Piacere!

DAY 1
22.06h 18 Jan. 09

Some monuments here in Rome are composed of ‘recycled’ pieces. For example, the Arch of Constantine. They say one of the obilisques from the Circus Massimo’s centre was transferred to the Piazza del Popolo. Imagine hundreds of years from now, people touring ancient ruins of patchquilt monuments. They would be comprised of shards of an E.M. Pei glass pyramid, a leg of Eiffel Tower and a little bit of the copper of the Statue of Liberty. Repurposing of monuments and constant layering found in this city may just be what will inspire my projects here.

Many things happen, many feelings are felt and many tasks are done simultaneously, like layers. Today was a complete first day. We arrived in the early morning and was at the Cenci by 11am. It is comforting to know that we will be here for six months. It is the longest place I have stayed since high school.

Armed with the map and a camera I set foot to try to understand the area. When that is your goal, it’s hard to balance your weapons. I ended up not taking a single photo on my first walk. I don’t know what caused that. Maybe all the sights and realisation of finally being in Rome were all overwhelming. Maybe I skipped the photography because I knew that there would be many more tomorrows to come. I notice that the latter is a dangerous way of thinking that might waste time.

Already I have
- said ‘piacere’ (nice to meet you)
-drunk cappuccino (espresso with steamed milk) and eaten cornetto (brioche, croissant with a marmalade filling) care of Auntie Yusa
- unpacked, settled in with Miss Lois
- wandered
- seen the city from a hill
- have tea with friends in the kitchen
- see the Piazza Venezia
- ask police men the difference between piazza (square) and palazzo (building)
- bought muesli, SOI milk and YOGOOD (Greek yoghurt brand) at Despar (supermarket)
- eaten pizza and suppli (breaded rice and cheese balls)
- took an evening walk
- learned that the umbrella pine trees may be around 80 years old




First cappucino at the Leondardo Da Vinci Airport


Chair


This road leads to the Cenci


Welcome to the Cenci


Our abode- glowinthedark stars provided



Cenci chairs!


Second wandering of the day with Alex and Dorion





Taken in the Jewish Ghetto, we live just near it



It's easy to stumble upon jaw-dropping scenes, like the Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II in the Piazza Venezia


For our first city tour, this was so casual


Welcome to the neighbourhood