by Nicoletta Williams

My task was to write an entry on todays outing, and to be quite frank, I’m a bit distracted. This two-week trip has been nothing more than an eye-opening experience. I have seen things that I’ve only seen in books. Had experiences and access to things that haven’t really sunk in yet. I have no regrets. Well, except that I wish I had more time to soak in the people, the culture, the colors, and the history. I guess I’ll just have to come back…

I suppose I ought to write about our adventure today. Of which, there are few words to describe, but I will do my best to find them for the sake of this entry.

Mauro Zennaro, who we met for the first time a couple days ago, led us through Rome to share his knowledge on the inscriptions and letterforms of the city. The part that will stick with me the most is our visit to the Biblioteca Angelica. Forgive me as I pull out my geek card, but the scene was something out of the likes of National Treasure or Angles and Demons. Towers and towers of books from as far back as the 9th century; bound in natural, unfinished hide, titles written in beautiful calligraphic-styles with stunning glyphs, gold leaf, colorful hand-painted pages. I fanned through Giambattista Bodoni’s original type manual and photographed forbidden books from the time of astrology and mathematics. I was in awe… still am for that matter.

This day will stick with me for a quite a while. Not only as the day that I saw and touched things I only studied in art school, but also as the day I ate one of the best paninos ever, discovered my new favorite Italian treat; granita con panna, shared an amazing conversation with a new friend, and finished my day with an delightful glass of Prosecco… Italy, you’ve been far to good to me.