Ciao Roma

I left Roma yesterday and I’m leaving Rome tomorrow.

Most of my apartment was deserted by 6 AM on Saturday.  I woke up to say goodbye to everyone, do some dishes and go back to sleep.  When I got up around 9 I was dreading the task before me.  I had to pack up, figure out how to meet up with my parents, and clean the entire apartment in three hours.  The apartment was a disaster when I went back to bed at 6.  Everyone apologized for not having time to help clean it and I figured I would be able to get it all done but it would be quite the task.  But Susie somehow managed to clean out the fridge and take out ALL the garbage before she left with her boy for the airport around 8.  All that was left was a few dishes—she was heaven-sent.  I cleaned what was left, packed my bags and figured out how to get to the hotel.  With all of the luggage that meant a taxi.  By 11, I knew I had an hour left before we had to be out of the apartments, so I went downstairs to enjoy my last cappuccino from downstairs.  I got it to go (even though that is an “American thing”) and went back upstairs.  While I enjoyed that last coffee and checked my parents flight status, I played songs that reminded me of the trip.  “Closing Time”, “The House that Built Me”, “The Middle” and, of course, “I’ll be there for You”.  By noon I was on my way to the hotel.  That is when I said goodbye to Roma.

“Like I’ve been there before/ I’ll be there for you/ Cause you’re there for me too” –The Rembrandts