This week’s edition of I visiting places I haven’t been since youth: Rome, Italy! The first time and only time I’ve been here was when I was 20 years old when I was backpacking Europe with my boyfriend at the time and one of my best friends. My experiences of travelling now when I’m in my mid-thrities is that I am so greatful to my younger self that she took the leap and did as much travelling as she did when she was in her early twenties. It’s a totally different experience; one that is unique to being an early-twenty something. I was interested in the monuments and museums at the time (I mean, I am the way I am), but not in the same way as I am now. I was more interested in being a twenty-something. I think my then boyfriend and I stayed at a cottage outside of Rome. I remember buying a bag of charcoal to BBQ. I kind of remember visiting Rome proper, being amazed by and standing outside of the colloseum for a photo (I didn’t have enough money to go in). I remember all the limestone buildings that were covered in soot. But this time, it’s somehow different. I’m even more awestruck and amazed, walking down the terracotta cobblestone streets lined with restaurants. The way the sunlight filters through the small lanes, the russeling of the vines, and the vibrancy of the purple blossoms. I’m reminded of how many of my favourite things are Italian - gelato, pasta, cured meats, parmesean, mozzarella, terramaseu, democracy*….to name a few. The layers on layers of history behind the saying ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ really does take your breath away. Yeah, that’s a medieval building (an 11th century watchtower) nuzzled up to a 17th century limestone structure. Yeah, one of the great floods sedimented old-Rome and we just paved on top of it. Somewhere between the men dressed in beautiful navy blue suits and the high cielings of our probably 200 year old AirBNB, it’s safe to say I love Rome.

My mom arrived today, and I ventured to the airport to meet her. Her flight was delayed, but I stood in the same spot for about an hour because I was too excited to do anything else. It feels like forever and a day since I’ve seen her, and I haven’t been able to sleep for the last two nights because I’ve been so excited. I gave her a huge big hug, and she gave me a huge big hug in return (she’s the one who taught me how to hug afterall), and some tears were shed and then we headed on back to the historic centre of this substantial city.

We were in a rush to get to our walking tour, which I had booked thinking we’d have plenty of time, not planning on a flight delay (I should have known better). My mom pulled it off though, completely jet-lagged and exhausted, not wanting to miss out on a tour. We visited the original road connecting Rome to the rest of Europe, passing by the tomb of Augustas, and made our way to many monuments that I can’t immediately recall (I’ll have to check my map! And I will. This will be updated later :)). The tourguide was lovely, bringing us down his favourite little streets and to a gelato shop with 100 flavours (!) where we had a shnack and proceeded on to see the senate, court, and parliment buildings. At the end of the tour, we embarrassingly forgot our euros (due to our mad rush to get to the tour ontime), but my mom saved the day by having a Paypal account, transfering the guide a very generous tip for the 2 hour tour. My mom was truly exhuasted at the end, jet lag and a huge flight and all, and we found an adorable restaurant by our AirBnB and had caprese salad, chamanon salad, cabanara, and 1 litre of wine and talked and talked and talked. We also laughed so hard that we couldn’t stop and cried multiple times, because we are a family of big feelings I guess, and we were both so full of emotion and feeling that we obviously have to express it. Laughing until we cry is one of my favourite things to do with my mom and sister. We both spoke in length about how we wish my sister and niece could have joined us, and are looking forward to when they can next summer. My mom, generous spirit she is, left a 40% tip (lol), and I gave the violenist a lovely tip as well for his goregous music. My mom is the best person that I know, and I’m so happy and feel so at home because she’s with me, even when we’re kilometres away in one of the most famous cities in the world - Rome.