One of my favorite things about Rome is playing peekaboo with the famous landmarks, sometimes literally shouting out loud: “frame within a frame!”
I have so many photos to share that I’m going to try this multiple caption option that Instagram recently rolled out. Swipe for more.
This was the neighborhood we stayed in on our first half of our time in Rome. I took this on our first morning there.
This was the neighborhood we stayed in on our first half of our time in Rome. I really loved walking around super early before anything was open. Jet lag has its benefits.
Our hotel was in this alleyway. I knew that we were in the historic center when we booked it, but it only really hit me when I saw the hordes of tourists walking up and down the streets here outside our window.
This church was in the piazza just outside our hotel.
One of the very first things we did upon landing in Rome, even before checking into our hotel, was heading out to see the Catacombs of Priscilla. @christine.bingham.art wanted to make sure we fit this into our schedule, so we pushed ourselves despite feeling loopy from the transatlantic flight. It did not disappoint.
In fact, the cool air of the underground caverns were a sweet respite from the oppressive heat outside, with temperatures hitting 100 that day. Photography wasn’t allowed inside the catacombs, so this is all I could manage.
My favorite part of this visit was the German nun who showed us around and couldn’t seem to help slipping into direct catechesis in between her more historical narratives. The most important lesson in life, she said, was to know and accept that God loves you. “This isn’t easy for us,” she laughed, “but it’s so very important.” She made me smile.
Another landmark we visited very early in our trip was this particular gelateria, located in the building where Renaissance Rome’s most prolific poisoners once lived. Giulia Tofana, not to be confused with the more ancient death-dealer, Locusta, was reputed to have helped many a woman in “offing” her husband from this location. Kinda weird that Christine was so excited to visit, but the ice cream was yummy, I guess… x
It’s my first Sunday back at work, so here’s what we did on my first Sunday out of office.
It’s still wild to me to reflect on how this beautiful space all the way out there in the heart of Rome is basically just another branch of the franchise that is my present employer in Seattle.
We also just happened to visit when Episcopalians from all across Europe were in town for a conference, so we joined them for lunch afterwards. The more I got to know our friends across the pond, the smaller the world really did seem. x
Frames, facades, and the “fulgore luminoso” of Rome. x