Break is upon us, and everyone, in a frenzy, up and left for parts unknown, leaving me alone here at the apartment, in Rome. I guess that makes me a townie in Rome.

Today though I left the apartment lazily at around 3 pm, hopefully to get to Piazza del Popolo to hang out in the few hours before mass at Santa Maria at 5 (or so I thought). I quickly found that time for the mass would be at 6:30, also having forgot that the entire thing save for the liturgy and eucharist would be in italian (the rest was in latin, which was actually the easy part). So I had more time to kill I guess. The sun quickly drifted across that late afternoon sky as I sat on the banister to the beautiful piazza, the steps to the Pincio gardens above me and the masses and hourdes of tourists and churchgoers on the cobblestones beneath. My throne rested on the one way road that coursed around the “place of the people” next to a statue that carefully guarded me and my new book, Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons. As soon as I finished The Perks of Being a Wallflower, I hungered for more, actually in the same genre as such, but came upon Brown easily, having stumbled into Faltrinelli’s in Piazza Venezia on my solo downtown excursion last night. I had strapped up in my thin leather coat and sneakers, digital camera and tripod and a couple of dollars and hopped the subway to Saint Peter’s Basilica at Vatican City, which apparently earlier that day, was host to the Pope’s ride on his mobile around the square packed with thousands of people for his rare public appearances. Speaking of which, I don’t feel quite so alone with all the people around every night when I walk into the business districts of the town, and I don’t feel quite so lost around here having felt that way for about a month and half now subsequently not even needing a map anymore. The city is well lit. And the people are jaunty and happy.

And so my break begins, after several long weeks of adjustment and torment and confusion about more than just the city. I am contemplating life back in the states when I get there but at the same time, how I am going to make this semester more memorable than it has already been. There are a lot of responsibilities waiting for me back at home, but especially now, sitting in these squares and not needing anything else to do but time to pass and pages to turn, I feel so free and wonderful.

P.S. I got my wings and beer where? A place none other than our very own Hard Rock Café, Rome. Expensive, but well deserved…finally. Oh yeah…and fuck Capri…no need to go to an expensive island for a beautiful beach you can find an hour’s train ride out of Rome…;)