Pictures Fade, Memories Last Forever

Walked+to+Buckingham+Palace+in+London%2C+UK

Walked to Buckingham Palace in London, UK

rome 1 pic

By: Julia Kovacova

I awoke, my eyes flashed open, I sat up, and to my dismay I didn’t know where I was, and everything was blurry. I rubbed my eyes and grabbed my glasses off a wooden table to the left of the bed. I had been sleeping in a twin bed with white sheets and a sandy colored cotton blanket. I knew I wasn’t at home, since my bed was full sized. After about 60 seconds, I realized that I was in Rome, in a convent, but it all seemed so surreal.

We had arrived in Rome, my grandmother and I, the evening before I woke up. We were staying at a Catholic convent where my aunt, Sister Agatha lived. Straight across from my bed was another bed where my grandmother was still in a peaceful, silent slumber. Diagonal from my bed was a modern wooden closet, toffee colored with silver handles. The ceiling was exceptionally high, at least twenty feet. Behind the little table was a prodigiously wooden, mocha colored, casement window. I lethargically rose up out of bed, yawning and stretching. I thought, if a window like this startled me, what other more glorious and unexpected things were waiting for me to explore? Something simple as a window, and it amazed me. I took the handles of the casement window, pushed out, and both doors opened to reveal a brilliant view I hadn’t expected.  As I peered out of the window, it took me a while to contemplate everything.

Fifty feet below the window were garments suspended by colorful clothespins on a white drying rack. Straight ahead into the distance was a tree blooming with fuchsia colored flowers, and many green shrubs in the surroundings. I envisioned myself, standing there, waiting for my Romeo. To the left were gray apartment buildings towering high, each with their own balconies. As I gazed unto the horizon, in the east was an old fountain constructed out of small rocks, but the water hadn’t been running. The fountain was the central point of the convent’s gardens. The fountain led to a cobblestone pathway, with steps descending, lined with growing roses- red, pink, and white. Farther out into the gardens was a building attached to the convent; it had once been a school. It was painted a sunflower yellow with large arched, stain-glass windows on the first floor. The second and third levels of the school had rectangular white windows. The grass in the courtyard featured tall arborvitae like evergreen trees aligned in long rows. I closed my eyes and pictured myself in the time era this school was built, and what it would be like to attend school and speak Italian.rome 2 pic

I then closed the window and let it all sink in. I walked across the room and out into the hallway. It was quiet. I roamed down a white marble stairs into the first story corridor. I strolled around observing portraits of several saints and holy people aligned on the walls. Advancing down the corridor it became narrower, and soon the walls became constructed of clear glass tiles. My stomach began to growl, and I was hungry. I entered the walk-in refrigerator and grabbed myself fresh grown apricots covered in mist, fresh bread, and butter. I munched my lunch away as I peered through the window. I felt as if I had stepped back in time, because I was so mesmerized. I had never seen such a place so incomparable. If I could just step back in time, I would be able to experience life in a different era. Standing there, in that moment, it really sank in, and I knew I wasn’t dreaming, because for once, reality was better than a dream. Life brings surprises, even in unexpected places. While touring Rome, I treasured my three days in that convent, and although I will not be able to come back, those three days will always remain with me in my memory.