Rome via Brooklyn

655 words, 3 minutes read time

While I was beyond sad to leave my Zia’s house to come to the apartment, I was comforted knowing that 1) my cousin lives within walking distance, and 2) I’m literally seeing my family again this weekend. Even so, it’s hard leaving people that you haven’t seen in years and that you don’t know when you’ll see again later.

However, upon arriving at via Caio Mario, I was immediately excited to see the girls and getting this three-week excursion started. The apartment was nothing like I expected, but everything I could have ever dreamed of. The rooms are nice and plenty spacious, the kitchen is a dream (despite only having utensils enough for 2 people), and it has a certain charm the beautifully blends the old and the new. While it’s clearly been upgraded with newer appliances (shoutout the dishwasher and the incredible ACs), it still has this vintage feel that just reminds you of where you are, or maybe rather where you aren’t.

Once we were all unpacked and settled in, it was time to head out and meet up with the rest of the group. Immediately, I noticed the heat. I knew the Italian sun was no joke, but that brief walk from our place to Castel Sant’Angelo was a brutal reminder of just how aggressive it can be and just how thankful I am for sunscreen.

As we carried on towards the Pantheon and Fontana di Trevi, it was nice to stroll along just looking into all of the stores and soaking in the smells around me. I was tempted more than once to overindulge in the overpriced tourist traps, but I restrained myself for the time being. Three weeks is a long time, plenty to slow down and figure out exactly what foods I want to enjoy and what experiences I want to partake in.

Fontana di Trevi, funny enough, was what reminded me of New York. Not at all because of its striking beauty, but because of the crowd. Nothing makes you feel more at home quite like getting shoulder checked by tourists trying to get the best pictures.

Once we were done at these monuments, we split up into two groups – the train riders and the walkers. I (regrettably) opted to walk. Regrettable not because I didn’t enjoy the scenery, but I severely underestimated how much sun and heat I could tolerate for 30 minutes. By the time we made it to the supermarket, I was beyond over it all and ready to be back in my bed cooling off.

The supermarket was fun, and somewhat made up for my heat-induced agitation. It was interesting seeing products that I regularly eat at home stocked plentifully on the shelves, and priced reasonably (versus like the luxury imports they are back in the states). I find that I’m missing my family more than I thought I would, so I was comforted being able to have a little piece of home here in Italy. I’ve always believed that nothing connects people more than food, so something as simple as toast with ricotta and apricot jam transported me right back home to Nonna’s kitchen.

We ended our day back at the apartment with a shared meal that I offered to cook for the house. I roasted chicken in the oven, and farfalle pasta with marinara and ricotta. For me, a normal everyday meal, but one that I was eager to share with my roommates. As I said, no better way to get to know people than to break bread together.

By this point, I was beyond exhausted. I retired shortly after our meal, called who I needed to call back home, and fell right asleep. Overall, an incredibly successful day one that left me hungry for more. I’m looking forward to seeing how this trip unfolds and what I can learn from my surroundings and the people I’m sharing my time with.

-Julia