 This, here, is a photo I snapped of my mother. We were making our way down from the dome at the Vatican in Rome. She was visiting me for a few days and I actually had to do a little convincing before she agreed to visit Rome. Just a little background information: I don’t live in Rome. I live in a small city about 40 minutes south from Rome. Originally my mother wanted to just stay with me in the city I live in. I told her that it’s mandatory she visits the most well-known and visited city in Italy. After some time she finally agreed to be a little tourist. What makes this photo so significant is what happened before and after. Before taking this photo, we had hiked our way up the thousands of steps. It was very narrow and tiring. In fact, it was so narrow, there were a few people who needed to stop along the way because of their claustrophobia. I do not suffer from this fear, however the small space made me feel slightly claustrophobic. Although strenuous, we made it over the hump and gained our reward of a beautiful view. We could see all of Rome. I was able to see things I hadn’t seen before. You will notice a smile on her face. She and I were both pretty happy to have completed the hard part of this trek. It was a relief to make our way down. However when this photo was taken, we still had a bit of a way to go until we reach the bottom. Out of breathe, we continued our way through Rome. We went to the most touristic places: the Trevi Fountain, the St. Peter’s Basilica, the Roman Forum, and Colosseum. We made our way back to my city by train and ended the evening with a stereotyped American meal. The following day we went on a mini road trip to a small village located in a national park. It was cold and foggy but absolutely beautiful. We stayed at a farm that had horses, goats, dogs, pigs, chickens, etc. Although our time on this farm was short, it was very cute to stay at. Honestly this entire trip for the two of us was really nice. It had been a little over six months since I had last seen her so it was a great way for us to bond. I never really had a good relationship with my mother because we tend to disagree on many things and share a difference in opinions. We did not argue very much but we found time to share traditional arguments over stupid things I always forget about. However, as a whole this trip made me appreciate my time with her. She is my mom and we don’t always get along, but when we travelled together in the car around this part of Italy, we had the chance to talk about things we haven’t talked about before. Since we didn’t have the eavesdropping ears of my brothers, we had freedom to just talk. Saying good bye to my mother at the airport was a bittersweet parting of ways. She entered the security check and I made my way up the escalator towards the train station. Although it was a little hard to say good bye and let go of her, I wasn’t too broken up about it because I knew I was going to see her again soon and we were probably going to talk on the phone the following day. I felt like an adult. There are scenes in films and series of parents and their adult children visiting for a holiday or birthday. When they say their goodbyes there usually isn’t crying involved. I felt like one of those adults that were portrayed on screen. I felt like I was one of those people that visit their parents only certain times of the year. It was at that moment I had realized how grown up I had become. When I look at this photo I am not only reminded of the time I spent with my mother during her stay, but I am reminded of how much I have grown since I have been apart from her and my family. I love my family and my friends and my hometown. However, I have come to the realization that living close to family is a wonderful thing, but spending time apart from them is when I really grew as a person. I had no other choice but to be independent. I moved myself to a completely different continent with a 9-hour time difference. I was nowhere near any friends or family. I entered a foreign land alone, but not completely alone. Lucky for me, I had the warm welcome of a wonderful Italian family who introduced me to people who have now become very good friends of mine. Although I was a little nervous, I have proven to my family that I can survive being apart from my family. I have made stupid decisions here and there but I am young and still learning from poor choices. I connect this photo of my mom with my experience of being away from home. Just as we struggled through the narrow halls of endless stairs, I faced the almost impossible journey of being away from my family, friends, and home. I conquered the challenge and became a stronger and more woman because of it. As we made our way down the stairs with smiles on our faces, I am coming to the end of my experience in Italy with a grin. Although it is not over; I still have about three months left, I am thankful and happy to have made it past the hump. Once I got over the hardest part of being away from them, everything became easier and it seems like it is going by even faster. Thanks again for taking the time in reading a little background story behind this photo. I hope it inspired you or made you think. Check back tomorrow to look at the photo I decide to write about and share with you all!
