This morning we went to Ostia Antica, the port city of ancient Rome, and viewed the ruins. The ruins were pretty, and fun to explore (like a maze!), but what I really found interesting was what could be inferred about daily life in ancient Italy. Looking at the size of the ancient bath complexes, and the number of different chambers, they must have spent forever at the bath house every day. And bathing was a social event--both in ancient times and now Italians seem to be very social in their daily routine. If it's no longer bath houses, it's going to the market, running errands, or grabbing coffee--they seem to work socializing into their day much more naturally than Americans. Americans seem to work all day, do some one-stop shopping by themselves, and then have to plan to meet up with friends. The Italian lifestyle is really different, and the social attitude started in ancient times has seemed to carry on . . .
After exploring the ruins, we went to the beach at Stella Polare. It was probably the best time I have ever had at a beach; somehow the water was the perfect temperature, but so was laying on the sand. Is there anywhere like this in the US? It really could not have been better. The one downside: I've been living in Seattle too long now and my skin is no longer used to the sun, so I am burnt!
More posts soon . . .
