Exhilarating or Oppressive?

Rome is, of course, a city that holds many appealing qualities.  Aspects such as food, music, wine, religion, shopping, and history, among others, all contribute to the organized chaos that is Rome.  However, for a first-time traveler, Rome can be a very shocking experience.  Some people are unfriendly to outsiders; there are always thieves to worry about; and there is an entirely new language to learn, as well as new etiquette.  Even the rules for crossing the street are different!  If one is not prepared for many of these changes, Rome will be a very oppressive place.

That said, Rome could be quite an exhilarating and wonderful experience for people.  There are many people who are very friendly to outsiders, and are always curious to learn more about you and where you come from.  If you are open to experimenting with language, learning Italian might be very exciting; as it is for me.  In time, and with a little effort, one can learn most of the cultural rules to live by in Rome. 

If the traveler has an interest in History, Rome will definitely be an exciting place in that regard.  Over 2,000 years of history can still be seen in the city.  It spans from Ancient times, through the Empire and the Republic, through the Biblical era, to the Renaissance, and onward through the Fascist rule in the 20^th Century and into the present day.  This does not include what can be seen in museums, but merely what can be found in the “Open-Air Museum” of the city itself.

I believe that Rome will be either Exhilarating or Oppressive for a traveler, depending on his or her intentions for coming.  Rome has much to offer to a wide variety of people.  Just be prepared for a drastic change from your current culture, and be open to the new one, and Rome will open welcoming arms to you.  However, if you approach with a closed mind, expecting that everything should be the way you’re used to, Rome can be a cold, and often cruel place.

The Coliseum

Seeing the Coliseum for the first time gave me mixed emotions.  At first, I was excited and in awe of the fact that I was actually standing inside such an iconic building.  I thought of how many emperors stood in the exact spot I was standing.  I frantically snapped pictures of everything I could: the ruins of the prison chambers beneath the floor, the ruins of the walls, the ruins of the benches, the ruins of the arches, the ruins of the stairs…  At this point, I looked up from my camera and was hit with a slight pang of disappointment.  Everything was made from the same dilapidated, grey-ish brick. 

At this point, I realized that the Rome I would be seeing during my trip would not be the great world power I had read about.  Nor would it be the city full of glistening white marble covering every surface.  The Eternal City has been stripped of its former glory.
Then again, it amazed me that pieces of it still existed.  After 2,000 years, remnants of Rome were still available to the public, enabling its history to be kept alive.  Actually seeing and touching the ruins of the Coliseum is an experience that I will never forget.
According to Barzini, there are many groups of travelers to Rome.  There are the travelers who come in flocks to the most popular sites, snapping pictures all around, and acting generally "touristy".  And there is another group of travelers who plan their visits to avoid the flocks of the former kind.  They arrive at later or earlier hours, therefore avoiding crowds, and are able to enjoy the site more thoroughly.  I see myself as falling into this group, thanks to our group leader and guide, Danilo.  Because of his extensive experience leading groups of Americans through the city, he knows what times will be the least crowded at the places we visit.  I'm extremely thankful to have him with us, and I feel very lucky that he is willing to guide us around every day.  I believe that because of him, I'm getting a much better experience than I would have on my own.