New sounds, new sights, new smells, and especially new textures – my first few weeks in Rome have been chock-full of new experiences. I’ve fallen into a rhythm with the city, a dance of sunlight and busy crosswalks and flowing river water; so constant and ever-changing it all is. Some afterimages linger longer than others – the bright orange of a juicy nectarine, city lights flying by in glowing streaks, my reflection doubling in and out of a fountain’s pool.
Culture shock is the term most often used to describe the disorientation associated with such constant difference. While I’ve definitely fallen victim to its feats of unfamiliarity before while abroad, whether changing my whole closet for the blacks-and-greys of Berlin or navigating conversations about womanhood in Morocco, something feels different this time. In Rome, I think every dissimilarity just fascinates me more. This is an ode to the beautiful, odd, and daily wonders of Rome’s streets, from the eyes of a curious newcomer.
To be constantly surrounded by beauty is an incredible privilege. I find myself fascinated with everything from the immensely grand to daily textures so seemingly menial as sidewalks and cobblestones. Rome’s roads range from smooth to grainy to bumpy and take on the colors of stone and cement in the sun’s warm reflection. Exposed to this ancient city for the first time, even such humble roads are made anew in my mind. Street-sweeping machines wheel up and down my neighborhood’s roads, and the whirring has become something of a symphony.
Of course, Rome is a city not just of ancient land, but too, of rivers of old. The Tiber, the longest river in central Italy, makes up the historic waterway winding through the city. As I walk to Temple University Rome each day for my classes, I cross one of the city’s many bridges. Living with the river has been a necessary way of life since ancient times, providing everything from usable water to commerce routes. Still today, she serves as a defining feature of Rome’s landscape, and captivates many-a-watcher – myself included.
Being so close to the river, Rome has long loved its fountains, containing over 2000 – more than any other city in the world. They range from monumental to miniature, from grand-carved marble masterpieces to side-street drinking spouts. A number of Rome’s birds, too, quite enjoy these fountains, often spotted nearby soaking up the sun or bathing completely.
Pigeons are a common sight in the streets of Rome, not unlike many American cities – so while they aren’t exactly new, I’d argue they give the streets of Rome a certain personality. Plenty of other perhaps more exciting birds take to Rome’s skies, my favorites being the city’s unfortunately invasive (but so, so cute) rose-ringed parakeets. Seagulls, in particular, remind of the city’s close proximity to the ocean, being just around 15 miles from the Tyrrhenian Sea.
If you’re already looking to the skies, you might notice Rome’s vines teetering their way through cables and apartment facades. Having grown up in the American south, full of lush forests and fields, finding any green space in the city is a godsend – even if it is a bundle of ivy.
Tourists and locals alike amble about Rome’s streets in search of sights and eats. Ochre facades, blue skies, romantically old trattorias and colorfully dressed passersby make up the city’s sidewalks. I’ve loved seeing how different the fashion is here in Rome, and as I watch the cobblestone paths wind in and out, I often find myself looking at people’s shoes. From dainty flats to elegant heels to beat-up sneakers, I’ve seen it all. I think the shoe says a lot about the person behind it, and I often wonder – Tourist? Local? – and guess based on the outfit. I think I’ve been getting pretty good. I wonder what people think about me in return!
I’m still fascinated by the premise of such a walkable city, something I’m not used to back in the US. Walking in Rome’s streets provides so many opportunities for wonder and for curiosity – I swear, around every corner awaits a new fountain or artifact or massive monument you’d never have even discovered otherwise.
I walk through the Piazza del Popolo – or the People’s Plaza – every day on my route to Temple University Rome, and always spend a few minutes gazing upon the statues above. I think about how I could only have such an experience in a city by walking, exploring the space with my body as opposed to a vehicle like a car, how I most often get around in the US. And for the record, I haven’t missed my car nearly as much as I thought I would.
On the topic of transportation, of course there’s other ways to get around too. My personal rule is if something is further than an hour away to walk, or if I’m in a rush, only then will I take the bus or the metro. Taxis, too, make up a large part of the city’s transportation infrastructure, and are a common sight squeezing through crowded alleyways. It’s things like these I’m slowly getting used to – daily routines, places, sights, faces – that I’m slowly getting used to, and I’m loving learning to live somewhere new. The textural fabric of Rome is rich, and diving into it for almost four months will be the adventure of a lifetime.
