La città "Morente"

[The Dying City]

Put in my headphones, chose my most recent ear candy, Re:Stacks by Bon Iver, looked past the glass on the fast moving bus to the slow rolling hills of the countryside outside Viterbo. Suddenly I’m hit with the realization that this is real, that I am living in Italy. A smile smothered my face for a while, none noticed, just me and my epiphany. Recapping on my day allowed me to fall into a trance as I sat and stared out the window, just soaking in that I am actually living in this beautiful country of Italy.

Started out a cloudy, misty morning. Woke up early with a lack of motivation, trying to justify why I shouldn’t spend this Saturday exploring an unknown destination. Crammed the Nutella peanut butter sandwich in my mouth, then forced the thick, warm dorm room sink water down , brushed my precious teeth and wandered out my door. Strolling out of the dorm, a new jump overwhelmed my feet and a new excitement pushed me along on my walk to meet my friends before heading to the bus station. Utilizing my time as I waited for them, sitting near the fountain of Porta Florentina, I quickly scribbled some lines to create a personal photograph of how much I love the simple ease of this fountain amidst the ever bustling square. Never-ending flow of shadows and silhouettes cross its path, yet the fountain continues to stand its ground. Teaching me lessons merely through the movement of water reaching every stone and step, bleeding onto surrounding cobblestones to stretch out its arms.

Ticket-less, clueless where to go, what bus to take while not even knowing how to form the words to ask, we pursued with smiles and PB & J’s.

Bagnoregio, the attempt to pronounce bought me my ticket and bite of humiliation. Friendly with an evident age in his expression, yet stern through his strong words, the gentle hands slipped me my ticket under the glass barrier. Hesitation to board the bus? Of course. We jumped right on. Wisped away in the blue force of metal, our eyes met the countryside within minutes. Painted with vineyards, stones in a formation that used to be called homes, white fluffy sheep grazing as they please, rows of trees hovering over a lonely road; reminding me how much I admire the simplicity of the lands vegetation , to the rough, rigid hands that tenderly and faithfully create/enrich its life. Gazing into the distance, I decide to come back to the real world where I notice a town carved into the hills, this must be our days destination. Our blue chariot ceases to continue, assuming its our time to depart its cozy chairs we let our feet follow the pattern of the foreign cobblestones, how could I resist.

Something was weighing on my back, a unknown pressure of elevation reached my ears, abruptly turned to meet this new companion [Hidden behind the buildings, splashed with yellow decorated with complimenting flower pots and maroon shutters]. Distant countryside grabbed me and threw me to the city’s edge, I greeted it with arms wide open. Leaning over the rail we caught a few memories with our plastic devices, those images can’t compare to vivid picture of this moment. We knew there was more though, followed the next alley onto the main road to reach our intended tar

get. Sunlight and shadows highlight our path, here comes the turn, I’m excited. Yes, I’m running. My boots were filled to the top with exhilaration, and my hands were trying to keep up as my fingers reached for the button to take a picture, didn’t match up as well as intended. Narrowing road and expanding sky. Waiting to emb

race that moment of realization [as the cliff to my left disappears while the ‘dying’ city comes alive in the expanse], the moment is here. Did I even embrace it? Turning around to find what I

missed, it was gone.

[this isn't the final piece, just a hint of my vivd expression to my favorite day trip thus far]