羅馬假日 Christmas in Roma (組圖)

Another journey, another destination, and this time was Roma.

The wide streets, freezing winter rain, and hardly anything remain complete.

After all, life itself is full of incompleteness.

 

Christmas Eve

I don’t know what people do on Christmas Eve. I don’t even want to know.

Of course, when I say that I don’t know, I don’t really mean it.

At this particular Christmas Eve, I was getting more and more emotional, because I was in Rome; I was forced to travel on my own at this time, Christmas time.

I forgot to say that I love Rome, because I hardly see any people around. I went to the Colosseo on this Christmas Eve. I discovered an uphill path right beside it. I didn't know what this path leading to, but I was too curious, though it was very dark and freezing cold, and absolutely no one was around, I still decided to go and find out.

So I did. At the end of the path and top of the hill, it was a church. And it was open. I went in; no one was there, only some candle lights brightening a statute of the Lord. I felt very peaceful in heart. And I sat there for a very long time, on this Christmas Eve.

After the church, I went to the place where Audrey Herpurn ate ice-cream in the film. I wanted ice-cream too, but it was freezing, and no one around, except a police officer, I greeted him a happy Christmas.

Christmas

Christmas morning, I slept.

I wanted to see Papa Pope, though it was raining and raining and raining outside, I still managed to throw myself into the rain.

The Metro was closed, which meant I had to take a long walk to Papa's home. And I, in the help of my magic map-reading ability, after 4 hours walking instead of 1, finally arrived at Papa’s home. Maybe Papa was too busy the last night, so he hadn't time for me, but it doesn't matter, because it wasn’t Papa’s birthday, but the Lord’s.

I went to the confession after the mass. I told the father that I felt very lost, and the reason that I was alone in Rome at Christmas. And he told me that life is not easy, and I am not alone, and I should not give up fighting for life. And I am adult, and I should learn to think in the adult way. It made me think. And I am still thinking. I need time to figure it out.

 

 

 

 

 

[今日雨果]

"life itself is full of incompleteness." What you wrote thoughtfully touched me...

"life itself is full of incompleteness." Can't stop thinking of three books and one photo...

1st. "Incompleteness　-The Proof and paradox of Kurt Godel", by Rebecca Goldstein

2nd. “Logical Dilemmas - The Life and Work of Kurt Godel” by John Dawson, Jr

3rd “Godel, Escher, Bash – an Eternal Golden Braid”, by Douglas R. Hofstadter

What you wrote inspired me.
I recall a photo, it's either inside above 1st or 2nd book ( I only have notes with me, don't have books with me), Albert Einstein and Kurt Godel, in their late years, in Princeton University, every day, from their home, they walked across a grassland, toward their academic building, in photo you only see their backs, walking side by side...

I am always amazed that what is the magnetic attraction has brought these two great hearts (with totally different personality) together?
What did they talk every day?