Post: All Roads Lead to…

Rome, of course!

I’ve been know to say, “I could go to Italy at least once a year for the rest of my life.” Mark rephrases this as, “Laura wants to go back to Italy every year until she’s seen it all.” I’m still alive and I haven’t seen it all, so here we are, for the third fall in a row.

Yesterday when I wrote several posts all at once, I was in an airport lounge, getting caught up before our overnight flight to Rome. For this first part of the trip we are traveling, again, with a Colorado College alumni group. It’s going to feel like a partial reunion as some of us are together for the second year in row, including our fabulous professor, Susan, and Italian guide, Marta.

Rome had a half marathon today, and our airport transfer was not able to drop us off right in front of the hotel. We had the rather exciting moment of crossing through the line of runners, and then walking against the flow (but on the sidewalk) for a few minutes. I saw a feather flag listing mile 14, so I am rather confused since we were not near a finish line, and a half marathon would not be 14 miles long. In any case, I am very admiring of the runners! This summer I could run up to 12 miles a week, in only three mile increments. These runners were of all ages, and pink seemed to be the shirt color.

Rome has a full marathon in March. Robert Ngeno of Kenya won, in 2:7:35 for the men. Betty Chepkwony, also of Kenya, won for the women in 2:14:16. The story of the marathon is attributed to Ancient Greece, commemorating the run of a messenger to Athens to announce a battle against the Persians had been won, in 490 BC, before dropping dead. Plutarch recorded the story in the first century AD. Robert Browning wrote a poem in 1879 about the historical legend. It’s clearly been a captivating story, even before recreational running was a sport.

To spice up the modern Olympics as they were beginning in 1896, and to strongly link the modern Olympics to ancient Greece, the marathon race was included. In the 2004 Olympics, the “original” route from Marathon to Athens was used as the course, and the winner in the men’s race was an Italian, Stefano Baldini (2:10:55)! So, conditioning on these Italian roads must work.

We were fortunate to be able to check in early, but didn’t stay inside for very long. We gathered a small group and headed out into the sparkling day to walk around Rome. It was a crowded Sunday and the purpose wholly for pleasure and sunlight to help move jet lag out of our systems.

We had a quick snack and some espresso. I didn’t stop for photos alonng the way, but we saw the Spanish Steps, Piazze del Popolo, and the Trevi Fountain. After doing a Maps search for gelato, we used the “Best Gelato in Rome” map to head to Giolitti for gelato. Nice to get some cool creamy treat in on the very first afternoon. The place was mobbed with people!

My flavors: Bacio Perugina and Torrone, cono piccolo.

While taking a photo of my cone, I spied an interesting Madonna on a building corner. Our lady of the fungi? She is pictured above, at the start of this post. I have more questions but no answers.

We had our introductory group meeting, and then five of us headed for some dinner. It’s truffle season. After a salad, Mark and I shared carpaccio with a very generous shaving of black truffles. I can still taste them as I get ready to sleep.