Category: Europe

Living the Italian slow life

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While the past few posts have been about my travels and what adventures I’ve been on, it’s important to show my life inside of Rome as well. While traveling and doing a lot on weekends is certainly fun, the slow life I have on the weekdays (and the weekends where I don’t have flights to catch) are also just as rewarding.

To all of those who are reading this before going abroad, I must warn you that you will have some slow days, and while it may look like your peers always have something planned, it’s okay to take things slow and reflect on where you are in the present moment. Enjoy the simple things of your new life abroad.

My apartment rests on the corner of a botanic garden, which is beautiful in the morning, where the sun shines over the trees and birds chirp as my alarm clock. Even on rainy days, it’s beautiful with the sound of rain hitting the leaves and the fresh smell. On a particularly sunny day in Rome (after a week of rain or so), my friend/roommate Bri and I headed to the botanic garden to see what it housed and explore the lush gardens and trees. A small butterfly pavilion sat in the middle, to which I was ecstatic because butterflies are one of my favorite animals! We enjoyed butterflies flying around us, and the humidity in the pavilion. We also made a pact to come back in late March or April when its acceptable to finally wear skirts and dresses and take photos in the gardens with the butterflies.

On another slow day, Nicole, Abby, Danielle, and I went to the famous keyhole that overlooks the Vatican. With the keyhole plastered all over Pinterest and TikTok, we knew we needed to check it out for ourselves. The keyhole was exactly like the videos we had seen and had the most gorgeous lookout to the Vatican. With arches of trees covering the road, St. Peters Basilica stood in the center with a halo of light. While we tried to take photos of the sight, it was terribly difficult, and nothing could beat what we actually saw. After admiring the view, we started the walk back and came across a lovely little park with orange trees and artists painting and playing music. With the sun out and the warm weather, it was the perfect activity for a day where we had nothing else to do. I bought a beautiful watercolor of the Trevi fountain from a local artist at the park, which is a perfect souvenir with a memory to go along with it.

The slow days bring a certain beauty to life abroad and they help immerses yourself in the life of the city you’re living in. Take a few weekends to enjoy the city around you or explore the country you’re living in. If you’re always traveling to other places, you won’t truly get the experience of your life living abroad. I’ve loved having time to explore Rome and have the city take its imprint on me. Finding side streets and little markets is the perfect way to make the city your-own.

My favorite memories from my time abroad so far have been exploring Rome and its many different qualities and sides. I’ve loved being able to try so many different gelatos and pastries from little local shops, to finding cute streets to walk down, filled with vines, flowers, and bikes propped up on the buildings.

The Italian slow life has slowly seeped into my bones and made me appreciate taking the time to look around and exploring when I have “nothing to do.” While I still get annoyed when people walk slowly, I’ve been understanding how enjoyable life is when you stop, look around, and notice things many people have passed by. Beautiful flowers and plants on the top of buildings, artistic architecture of ancient Rome, and family-owned shops, all bring a certain beauty to Rome, and a beauty to slowing down and looking around. Even getting a cappuccino in the morning and people watching or spending hours at dinner with your friends, have made me appreciate life and my life here in Rome more.

I will continue to let the slow life influence me because I refuse to let this part of my life flash by, as Rome has taught me to enjoy every moment of this time. So, I will continue to look around, spend hours at dinner with friends, find new details in my everyday life, and maybe I’ll learn to walk a little slower, like the Italian do.

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Sun on the Appian Way

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To the south of the center of Rome, about 20 minutes down, there is a road called the Appian Way. Along this road is a Tuscany countryside sort of feeling, with trees lining the road and sun streaming through them. Large fields, and orange trees. Parks, and… catacombs.

Me and 5 of my friends ventured down to the Appian way and started with the Catacombs of Domitilla. It’s a small catacomb (compared to other catacombs) and has a sunken church resting below the surface. It was a guided tour with only my friend group, the tour guide, and one other person in attendance. Bri and I were still scared after the movie As Above So Below (which was set in the Paris Catacombs), and it made the trip even better. Walking through the maze of the catacombs, we learned a lot about its history and how people interacted with it. There was “graffiti” from past grave diggers/robbers, from the 1600s, 1800s, and 1900s, who marked when they were there and what year. Marco 1679 was the first, written in a beautiful cursive that truly only could be from that time. No pictures nor videos were allowed, and we were immersed in the catacombs and the history of the city.

Walking through the labyrinth of tunnels and paths, it was interesting to see how each floor had a different plan, and truly, if I didn’t have a guide, I would have gotten lost. There were even the first of Christian paintings, hidden deep in this underground. It was all interesting and fascinating to learn and see. Our tour guide was very nice and answered all of our questions with expertise, and was ecstatic about her job, which made this experience interesting as well as fun.

After the Domitilla catacombs, we walked only 3 minutes up the road and visited a more popular catacomb. The Catacombe di San Callisto, is a more famous spot for catacombs, which holds a Crypt of some of the Popes. It was interesting to see how it contrasted from the lesser known one; The catacombs themself were the same, with the same maze of paths and style of burial, different floors, as well as the same building materials, but the only thing that was different was the pope’s crypt, fitted with fine marble, and a statue. However, there was music playing throughout these catacombs which I thought was odd. While both of these catacombs were interesting and provided insight to the history of Rome, the catacombs of Domitilla took the cake, because of the less known aspect and where my friends and I could be immersed more in the history, as well as the sunken church that had a certain eerie but interesting and captivating atmosphere.

Throughout this day trip, it was extremely fun being around my friends, exploring, and enjoying the good weather outside. At one point, my friend Ella and I found something funny and couldn’t stop laughing! It was so funny because I was laughing because she was laughing, and she was laughing because I was, and at a certain point had to walk away from her to stop being tempted to laugh!

Walking out of the second catacombs, we wanted to enjoy the spring weather, and sunny day, so we walked along The Appian way a bit. The sun was shining through the trees as we were walking, and with smiles on our faces, we enjoyed this time outside and being with each-other. About 7 minutes in, we came across a road with trees lining it, like in all the Italian movies, and a large field to the right. Luke and Zach immediately took to the field, walking across it to explore some ruin, while us girls took photos with the trees. It perfectly captured the essence of spring in Rome and our wonderful day together. It was beautiful.

This was one of the first really sunny and warm days in Rome. It was perfect to be out and about, enjoying it all. My friends and I had a blast together, and I really love spending time with them and having these adventures.

Soon, pictures wrapped up and we continued down the road, where there was a part of free road, where, of course, my friends and I frolicked a little and skipped down the road. A true memory. Calling the boys back, they also ran, spun, and enjoyed their time in the field and the sunny day.

Eventually, we walked a bit more but had to uber back home for dinner and the wrap up of our day. Overall, it was such a fantastic day, and one that will be one of my favorites here in Rome. The weather, friends, and The Appian Way was perfect, and a perfect memory from Rome.