Monday, 29 September 2014

1.2. Excuse me, have you seen my granny?



Lost and found, Have you seen my granny?

 
Well well well Roma is one confunktion junction – buildings bend and roads configure.. Journey after yet another cobbled confusion we get back to where we first began.. and to be honest it has only been this evening that we have finally figured out this muddle – on our very last night. Such is life.. and it has made the whole journey all the more fun!


 
As travels go – things will at some point go wrong – since I last wrote, our darling ol granny has had quite the time of it..she fell ill and took a day off to be in bed.. so we promptly emptied our medical kit and dosed her up! Bananas, grapes and yogart in bed, corenza C as an apertief, soup for lunch (in bed ofcoarse!) med lemon, more med lemon and strepsils for desert. And any pill we could pump and push to get her better again for tea!! And in that time, Nunu, mum and I went to Trastevere for a few hours to walk the cobbled streets, gaze at the oldest church in Rome – those organ pipes could sing all the way to Africa if they so desired! My uncle Martie could give them a hard wack! Lunch – pizza but ofcoarse!! The marguerita is my bestest - When in Rome J Yet another busking Piazza and trams over the Tiber – we did a few loops around the city..nice to sit and look-see..take it all in..Did I mention how confusing this place is?? Well it deserves a second!! But again, to loop and lose yourself in a city so detailed in beauty is hardly a in a city so detailed in beauty is hardly a chore.



Nunu and I went out last night – leaving the oldies to sleep and rest their aged soles ;) We bustled about, doing what young’uns do best – looking at shops, trying the Roman beer, chomping on snacks and chatting to the locals.. The Roman men are quite the charmers..they reminded me of the Israelies, chatting up young ladies, old grannies and men alike; “Smiles are for free!!”




It’s actually a comforting thing to know that no matter what we will all still be there, around the table, eating our melon and telling each other how much love is there – closer all the more for it.

It’s special and makes me feel safe in a world that can be so temporary. I think we are going to learn a lot from this trip, grow and discover – not only the places but more importantly..each other.. and that to me, is something to look so forward to – and it’s already begun!! J Yaaaay

Ok so today – we did the Vatican city – what a magnificence – and we felt so lucky to be able to be so spoilt – to see this collection of art from around the world, it was truly magical! Mattise and Salvidore Dali’s original works, a real mummy from Eygpt, tombs and coffins, pieces of jewellery, sphinxes (the Edgyptian section captured nunu and I the most) and the sculptures were endless and carvings so intricate..Let’s not forget the Sistine Chapel – to think Michael Angelo lay on his back and painted with such detail – and softness like no other there.. it was an experience I cant forget if a try try try..



 
And thhhheeeen the St Peter’s Basilica was without a doubt the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my entire life. I cannot begin to even explain it – and I’m not sure my pictures will either! So all in all a day filled with education that no school could teach and no book would show you. Truly blessed!


BUT – and it’s a BIG but. The four of us split up and got horribly lost.. Sian and I screeching around, feet burning and melting to the ground, getting stuck in bus doors and legs ready to cave – hopping, flying and pleading, ”Have you seen an Old lady wearing a red jersey?” “No, why?” “We’ve lost our granny..” I’d pay a lot to see those expressions again!! 





Needless to say we found both our mummy, and our granny – and once we were all united again – we hugged and laughed and nearly cried – all so happy to be together at last! It taught us so much – from the start of the day to that – there is something quite full circle about it, lessons in appreciation learned and certainly a story for the books! Moments like that (or in this case, hours of stringed stressedness) pull your personality in directions the bus cannot – you learn a lot about who you and others are. Testing times definitely deliver great understanding.
















Saturday, 27 September 2014

1. Hello Europe - La Dolce Vita!







I have no idea where to begin.. again..

I am on a journey with my familia J Granny, mummy, sisterchie and me..Look at me getting all Italian J My granny who has got to be the finest 83 year old you ever did see, has been trekking and hiking around Roma, being pushed across streets and dragged through piazzas.. Never quite knowing where she is or what she’s about to do. I can only hope I am so ripe at that old age!






We arrived a few days ago at an airport where we didn’t even know where we were going! What a hoot ca hoot!! And I swear to goodness I’m already an Italian! Perhaps it’s the Apartment we are staying in, truly living in the heart of old Rome.. or perhaps it’s the dolce vita? I can smell the good life and I am so in love with it.. this actual sweet scent that drapes the cobbled alleyways.. which I’m only too happy to sing and dance my way through! In fact, there was, as my granny says,”A Sunday happening” happening and she got the whole Piazza dancing and clapping to some young dudes rocking the Campo De Fiori around the clock.





To be in a place of such beauty only makes the heart jump to the rhythm of love. Be it rooftop gardens, terracotta tiles, ancient marble and carvings bursting through stone – the whole city moves with belisimo. It breathes beauty and whispers sweet everythings..

The colosseum however is in agony..



taunted by screaming slaves and roaring beasts. I could feel their muscles heaving and hear chickens clucking as the crowd roars for more! A chilling experience that is a reminder of the human beast. However, when having a picnic in the forum you soon forget and find yourself looking at a world so old my granny is suddenly ever young. Oh the history! Walking on route to the Trevi we popped passed a church, and well.. we got stuck there for a while – what a treat! All around you, so much information – all reading messages of great care, love, art, warmth and delight! It can be rather overwhelming!




The Piazza Rotunde is so far my absolute, and looking at the blue beaut of a building I saw myself wave from my future balcony and couldn’t help but smile.. Speaking of that morning – oh the coffee!! It is simply the best!! What is that black stuff from home that we drink? And the Pizza here has without a doubt changed my life!!

Let’s not forget the Bernini filled afternoon we had today – where we got to gawk and gaze at this artistic musician who has captured motion in marble in a way that brings tears to your eyes.. I will never forget those hands grabbing those thighs.. not for anything!







We have done so much! Be it nunu and I racing through the botanical gardens with lady luck and some Borghese tickets in hand..or pushing granny on and off any form or transport and dragging her across the busy streets, “Go granny goooo!!” Ahhh Everything!! Every sensual moment has created more depth to my life than I could ever have imagined It would. I could weep.. for the first time I understand why people cry when they are so overcome with joy and beauty.. ah.. Rome.. I love you!!


And thank you universe, thank you for this, thank you family for bringing me here, thank you family for such such such.. all this much much much..

My heart is singing.. my head is spinning..and all the bells in the piazza are ringing!

It’s Pasta time!

Ciao!