Texas Girl Takes on the World: The Beautiful Chaos of Roma

Upon entering Paris, I heard symphony music playing and instantly felt calm. Coming to Rome felt different. Crazy different. The energy here is fast, chaotic, a little wheely and a little dealy. Upon stepping out of the terminal, I was greeted with a crowd that felt like paparazzi. My shuttle driver from the airport was seriously going about 100 all while Anita Baker's "Sweet Love" was blaring from the radio.

Traffic patterns don't exist, you better get in where you fit in. The streets are narrow and haphazardly re-routed around historical places like the Coliseum and the Spanish Steps. The roads almost seem like an afterthought or a necessary evil. A city built with people living there as an "oh snap, I knew I forgot something" moment.

Entering the city, my first impression was "old." And then as we inched toward the city center, it turned into "charming" and then as we hit the center and I was dropped off, I landed at "wow!" Being here, I can imagine the Roman emperors co-existing with the hipsters of today. Great example, my friend Tamara stays in an apartment that dates back to the 1800s (or earlier), but she shares a building with a designer retail store with its Spring collection being put on display. In Roma, new coexists with old as if that's the way it's always been.

And speaking of Tamara. My little Italian-speaking, Afro-wearing writer-mama-badass friend, who, in the middle of the crazy, is a soft-spoken lump of calmness (and so is her mama Ms. Kathryn who's visiting for the holidays). Just to watch Tam step up to quietly give commands in Italian is interesting to watch as they're not usually expecting her to be fluent in the language. Her Italian is delivered in this sing songy tone that instantly soothes and charms the person she's talking to. I can tell she is immune to the chaos and isn't moved by the constant buzz. A good place to be or else one could be on constant edge here.

Today in Roma, I felt hugged. When I arrived, Tam had prepared a delicious lunch for me. And she's created such great relationships here that we're greeted with kisses on both cheeks and hugs at the restaurant where we eat dinner. The owner's children greet us all with kisses. And we get warm touches and greetings from the folks at the pizza place across the street. And we are not shooed away when peeking in the store's boxes left in the hallway of her building. Or the awesome Michael Jackson impersonator performing in the piazza at the end of Tam's street. And the other performers, vendors, hundreds of people, gathered for no reason really. Just outside enjoying the weather and life.

So Roma, you're old, fast, crazy and beautiful, what else you got in store for me? Can't wait!