Rome | Andrea

When did you go back for your second visit? I went back about six months later. I kept trying to find a reason and an excuse to go back. I didn't have one, so I made one up. I actually met some really amazing people on my first trip. My first trip to Rome was really more about walking the city, hanging out, and shopping. My second trip was spent more at dinner parties and just hanging out at the houses of people who lived there. I visited my newfound friend Andrea at his home. He was kind enough to throw a welcome-back dinner party for me. That's a great way to really get to know a culture and to find out how people live. We were in his apartment, which was jammed with books and great art, kind of like one of those places where every square inch is used up for some kind of art. I loved being in there. We were eating, and all these sculptures and books and paintings were around. I love when you are surrounded by art; it's so inspiring to me.

You're working on your Italian. What have you learned from your visits to Rome? I think that what sets Romans apart is their eagerness to share their culture and their history with you. It's so beautiful, because not only are they warm and welcoming - that would be great enough - but they also want to tell you about their history. They want to tell you about what it's like to live there, and they are just so gregarious. I really, really appreciate that. When you have people who are eager to talk to you and teach you about it, that makes it so enjoyable, rather than having people who are a little snooty and want to hold on and not share their history. The Italians are not like that, and certainly the Romans aren't.