A new adventure in an ancient city

Ten days I spent in the Netherlands after my stay in Florence. Ten days filled with music, festivals, BBQ’s, a wedding and lots of love from friends and family. Yet, here I am, driving south again. 

A two day journey

This drive is different than a month ago. I’m driving through Switzerland instead of Austria on my way to Italy. But more importantly, this time I am not struggling with the question of "why I’m doing this". I’ve got my answer. If you know your “why”, your reasons for doing things, it is a lot easier to keep going, when things don’t always seem to go your way. While listening to podcasts, one quote resinates with me during this drive: “Don’t think about all the things you are feeling, just be glad to be here.” 

It is about a 15 hour drive to Rome and the landscape is amazing. I don’t mind driving alone. In fact, I’ve learned to appreciate some alone time and found that I need it, to be fully present during social interactions. I guess that makes me an extraverted introvert. I’m toggling between music and podcasts from Tim Ferriss, The Good Life Project and The Minimalists. Each of which, I find to be thought provoking and inspiring. 

One of my best friends, Rudy, happens to be on vacation with his family in law around lake Iseo in Northern Italy. Not quite, but kind of on my route. It’s a gorgeous area and we spend a great evening enjoying pasta, beers and limoncello, while catching up and playing games.

When I look for AirBnB’s to stay, I have two criteria: wireless internet and free parking on premise. When I arrive at Via Sabrata neither one is available. “Just wait until your housemate comes home at 5.30PM, she’ll know the Wifi password. Oh and you can park in our street for free, if you can find a spot.” Of course, there isn’t a spot available in the street. I park my car at a paid spot and I read online about the gigantic parking challenge Romans have to deal with every day. That's a bummer! No time to worry about it, because my work day just started. Around 6PM I meet Alice (Italian) and Pia (German), two of my housemates, who show me around and ask me to join them for dinner in the kitchen. I feel welcome. 

Many people have asked me if I don't miss having a home. Not really. I found that if I have certain items that I bring with me wherever I go, I can then associate those items with a feeling of being home. I sleep on the same pillow every night and wherever I hang my key, is my home.

Exploring the city

I get up early to hopefully find a place to park my car. At the very end of the street is one tiny spot available. It has my name written all over it! I run to my car to park it (I think it took me about 30 turns to get it in, but it fits!). I guess no road trips for me, because that car isn't moving the coming month! A parking spot seems trivial, but it would be annoying if I had to pay for it every day or park it somewhere outside of the city and leave it there for a month. 

My AirBnB is pretty close to Vila Ada and Vila Borghese. Two beautiful parks and perfect for a morning walk. It’s a beautiful day. Many people are exercising or walking their dog. Birds are chirping and butterflies are circling around flowers. I find a nice bench to meditate for a little bit and enjoy the sounds of nature.

The next morning I decide to walk to the historical centre. Of course I can take the subway and be there in 15 minutes, but I enjoy walking and it is nice to see how the areas (or municipio’s in the case of Rome) change. One of my favourite spots in Rome is the Forum Romanum. Filled with ruins of ancient buildings and the Colosseum in the background, this sight is as impressive as ever. Later I decide to watch the movie The Gladiator. That seems appropriate. 

I walk back home and realise that I've been in Italy for 3 days now and still haven't had any gelato! What's wrong with me? That's changing now..

Pia, one of my housemates, recommended visiting San Anselmo, a church within a stone's throw of Circus Maximus. The temperature in Rome is rising every day, but the mornings are still nice to go out for a walk. It's a beautiful area and I sit down in a park to do some reading. Even though I'm mostly visiting cities, I recently seem to find myself drawn to nature, to find a peaceful spot to sit down, relax and let my mind wander. 

After a quick stop on Piazza Navona (where the espresso is only €4, compared to the €0.90 anywhere else in the city), I find a nice massage salon to relax for a little bit, before it's time to start working.

Convincing Pia to go out on Friday night is not very hard. "Do you want to go out tonight? -No, I think I'll stay in.. -Well, I'm going anyway. -Ok, I'll join you!" We have a beer on the Spanish Steps and enjoy a sambuca at a random outside bar. Then we meet up with Freddy, another German who works with Pia at the German embassy. We walk around looking for places to go out.

The nightlife in Rome hasn't impressed me yet, as everything seems to close really early (like 1.30AM). I'm sure we are looking in the wrong spots. But the cops are very friendly and don't mind that we are walking through the streets with an open bottle of wine in our hands. "Buona sera!"

Taking it easy

I don't go outside every morning. The windows in my room bring in a lot of natural light and the fan provides a nice breeze, I’m reading on my bed and help my mom to book a ticket to come see me in a month (yay!) so she can enjoy Rome and join me on my drive back to the Netherlands. I decided not to stay in Italy during August, because I’m not too interested in the heat of the Italian summer. So I’ll need to find a spot for August. Not sure where, but that doesn’t bother me. Something will pop into my head. Something that feels right. 

I’m happy. I’m thrilled to live this life. At one hand it has to do with working hard and making difficult choices. On the other hand I realise, I’m lucky to have been at the right spot at the right time, to be able to make those choices. 

A day trip to Naples

With an average speed of 295km/hour the high-speed train from Rome to Napels takes a little over an hour. When I exit the train station in Napels I find myself in the midsts of an outdoor religious event, with hundreds of people praying. A typical Sunday morning in Napels? 

I have literarily done zero preparing for this day-trip, so I start walking towards what I think may be the historical centre and book a tour to walk through some of the underground tunnels, Napels still has.

The city is exactly like I've pictured it. Lots of small alleys with laundry hanging out to dry. The streets are a little dirty and thousands of scooters are racing through them. The fish I have for lunch is tasty and the people seem to be friendly.  

 

After walking for about 18km, I'm exhausted and sit down at a bench in a park to get some shade and read a book. It's hot and my feet hurt. On a bench next to me is a friendly-looking girl reading as well. I think that my day would be more fun, if I'd engage in a conversation with her and maybe explore the city together. But I decide not to bother her (at least that is what I tell myself) and I kick myself when she looks at a map and walks away. You chickenshit! 

Although Napels is a city I've always wanted to visit, and it is pretty much like I pictured it to be, I cannot help that feelings of loneliness overshadow my experience a little bit. I attempt to overcome those feelings by going for my second gelato of the day. Knowing very well that this is short-term thinking. I'll worry about tomorrow in the morning. 

As I continue walking, I come across a beautiful attribute to Diego Armando Maradona, the Argentinian football player who played many great years for Napoli and became the city's hero. I wonder if he ever felt lonely here. 

But then I am reminded of one of my favourite songs recently: "If you want to sing out, sing out" by Cat Stevens. A smile is back on my face. 

A giant pizza before I leave Naples and I'm on my way to Rome again, looking back at a good first week.