Rome, City Of Wonders

It was a warm August afternoon when my flight touched down in Rome, Italy where, unlike most places I have traveled to in the world, they didn’t stamp my passport and Customs ushered me through without so much as a second glance. A fast moving taxicab delivered me to the steps of 10 Piazza Albania where Raymond Lloyd had offered me his apartment for six weeks while he was on a business trip in the US. This was my first time in Italy. I arrived from Frankfurt Germany where I had spent 7 days with Yens and his mother in Offenbach.
 
Safely deposited at the steps of my destination I took the elevator to the 7th floor and was greeted by Raymond Lloyd. After exchanging pleasantries and getting to know each other a little Lloyd announced he had work to do and requested that I disappear for 3 or 4 hours.  He also announced that the following evening, Saturday September 1st we would be traveling to Venice for the Regata Storica an annual trial of strength and skill for the city's gondoliers and other expert rowers.
 
So there I was, first time in Rome, late Friday afternoon, No lira in my pocket and getting ready to embark on a trip to Venice the following evening.
Realizing my dilemma I hurried into the streets of Rome to find a Bank where I could convert a fistful of deutschmarks to lira.  A few yards up the road I found a bank and thought my problems were solved. Not quite,  their exchange was closed and they directed me to their main branch in Barbarini that was open until 6p.m.
 
With little time to spare I scurried to the underground to encounter a ticket seller who spoke no English. A kind Italian lady came to my rescue, helped purchase my ticket and gave me directions to my final destination. A trip that involved changing trains to get there. .
 
Feeling very unsure and nervous I boarded the first train.  As I stood in the crowded carriage clinging to a leather strap for support, I looked around at my fellow passengers and noticed a lady wearing a red cardigan with a little boy.  I don’t know why they caught my eye, perhaps it was the red cardigan and it was only for a moment  - I was more focused on making sure I did not miss my station
 
My stop came up and I stepped onto the platform with one goal in mind – to get to the next platform to catch the second train that would take me to Barbarini.
We arrived at that platform together, me, the lady in the red cardigan and the little boy. We all got on the second train and in a few short moments found ourselves at  Barbarini where, to my amazement, my companions also alighted from the train.
 
Coming out of the underground into central Rome I went directly the Bank to complete my transaction, wandered around for a short while and then walked in the direction of the underground station. For a moment I was completely lost -  the underground stations in Rome are not like those in Paris with their distinctive archways. There I was, standing on a street in Rome: all alone and unable to find the metro; when, out of nowhere, walking in the opposite direction toward me came the lady wearing the red cardigan holding the hand of the little boy.
 
Guardian angels come in many shapes and forms. They never look the way you expect them to look, they aren’t dressed in white, there are no visible wings. They just have a way of showing up when you most need them and always to those who truly believe.
 
©  2007 Yvon Douran
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