June 29, 2014 - OUR ROMAN HOLIDAY

Rome is a city that has been inhabited for thousands of years, much too long before the birth of Jesus Christ.  It is aptly called, "Eternal City" because of having existed "half as long as Time" and ever since Sts. Peter and Paul roamed its cobblestone streets proclaiming the seed of Christianity. 

Tradition has it that Rome was founded by twins Remus and Romolus who were nursed by a she-wolf. As they grew to manhood, the green-eyed monster identified as "Jealousy" overwhelmed Romolus as to orchestrate the murder of his brother. Hence, the city was named after him. History is replete with stories of intrigue and lust for power of many succeeding emperors of Ancient Rome, possibly tainted by its founder! Be that as it may, Rome rose from its humble beginnings as a city- state to become one of the greatest empires the world has ever known.

The territory of Rome grew fast because of the outstanding, in fact, "unparalleled warfare expertise and unalloyed loyalty of its citizens." These known attributes were dramatically enhanced by a reservoir of intellectual and creative minds in the Arts and Sciences of a people consumed with the passion that "beauty is its own excuse for being."

Today, in the present 21st Century era, as we walk, touch and feel  through the remains of the long-standing structures of the Renaissance and Baroque art or ramble through the remains of a once-upon-a-time architectural treasure we cannot help but feel the awe, wonder and appreciation of the glorious past of the Imperial Roman Empire. It gave birth to the cliché, "All roads lead to Rome." No one can visit the Eternal City and not be moved by her timeless beauty. For those who have visited her- "like the memory of a lost love, she will haunt you" and hasten your return.

Hmm...there is something which has been handed down from one generation to another which may assure one's return to this soul-inspiring city- throw a coin over your left shoulder at the Fountain of Trevi. It promises "Good Luck," too.

Today, July 6, 2014, Bobby, Carla, Michael, Christian and I went to the Fountain of Trevi considered the largest and most beautiful one in the world. It was made like a monumental triumphal arch by Nicola Salvi  who died before it was inaugurated in 1762. It is located at the end of an aqueduct which was the source of water for many centuries. Since it lies at the confluence- the meeting point - of three (3) streets, it got its name - Trevi ("tre" for 3 and "vi" for street). Tradition has it that you will return to Rome if you throw a coin into the fountain's water basin. You should toss it with your right hand over your left shoulder with your back to the fountain.

Imagine our disappointment to see the scaffoldings covering Neptune- the sea god- his horses and his courtiers! Workmen were busy cleaning, repairing and constructing a walkway which would allow visitors to come close to the sculptures that adorn the fountain. I guess when the fountain resumes operation, people on the walkway would be able to reach out and catch the streams of water which may  bring the 'Good Luck' the Trevi legend claims. The dried-up surface did not prevent many people from throwing coins over their right or left shoulders. The whole spectacle of uplift arms and coins tossed high only to be received by the bare fountain floor made me smile. I remembered myself doing just that in my first visit to Rome in 1975 after an UNCTAD (United Nations Commission on Trade and Developtment) conference in Geneva. I was rewarded with several visits to Rome after that to the extent that this 2014 visit is my 10th to magnificent Roma! I turned my attention to the multitude doing the repertoire of coins and their faces beaming with smiles of hope written all over. I thought of  the power of hope to boost the indomitable human spirit to achieve what it aims for. I said a prayer for them to our good and generous God so that, in His time, the hope burning in their hearts would someday be a living reality! Never mind if there were a handful of cold-blooded, humorless skeptics in the crowd. I let my grandsons, Michael and Christian throw their coins over their left shoulder! Everyone  of us was aglow with joy. I was smiling from ear to ear!  

That was a memorable visit to the world's most magnificent fountain -  the utmost disappointment of not being able to have one's eyes feast on its magical grandeur of form, light and sound.... but with the burning "hope" and eventual realization of a personal commitment to the pledge like that of the famous World War II General MacArthur's "I Shall Return!"