Wonder of Italy | Roman Colosseum (Guest Series: 17)

On my second trip to Italy, As the Wine Tasting, Tower of Pisa and Siena tour came to an end, I found myself lost in the busy streets of Siena with a couple of Euros. My tired 19 year old son, and no translator. We were at a plaza surrounded by happy and loud Italians celebrating a night out, but no one could help. We walked for miles in the direction where we thought the tour bus would be and found no one there to assist, so we stopped at the first open cafe. We found and ask for help. Of course, they didn’t understand us, we were in the middle of Italy, no longer in the tourist areas of the city. I tried using the little Italian I knew but it was useless, so my son pulled out is phone, connected to the Wi-Fi, and used Google translate. We were saved!! We quickly got connected to our tour guide using the shop’s phone and she gracefully guided us to the nearby bus station to Florence our final destination on the tour. In less than an hour we were on our way to our hotel, safe and happy to be back on track.

To someone else this would have been a very discouraging and fretting experience, but not to me. Not only was this my second time in Italy, which gave me confidence that we would figure it out eventually; but I also knew this experience would be one to laugh at (eventually), and that I had learn something new to share at some point in my life. Maybe I’ll eventually write a “how to” guide when getting lost in Italy.

Like in many European countries, Italy is accustomed to the inconvenience and benefits of the lost and curious tourist. Tourism helps with local and national economies, but it can also consume resources, add to the transportation problems, and overall pollute streets, restaurants, and cultural sights.  Thank God they are accommodating and friendly.  Italy is especially accommodating because hospitality is in their nature.  It shows in their food, their art, and culture.

So of course, of the few European countries I have visited, Italy is my favorite. Many people dream of taking a romantic trip to Paris with a partner to go up the Eiffel Tower to kiss under the stars in the city of lights. I stood under the massive skirt of the tower and rode the bus around the city of lights, but noting within its borders compares to the grandiose history, culture, and art in Italy (not to mention the food!).  All you have to do is to stand in front of the Colosseum to be in awe by its intricate structure or walk around the hallways and rooms within the Vatican to be over whelmed with all the human history, inspiration, and devotion collected over centuries. Devotion to the arts, architecture, and religion, which is displayed throughout the country in the hundreds of cathedrals decorated with breathtaking fresco, statues, and murals. Believe me, it is everywhere.

Every town I’ve visited in Italy looks to be a thousand years old.  Every open field is lush with tall trees and endless grasslands.  Tuscany is filled with miles and miles of vine yards, and rustic buildings that look like they belong in a painting.  I know I am not alone when I say my favorite town in Italy is Florence. Florence has narrow streets that run like veins; open markets filled with every type of gift and accessory you can buy; and large piazzas with restaurants tables waiting to be filled.  But I should clarify, my favorite piazza is not in Florence, it’s in Rome.Which means, I always have to stay in Rome every time I visit.  The Trevi Fountain stands tall and majestic in its own piazza. Not only does this piazza have all the expected restaurants, shops, and gelato bars, which can fill an afternoon itinerary on its own, but it also as the relaxing surround sound of the waters echoing all around.  I can spend hours there watching people pass by, or pose for pictures just listening to the loud and soothing symphony of the water.

To me Italy has everything a traveler may want to see, so if you only get to visit one place, always chose Italy; The history, art, music, food, wine, fashion, and beautiful coastal towns along the Mediterranean Sea, if you prefer to lay under the sun with an umbrella drink, will make you feel you’ve seen and done it all.  I will keep coming back to discover more every time, and on every trip I will drop a dime on the Trevin fountain so it keep its promise of bringing me back. Follow My journey on joselin_single_journey

 By: Agneris Joselin Medina | Country: Dominican Republic

Clinical Trial Senior Project Manager