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Rome

Going as far back as High School, I was always told, "You've got to go to Rome, you particularly will love it."

I went, I liked it, but I didn't quite see how it was better than London or Paris or some of the other places I'd gone to when I first went to Europe in 1963, at age 32.

Over the years though, it hit me. Rome was like home. The people in Italy in general and Rome, in particular, were patient with the idiot American who ordered coffee calda because it sounded to him like calda meant cold (it does not).

In some countries language, or lack of it, is a barrier. The Parisians barely tolerate the accents of non-Parisians, and though I love Paris, I always feel the "tourist" because I don't speak French.

Rome, for me, was quite different. There was patience, warmth and a joie de vivre, (which though a French phrase, meaning "joy of life,") seems particularly apt for all of Italy where one of the phrases most often heard is, Va bene, which (roughly) translates to, "It's okay."

Once, I was planning to go to the Sistine Chapel with L.A. (my wife), and we were told that it was closed that afternoon.

"Sistine is closed? That's ridiculous. It's never closed!" I ranted.

As we wandered through other parts of the Vatican L.A. noticed a limousine pulling up in the courtyard. She said, "Look, Jay!"

I leaned out and saw Mikhail Gorbachev (then Premier of the Soviet Union) getting out of the limo.

I put the 300mm lens up to my eye and was told by a cop, gently waving a finger at me, "No, No, No" - But there was a warmth even in that.

I wanted to say "Va bene," but I didn't.

Interior of St. Peter's Basilica, Rome
Interior of St. Peter's Basilica, Rome
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Man Reading in Park, Rome
Man Reading in Park, Rome
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Woman on Scooter with Reflection, Rome
Woman on Scooter with Reflection, Rome
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Kids at Black Sand Beach, Rome
Kids at Black Sand Beach, Rome
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Old man in Street, Rome
Old man in Street, Rome
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Young Boy in Street, Rome
Young Boy in Street, Rome
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Green Crane in Suburbs, Rome
Green Crane in Suburbs, Rome
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Via Dei Condotti St from Spanish Steps, Rome
Via Dei Condotti St from Spanish Steps, Rome
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Train Station, Rome
Train Station, Rome
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Detail of Locomotive, Rome
Detail of Locomotive, Rome
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People in Bus, Rome
People in Bus, Rome
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Man with Mustache in Train Window, Rome
Man with Mustache in Train Window, Rome
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Man with Mustache in Train Window #2, Rome
Man with Mustache in Train Window #2, Rome
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Head in Campidoglio, Rome
Head in Campidoglio, Rome
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Woman Resting on Column, Rome
Woman Resting on Column, Rome
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Man Walking Between Columns, Rome
Man Walking Between Columns, Rome
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Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II with Sun, Rome
Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II with Sun, Rome
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Bridge, Rome
Bridge, Rome
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Door Bells on Building, Rome
Door Bells on Building, Rome
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Panorama from Top of St. Peter's Basilica, Rome
Panorama from Top of St. Peter's Basilica, Rome
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Two Figures in Square from Top of St. Peter's Basilica, Rome
Two Figures in Square from Top of St. Peter's Basilica, Rome
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Panorama of St. Peters Square and City, Rome
Panorama of St. Peters Square and City, Rome
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St. Peter's Basilica with Scaffolding and Crowd, Rome
St. Peter's Basilica with Scaffolding and Crowd, Rome
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St. Peter's Square in Rain, Empty, Rome
St. Peter's Square in Rain, Empty, Rome
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People on Bus Exit, Rome
People on Bus Exit, Rome
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Man Balancing Kid, Rome
Man Balancing Kid, Rome
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Smiling Man, Rome
Smiling Man, Rome
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Roman Gesture from Car, Rome
Roman Gesture from Car, Rome
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Roman Gesture, Pleading, Rome
Roman Gesture, Pleading, Rome
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Three People, Rome
Three People, Rome
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Two Housewives Talking, Rome
Two Housewives Talking, Rome
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Man Selling Postcards and Slides, Rome
Man Selling Postcards and Slides, Rome
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Three People on Beach, Rome
Three People on Beach, Rome
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Two Policeman (Carabinieri), Rome
Two Policeman (Carabinieri), Rome
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Two girls Showing Belly Buttons, Rome
Two girls Showing Belly Buttons, Rome
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