LAST DAY - ROME, ITALY - DAY 30

Whelp, another facetime call and a new found loophole through Germany to fly out, and get home tomorrow, the extended vacation is cut short.

I ran all of my errands today, including buying postcards for Mom, buying and writing thank you postcards to my International family who took care of me and Kay throughout this trip, and preparing to leave the apartment by replacing the milk in the fridge, and getting some cash. It was sunny and hot all day until around 4PM, but this brought me into the Rome I know so well. I took the usual stroll past the Trevi, Pantheon, and over to the Vatican. I added more to my food diaries today. I picked up pizza to go from Pizz-R-Us for tomorrow’s traveling, and then went to my holy grail pasta restaurant. I was early so I wandered all through the other side of town and ate more of my favorite gelato from Old Bridge. At noon, I was the first in my favorite restaurant, and sat down as they were still opening. As we all know now, this is a holy ritual that must take place every time we visit Rome.

I’m still the only one in the restaurant, and I order Pasta Vongole with a Fanta- The perfect sweet and savory combo. I take the first bite and transcend myself. My tastebuds have never lusted after a dish like this one. I don’t know what they do to the pasta...More butter? Black Magic perhaps? It’s so. Damn. Good. I take my time savoring it as I write my thank you cards. Once finished, and fully satisfied, I order Amaro del brazo / Amaro D'bruzzo. I savor this as well in three sips instead of one shot. I got what I came for. Every cell in my body is content. Fucking fabulous.

I head home after completing this heavenly ritual, and check in for all of my flights. Sabina is already at the restaurant and Agneta is coming in 30mins. I walk over right away. I meet Sabina and ask about a mailbox. I pop out for a second to deliver the goods, and then come back to have Angeta there too. As always, she asks if I want anything to eat. She’s getting a coffee so I ask for the same, and also a Crema croissant. I assume they have them in the restaurant, but before I know it, she pops out and comes back from their other shop next door with three different croissants and a nut muffin. I feel bad as I could’ve easily done this myself, but she insists it’s no problem. I thank her many times anyway. I eat the Crema and Nutella croissants and save the remaining two pastries for tomorrow morning and thank her a million times. I'm fairly petite, but her eyes grow big over how much food I can put away. Like I said, I never eat anywhere the way I do in Rome. I eat here like I've never seen food before in my life.

She tells me that her and Marcello are going to their friend’s restaurant, the female chef with the green hair. They invite me of course, but I unfortunately have to leave incredibly early and have to kindly decline the offer. This is the same chef where I noted in the Croatia email that I’ve never had octopus better than hers. I would’ve loved to have gone, but I guess I should come home eventually.

We finish our coffee and Agneta takes me to a brand new designer shopping mall. It just opened in October, and she’s going to show Marcy as well on her next visit. (You can expect to come too, Mom and Nano, whenever you're back). I walk in and immediately feel like a hobo in my regular attire. I stick out like a sore thumb, holding my Nutella covered croissant bag. I’m completely surrounded by six floors of exclusive designer clothing, including the top floor covered in designer food- Seriously, there's designer food. It’s essentially a condensed, but still grand, Rodeo Drive. The more time I spend here with Agneta, I shift to feeling momentarily wealthy and glamorous in the midst of all the luxury and high fashion. Then comes a truly loving and beautiful moment- Agneta and I are in the women’s shoe floor, and we look at the sale items. Everything is 50% off, but of course that means nothing to me due to their original price tags. We eye the same shoe together, as it’s a SUPER cool metal detailed black boot by a designer in Portugal. She asks my shoe size, and offers it as a gift to me. Im shocked. I nearly have a heart attack and pass out. I can feel my face go bright red and hot, and I thank her profusely but enthusiastically decline the offer. I repeatedly say “thank you” and “nejnejnejnejnej, absolut inte”! *(In Swedish, "nononono, absolutely not")! “It’s TOO MUCH, no way”! I conclude my argument by saying, “one day, I will be a big director, and I can buy these, but I simply can’t take them from you. This gift is too big”. She sweetly listens, and presses no further.

Regardless, what a grand and loving gesture. Although I'm tremendously grateful, she could tell I was getting flustered at the idea for such a luxurious gift that I completely do not deserve. I think she appreciated my manners and humility. So much love.

We concluded the tour by trying on designer sunglasses and not buying any. We make our way back to the restaurant where Marcello rendezvous with us. I eat their new fresh broccoli soup with wine, and they share a little pizza appetizer. They have to leave to get to their friend’s place, and I thank them again a million times over before finally saying goodbye. They send their love to all of you. What an incredible family I have all over the world. Of course, they said I am / we’re welcome to come whenever and however long we want. Such a blessing.

I’m home now, and packing to get ready to officially conclude my trip. This has been a miraculous experience and completely reignited my spirit and passion for what I’m meant to do in life with cinema. I couldn’t be happier, more loved, or more grateful for all of it. See you in 30 hours.

Love you with all my heart and soul.

-eM

Xoxox