There's no place like Roma!

View from Villa Borghese

Thoughts on Rome. . .

Fulvio. . .Our Roman host, Fulvio, was by far one of the best parts of the trip. Animated and super easy going (handed us the keys to his house on day one) Fulvio was all smiles (thought “Joe Reed” a million times). He introduced us to the best tiramisu hideout in Rome, showed us how to make pasta the right (aka Italian) way, and drive in Rome’s mess of traffic to Italian electronica. And if we were lucky, he’d break into one of his hilarious Roman history lessons, abbreviating Rome’s history with anectdotes, rattling off random trivia. He’s had a lot of interesting experiences too. Next week he goes to Mali to continue the installation of wells driven by an organization he started with three friends. Good luck Fulvio and see you in the US!

Eric, Fulvio, Me

Fulvio, whipping up a traditional Sicilian almond milk

His house, our couch. . . part of Rome’s mid 1900’s fascist architecture, a project lead by Mussolini aimed to give free housing to people who worked in the government.

The Sistine Chapel. . .I wish I could have taken my camera inside the chapel. Not to take a picture of the chapel itself, but the hundreds of mesmerized faces you meet stepping under this moving work of art, depicting the story of salvation. (You get the feeling that many have long-awaited the opportunity, almost like the Mecca for renaissance art lovers. It also probably had to do with the chapel being premised with 50 signs saying “SISTINE CHAPEL THIS WAY” and an hour walk through the museum.) The way Michelangelo masterfully encompasses everything from the birth to the judgement of humankind made it a more of a spiritual experience than any other piece of artwork that I’ve encountered on this trip, and despite the confidence and grandeur of his artwork, Michelangelo had his own bouts with spiritual doubt (Fulvio called him the Britney Spears of his time. . .thats a thought). This, and taking into consideration the unforgiving and time-sensitive nature of frescos, and the fact that sand with a low pH ruined his first attempt ( having to redo half the chapel), and Michelangelo strikes pretty high on my list.

The Catacombs


Roman Forum

Up next, Morroco. . .

Un Brazo!

Joy