Rome’s Worth Every Penny

For tourists, Rome appears to be a dangerous pickpocketing place, with narrow streets that cars are constantly creeping up behind in your peripheral view, and it’s fighting to get a good spot at the Colosseum for a photo.

Like other tourists who have come before me, I was worried about my things being pickpocketed or that I’d lose my passport. However, I didn’t realize that after a week of being here that I was in more danger of Rome taking my money with my full permission. From paying to see local art museums, buying a new leather purse, to the daily meals I can’t eat enough of—I have emptied my wallet—but gained the riches of a city that is constantly surprising me with it’s wonders.

In my purse I now carry receipts and tickets, souvenirs and reminders of the things I’m bringing home and the memories I’m keeping. I think my favorite thing about Rome is how easy it is to stumble upon museums and boutique shops that are displaying secrets your eyes can feast upon. I went into one museum simply because the interior of the building holding the gallery was its own architectural beauty. The simplicity of the building’s arches, and the large paneled window with light seeping in, drew my gaze and compelled me to pull out my camera. Perhaps I shouldn’t say simple as I have now learned that the museum I walked into was the Corsini Palace that Queen Christina of Sweden once resided. I guess that goes to show that one does not need knowledge of architectural history to appreciate the masterpieces that are in the hidden corners of Rome.

After enjoying the painting and interior of the first museum I walked into the Museo Di Roma in Trastevere. I saw a banner outside displaying a sign indicating that my MIC pass, given to me for my trip would allow me to enter the museum for free. Since the museum was affordable and so near the apartments, I decided to pop my head in. I was warmly surprised when the current exhibit turned out to be showing the works of Italian photographer Emiliano Mancuso. His work was narrating Italian lives—their struggles and suffering—he stayed with families and asked them about their journey. His pictures felt extremely intimate. One photo was of a young woman in her room sitting down thoughtfully. You could see the walls of her room and the band posters that she had. This snapshot made me feel as if in an instance we were sharing the same story as I imagined standing in the room with her. I was also moved by the way Mancuso shot photos during a protest, getting right in front where the police could be seen. There was something important and brave about him taking risks and shooting events as they were happening in real-time.

My english professor said all writing is a retelling of where we’ve been. This trip is also showing me where I want to go. I want to follow in Mancuso’s footsteps and take photos of those in my own community in Seattle. I want to bring to light the poverty of homeless, show how local Muslims are being discriminated, and force us to question the justice of how Latinx Americans are being separated from their family. I don’t want to be a bystander anymore to the issues happening right around me. I have a voice and I feel obligated to share my platform with those that need it more than ever. Travel has a way of showing us what we’ve walked away from. For a couple weeks I’ve been able to forget the troubles back home, but now as my trip is ending I’m feeling energized to make the impact I can. So I thank Rome for the photos I’ve seen, and for inspiring the ones I’ll be taking.