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On the wall was written "save a gelato, lick a pussy."  I have been to Rome many times, it is a beautiful city that provides each visitor a unique experience. I decided to revisit the ancient city for a day of photography and exploration. I made a plan to visit the spots that have high rates of tourist visitations. This was mainly because I wanted to do a reshoot of some of the places I had visited before and I think it would be a great way to provide images of these places for the people who won’t get the opportunity to travel and see them in person. After getting off the train and having lunch at the American fast food chain located across the street from Roma Termini, I headed in the direction I thought was the infamous Colosseo I walked not knowing 100% if I was going in the correct direction. I decided to leave my phone in my backpack so I wouldn’t get distracted and drain the battery. However doing this made me always a little unsure of where I was going. Surprisingly, I found my way to the Colosseo. Before reaching the structure, I had to walk down a street with a very high wall. On the wall was written “save a gelato, lick a pussy.” I thought this was probably the funniest thing to have seen while heading in the direction of a well-populated area. I was in such a rush to photograph the structure that I didn’t get the chance to snap a photo of these wise words. However, now that I know that is there, you should expect me to return and even show friends. I yelled Italian curse words at the two boys and they left me alone  I arrived and took out my camera. I took some shots then turned on the timer. I was waiting for the right moment to pose for my camera. It was at this moment I felt most awkward. Even before posing, I felt odd. I could feel people making faces in reaction to what I was planning to do. It was just a little uncomfortable but a part of me felt like I had no choice. I honestly didn’t feel like risking someone running off with my only camera. I changed to about 3 other locations within the vicinity for “posing.” During the process of finding the right spot, I was approached by a selfie-stick salesman, two dancing boys, and a waiter from a restaurant near my shooting location. The salesman was easy to brush off. I yelled Italian curse words at the two boys and they left me alone. I was sitting on a ledge trying to take a video when this waiter approached me. Feeling cornered, I decided to be “friendly” to him. He seemed like an okay person but it still made me uncomfortable. Lucky for me, he was still on the clock and I was able to make my escape as he returned to his job. Desperate to get rid of this man, I told him to not waste his time on me because I have a boyfriend... almost immediately after he heard the word 'boyfriend,' he began walking in the opposite direction.  I headed down below from the ledge I was sitting on, and photographed a spray-painting artist. Soon after, I filmed a man performing “Volare” on guitar. Although many people only passed by, he had a cheerful performance. Next to him was a painter who looked as though he was in the process of painting a new piece. I continued in the direction towards three tanks and two military men. They had the typical uniform of military men that can be found in Italy: camouflage, beret, black boots, and what I think was a machine gun – I don’t know much about guns, sorry. As I was approaching the ancient central site of Rome, known as the Forum, a man approached me asking if I was Italian or American, followed by a suggestion of joining me while I photograph things. Desperate to get rid of this man, I told him to not waste his time on me because I have a boyfriend. This wasn’t true but it made a great success because almost immediately after he heard the word ‘boyfriend,’ he began walking in the opposite direction.   After spending about twenty or so minutes in this general area, I walked in the direction that I thought was the Vatican. I was wrong. However I came to the Pantheon. This area was completely populated. Although the Pantheon is a very beautiful structure, I was more interested in a guitar player who had a large audience. After capturing this moment, I walked down a path that I had thought would lead me to the Trevi Fountain. Again, I was wrong. Nonetheless, I came across a market that was coming to a close. I had never seen this before and was able to capture a clip of the various stands.  Continuing my adventure, I found myself at a point in the city where most local Italians are located (in my opinion). There are two parallel streets filled with shops ranging from designer, boutiques, and the mass-produced, “affordable” clothing stores. It was very difficult to spot any tourist in this area. These streets were filled with well-dressed men and women. I recall seeing an older woman proudly carrying a large Gucci shopping bag. It was very nice and durable for a shopping. In my experience they are usually made of a thick paper-like material. This women’s shopping bag seemed to be made of a cloth material of some sort. Trying to escape these crowds, I went down a few different alleys and ended up in Piazza de Popolo. It was here that I realized the time of day and temperature. It was very cold and I had only my flimsy leather jacket. I decided to take the metro back to the train station because it was too cold and too far to walk. When I finally returned home in Latina, I had discovered that I walked 12 km (~8 mi). You can imagine how my feet felt when I took off my shoes then socks. The next day I was very sore in the leg area. Although tired and sore, I had the memories of that day to stay with me for the rest of my life. This day gave me the chance to realize what it means to travel alone. I was by myself, but I did not feel lonely. I enjoyed experiencing the city at my own pace, even if at times it was very fast and long. It was an adventure and I enjoyed about every moment of it. I hope to come to Rome again soon so I can experience a different part of the city then share my experience with you. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope it was entertaining and inspiring. I have placed the photos taken from the day below. Check them out and let me know what you think ! Do you have experiences that may have been similar to mine? Have you ever thought about solo travel but are too scared or nervous to go for it? What sorts of things would you like for me to share? Comment below, or feel free to shoot me an email! Thank you again and have a wonderful week! |
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