“When in Rome?” – I am still trying to get the hang of that….

I guess this is what modern Roman’s do?

May 6, 2012

After the first day in Rome,which included a 3-hour tour of the ancient city, we were all in awe of the magnificent history stored in stone.

Our tour that day started at 10:00am – commencing at the Metro station directly across from the Colosseum. The tour guide immediately indicated that we were not going to be passive observers, as he questioned us incessantly and called out those who appeared “sleepy” in front of the group. It was as if we had all been transported back to grade nine history class.

Not exactly how I remembered it from Gladiator! The exposed floor reveals where they kept the animals and Gladiators before the blood bath…

Despite the rain, the massive rock fortress was crawling with tourists. In a world of towering skyscrapers, it’s amazing how a building constructed nearly 2000 years ago can remain one of the most impressive structures. The Colosseum began construction under Vespasian (Emperor 69-79 AD), and was completed by his son, Emperor Titus, in 80 AD. The deadly amphitheatre could hold up to 50,000 people to witness the destruction of human flesh and soul that the Roman Empire was famous for. It was eventually abandoned in the 6th century after the collapse of the Empire, and was later used as a quarry for the construction of various cathedrals, including those of St Peter and St John Lateran, and the Palazzo Venezia. This left only one third of the original structure still intact. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that the Romans thought it might be worthwhile to preserve this now world famous arena. 

The next stop on the tour was the ruins of the Forum, which had been extensively excavated to reveal excruciating and detailed work carried out by thousands of labourers over generations. The tour highlighted the intricately carved stone and the various monuments of tribute to war victories. I could only imagine the dismay of the soldiers who, after fighting in the victorious war, then had to spend the rest of their lives erecting monuments commemorate the win. Staring at these 2500 year old structures allowed me stop to think about how this brief glimpse of history, has resulted in the current slice of space-time where I currently exist.

After witnessing so many impressive feats of architecture, and reflecting on the Romans’ temporary period of world dominance, I wondered if anything else was going to stand out. At that moment, we walked into the Pantheon, and I was humbled again by a vast dome with an oculus extending towards the heavens. The section absent from the roof allowed the rain to enter the dome, creating a dreamlike scene that I was captivated by. I was then abruptly brought back to reality, when the tour guide spewed endless dates that historians love.

Window to the heavens at the top of the Pantheon

One life lesson I took away from Rome, is that if you try to expand endlessly, you will inevitably collapse from a lack of control. Real wealth is being happy with what you have, or risk the infinite black hole of greedy human nature.

Trevi Fountain

May 8th, 2012

This was the conclusion to the European leg of my journey. 36,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, I prayed that the pilot could guide this metal bird safely to Toronto. How often in this world do we trust in something we don’t understand? Cell phones, Internet, computers, a higher power, and the list goes on…

The day prior, I toured the Vatican with Tom, Reid, and 17 other explorers, led by Alfredo, the same tour guide from Europe Tours. We were excited to get a glimpse inside the walls of the world’s smallest country (0.2 square miles). The line to enter was over 2 hours long, with an entrance fee of 21 Euros for the privilege of experiencing the “Holy City.” Over 20,000 people per day make their way through metal detectors, before being herded like cattle through 7 kilometers of hallways filled with statues, paintings, tapestries, and everything else this grossly wealthy organization has accumulated over hundreds of years of spiritual domination. I tried to maintain an appreciation for the amazing artistic talent around me as we toured the halls, but as my dad said: “once you’ve seen one statue, you’ve seen them all.”

Every room produced overwhelming visual stimulation, and I was stunned by the thought that man could create such materials – way before the advent of any modern technology. The tourists here seemed unusually aggressive, as they forced their way past each other on their path to the next photo op. Some people only appeared interested in generating digital memories, neglecting to remove the technology blocking their naked view of the object. I try to make a point of taking a moment of observation to save neuronal memory, before snapping the digital one.

The hallway to the Sistine Chapel narrowed to two filed lines, and the sensation of pushing and shoving set in, as the mob flowed into the room. We gazed upon the painted imprints of Michelangelo’s dreams, which took him 4 dedicated years of hanging from the ceiling to complete. This was the only room where no photos were permitted, and silence was to be observed. And yet, as I entered, I witnessed a sea of camera flashes, reminiscent to those at the opening of the Olympic games. The guard yelled “SILENCE!” , but no one seemed to take note of his enraged voice, and instead continued to fill their memory cards.

The Sistine Chapel

The last stop on the tour was Saint Peter’s Basilica, featuring the iconic balcony protruding out the front of the building from which the pope delivers his speeches. Money was no object in the creation of this structure, evident in the marble, gold, and brass finishings that were used. Standing in this massive expanse of stone, I wondered: Did God create man in his image, or have we created a God in our image?

Saint Peter’s Basilica

Most religions have different depictions of God, or several gods, that all have similar attributes to humans. God’s behaviour is recorded in stories and parables, giving him a “personality” that people can relate to. I have never understood the belief that an all loving God, who is merciful and forgiving, would also send His people to hell and eternal damnation if they didn’t follow a specific set of rules. Though the intention may be to honour God and spread love, religions seem to cause more of a divide between people of differing beliefs. Why would God ever want you to believe in something that fosters judgment and hatred towards others?

The Pope’s balcony

There is no doubt that religion has caused a great deal of pain and suffering in the justification of war, amongst many other atrocities. However, religion has also provided a way of being for millions, and has created peace and spread love. Religion seems like any other tool in life – the outcome relies on how you use it. It can be a trap that feeds ego and produces moral superiority, or it can enlighten individuals with valuable lessons they can employ in their daily activities. There is no point in trying to condemn religion as the cause for all problems, when it is the fault of the sociopaths who use religion to satisfy selfish desires . A knife in murderous hands can take a life or in surgical hands can remove a cancerous tumor; it is the intention of the individual that matters.

A house boat in a downtown river of Rome

It would be great if we could share the same beliefs, have peace on earth, and sit around singing kumbaya, but it’s not likely to ever happen. I think that it’s better to celebrate the diversity among us, and recognize that differences are what make our world an interesting place to live. How boring would life be if everyone shared the same ideas?

The more I try to figure out what I can do to make a difference in life, the more it becomes clear that fighting against something just brings more negative energy into this world. Instead, fighting for what you believe in allows you to became a more powerful advocate for change, and attracts positive people to your quest. Pro-peace, not anti-war, pro-self control, not anti-drugs, pro-love, not anti-sex. Changing the world is seemingly impossible, especially as the population exponentially climbs at an unfathomable rate. However, changing YOUR WORLD, the one you directly affect, is very realistic. “Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

The Spanish Steps