Rome-ing Around the Italian Capital With a Dear Old Friend

Marlene Friis was my first BFF at the Vienna International School. We were both newcomers in Primary 6 in Mrs. Wolfgang’s class and became friends immediately. She was smart, précoce and outgoing; I on the other hand, was shy and naïve. We shared many fun adventures, such as, skipping school and hanging out at my home (as my parents were at work all day), watching films and living the carefree joie de vivre of adolescence to pass the time; sleeping over at her home to be able to head off to do some fun activity into the wee hours of the night; ISST hockey; ISST basketball; Model UN, World Youth Assembly...Oh the many geopolitical debates at McDonalds on Schwedenplatz!!!

There’s no place like Rome. It was 2015. I had not seen Marlene since my wedding in Vienna in 2005. So it was a delightful surprise when she called to tell me she would be visiting Rome that summer. So on 20 July, we met up and spent the day together. I brought along my 18-yr old brother, Luis, who was visiting me from L.A., before he started University in the autumn. We went first to the Colosseum, the largest amphitheater in the Roman empire, home to historical gladiator combat and wild beast shows. Although it is merely a shadow of its former self, it still remains a noble ruin. Can you imagine the many layers of history and stories of people who laughed, cried and died there?

We then walked towards the Vatican City to St. Peter’s Basilica, stopping briefly at the Pantheon. At the Cathedral, we climbed the many spiral steps to the top…it was worth the effort, as the view of Rome from the top was breathtaking! St. Peter’s Square was also impressive. Thank you Bernini!!!

Spanish Steps, here we come! I remember it was scorching hot and there were several tourists wading in the Fontana della Barcaccia ("Fountain of the longboat") to cool down! We then went for a gastro-enologic experience in Eataly.

We concluded the evening with some University friends of mine, Giovanni and Rossella, who brought us to an artisan beer bar. They then brought us to the Embassy of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the Holy See, where you can peek through a keyhole and see St. Peter’s Basilica! What a memorable day with a dear old BFF. It does seem that all roads end up leading to Rome at some point in one’s life!

- ANA LISA VETERE, MILAN