10.19.19
I got off the Metro in Rome yesterday and was near the Spanish Steps. I had seen the Steps in pictures and thought, “It’s only a staircase.”
But it’s the widest staircase in Europe and is called the Spanish steps since it was originally built in 1723 to link a French church at the top of the stairs with the Spanish square below. Both were officially in two different countries, so the stairs were a bridge between the two. Who knew? Not only does it carry great historical significance, but it’s also gorgeous and is one of the most famous meeting spots in Rome, attracting the Rich and Beautiful for many years.
I was actually on my way to the Trevi Fountain since it’s one of the most spectacular and famous FOUNTAINS in the world. Mind you, I have seen some amazing fountains in my travels, including the Villa d’Este in Tivoli, with its 300 plus fountains- all gravity fed- but Trevi is in a class
by itself. But after all, “it’s only a fountain, right?” BTW, it IS magnificent! And BTW, #2, the one in Vegas is modeled after this one, not vice versa…
Since I had a few hours to tour around I made it over to St. Peters Basilica, ie, church, again, one of the most famous religious gathering places in the entire world, and one that is over 500 years old. It is believed that St. Peter, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, is buried there, and he has the privilege of being the first Bishop in Rome. But it IS “only a church” right?, and I have seen many over the last eight months of travel. But if you’d like to see THE POPE, this is probably the most likely place you will find him outside the Vatican.
As easy as it is to dismiss “it’s only a …” the truth is, there are only ONE of MOST amazing things in the world and as jaded as I have gotten by visiting dozens of castles and forts and ruins, I must keep sight of the significance of singularity.
There is only one me; only one you. There is only one Mona Lisa painting and one Great Wall of China, neither of which I have seen. But maybe you have.
When I started our journey in February our plan was to stay for six weeks in different locations and use that as a jump point to different places. We have done just that. Rather than see the entire world, which would be tiring, time consuming and arrogant, we have decided to go with quality over quantity. And there are many “it’s only a …” places on my list to visit!
After all, it’s only a big friggin’ pyramid, but it IS a pyramid and I have never seen one, ditto a sphinx, so they are on my “must see” list. Also on the list is Israel, which is a must visit place, along with Australia and New Zealand, mate! How long we may choose to stay there is not known. On the other side of the world, South and Central America are also on our radar, since they have the Galapagos islands and Machu Picchu, which “is only” a significant citadel (what they call it) that is 8000 feet up in elevation and has a lot of mystery and symbolism associated with it.
What have you seen that blew your mind unexpectedly? Any places that you kind of dismissed but visited anyway- and were glad you did?
