Rome!!
Doug and I discussed the fact that we both felt a bit of sadness at not getting one last long train ride yesterday (from Zurich to Rome. It's been a good run with our Eurail Pass this past month. We find it to be a peaceful liminal space between activity-filled days. So Rome! There's a lot to be said about this place and the people. It bombards the senses, in mostly good ways. There is so much chaos and so much joy. The antiquities are ubiquitous, juxtaposed with modern/post-modern structures. There's grime and noise and bedlam, but with such kindness thrown into the mix. (How many times did a young person relinquish their seat for me.) There is beauty and age that makes one feel intense emotions. The sacred and profane appears to coexist peacefully. When I was in Italy in 1980 with my cousin Lorraine, I found the personalities and cadences and chaos jarring. With the benefit of age, I now see joy and charm and deeply-rooted tradition. I wonder how living amidst evidence o...