Friends, Romans, Countrymen.... Lend me your ears

I've been drinking it all in. Literally. And I don't mean alcohol- though I've had a glass of wine with every meal. I mean the city. The water. It flows fresh and cold from beautiful fountains scattered every few blocks. Marble lion heads spew straight from the aqueducts and into my water bottle. It's wonderful. Refreshing. Rome has become a part of me more so than I had anticipated. I drank from the fountain at the top of St. Peter's Basilica - Outside the Pantheon- Next to the Trevi Fountain. I have ingested the antiquity- the culture- the history.

Rome is an amazing city. I had thought the architecture of Barcelona was impressive so arriving here was absolutely stunning. Imagine turning a corner and seeing the Colosseum - Getting lost and finding the Spanish Steps. I ate pasta carbonara at Piazza Navona. I gazed at a Bernini sculpture while eating gelato. I made calls to those I miss and love while in Vatican City. I had always envisioned the Roman ruins to be confined to one area. One enclosed location housing the past. But they are everywhere- every street, every neighborhood. There are ancient stones outside modern looking condominiums. The rubble of old homes are strewn near souvenir shops. Broken columns are used as park benches. Bases of medieval statues sit, unadorned, in thick grass. Rome's yesterday is very much part of it's today. And, as I drink the water, it is very much a part of me.