When I see the small sign that says “Roman villa” on our way to the grocery store, I know I’m not in Massachusetts any more. David, who grew up with Roman ruins, is pretty blase about this, but not me.
So yesterday we packed a picnic and followed the sign down ever-narrowing country lanes, until we spotted another, less legible sign near a farm. Sweetpea was delighted when we parked the car by the stable, in the wake of two horses, and followed the stony trail down the hill.
And then we were there, sharing the ruins of a 60-room Roman villa with a herd of sheep:
This villa was built in the 4th century A.D. and included multiple bathrooms and central heating. Those Romans knew how to build.
When excavators discovered the place in 1813, they found an intricate mosaic floor in one room:
Some of us, however, were more interested in sheep.
After we were done exploring, we sat in the warm sun and feasted on biscuits and cheese and grapes and plums. Sheep bleated and blinked, and a breeze rushed through the tall grass behind us.
It was a quiet, green hour, the kind where whole centuries slip away, and time stands still.
“I’m glad we came,” David said.
I’m glad, too.
Alchemy Pie 
that is so awesome, I always wish for more history where I live.
Me, too. I love that here history is everywhere.
that is so awesome, I always wish for more history where I live.
Me, too. I love that here history is everywhere.
Me, too. I love that here history is everywhere.
that is so awesome, I always wish for more history where I live.
How wonderful! I’m amazed by the idea that you can just go there and wander about – with the sheep – in the ruins. Love that.
It was such a fine, sunny day, too — just the kind of day the Romans would’ve appreciated. Given the atrium in the center, rainy days must have been a bit of a trial.
How wonderful! I’m amazed by the idea that you can just go there and wander about – with the sheep – in the ruins. Love that.
It was such a fine, sunny day, too — just the kind of day the Romans would’ve appreciated. Given the atrium in the center, rainy days must have been a bit of a trial.
It was such a fine, sunny day, too — just the kind of day the Romans would’ve appreciated. Given the atrium in the center, rainy days must have been a bit of a trial.
How wonderful! I’m amazed by the idea that you can just go there and wander about – with the sheep – in the ruins. Love that.
This is amazing! What a beautiful, inspiring place 🙂
It was inspiring. And so peaceful! One of those moments where you’re happy just to be there.
This is amazing! What a beautiful, inspiring place 🙂
It was inspiring. And so peaceful! One of those moments where you’re happy just to be there.
It was inspiring. And so peaceful! One of those moments where you’re happy just to be there.
This is amazing! What a beautiful, inspiring place 🙂
Wow. Amazing. It’s hard to fathom something so ancient. I remember driving up to Northumberland looking for Hadrian’s Wall. After hours in the car, we finally found a little remnant. A little disappointing, but still impressive.
Hadrian’s Wall is on my life list of must-sees, but with one things and another I haven’t gotten there yet. When I do, I’ll try and find a good-sized chunk and take a photo for you!
Wow. Amazing. It’s hard to fathom something so ancient. I remember driving up to Northumberland looking for Hadrian’s Wall. After hours in the car, we finally found a little remnant. A little disappointing, but still impressive.
Hadrian’s Wall is on my life list of must-sees, but with one things and another I haven’t gotten there yet. When I do, I’ll try and find a good-sized chunk and take a photo for you!
Hadrian’s Wall is on my life list of must-sees, but with one things and another I haven’t gotten there yet. When I do, I’ll try and find a good-sized chunk and take a photo for you!
Wow. Amazing. It’s hard to fathom something so ancient. I remember driving up to Northumberland looking for Hadrian’s Wall. After hours in the car, we finally found a little remnant. A little disappointing, but still impressive.
Your whole post takes my breath away, from the ancient to the immediate and seeing Sweetpea experiencing it all.
So glad I managed to get across at least a little of what that day was like. What got to me most was when she played house in the outlines of the Roman rooms. Old stones and a new life — it was very, very moving.
Your whole post takes my breath away, from the ancient to the immediate and seeing Sweetpea experiencing it all.
So glad I managed to get across at least a little of what that day was like. What got to me most was when she played house in the outlines of the Roman rooms. Old stones and a new life — it was very, very moving.
So glad I managed to get across at least a little of what that day was like. What got to me most was when she played house in the outlines of the Roman rooms. Old stones and a new life — it was very, very moving.
Your whole post takes my breath away, from the ancient to the immediate and seeing Sweetpea experiencing it all.
It was inspiring. And so peaceful! One of those moments where you’re happy just to be there.
Incredible! Thanks so much for sharing!
My pleasure! Thanks for stopping by, Debbi.
Incredible! Thanks so much for sharing!
My pleasure! Thanks for stopping by, Debbi.
My pleasure! Thanks for stopping by, Debbi.
Incredible! Thanks so much for sharing!
A colleague of mine married a woman from Spain. When they visited Europe, he found that people discovered Roman ruins practically wherever they tried to do construction. My colleage was all excited by that, but he said the Europeans just groaned and said, “Agh, not more Roman ruins to dig through!”
It’s funny to have Roman ruins be so commonplace. There not as common here as in Spain, but people don’t get excited about them. “Put that villa in Boston,” my husband says, “and it would be a different story.” (And how!)
A colleague of mine married a woman from Spain. When they visited Europe, he found that people discovered Roman ruins practically wherever they tried to do construction. My colleage was all excited by that, but he said the Europeans just groaned and said, “Agh, not more Roman ruins to dig through!”
It’s funny to have Roman ruins be so commonplace. There not as common here as in Spain, but people don’t get excited about them. “Put that villa in Boston,” my husband says, “and it would be a different story.” (And how!)
It’s funny to have Roman ruins be so commonplace. There not as common here as in Spain, but people don’t get excited about them. “Put that villa in Boston,” my husband says, “and it would be a different story.” (And how!)
A colleague of mine married a woman from Spain. When they visited Europe, he found that people discovered Roman ruins practically wherever they tried to do construction. My colleage was all excited by that, but he said the Europeans just groaned and said, “Agh, not more Roman ruins to dig through!”
Beautiful. So happy that you’re having these moments to confirm the decision you guys made. 🙂
I remember feeling this way about the ruins, but, heck, I remember feeling that way about the houses built in the 1600s & 1700s, when I moved from California to Virginia for a year!
I felt the same way, in reverse, when I lived in Madison for a while in my 20s. Everything felt so brand new!
Beautiful. So happy that you’re having these moments to confirm the decision you guys made. 🙂
I remember feeling this way about the ruins, but, heck, I remember feeling that way about the houses built in the 1600s & 1700s, when I moved from California to Virginia for a year!
I felt the same way, in reverse, when I lived in Madison for a while in my 20s. Everything felt so brand new!
I felt the same way, in reverse, when I lived in Madison for a while in my 20s. Everything felt so brand new!
Beautiful. So happy that you’re having these moments to confirm the decision you guys made. 🙂
I remember feeling this way about the ruins, but, heck, I remember feeling that way about the houses built in the 1600s & 1700s, when I moved from California to Virginia for a year!
Beautiful. So happy that you’re having these moments to confirm the decision you guys made. 🙂
I remember feeling this way about the ruins, but, heck, I remember feeling that way about the houses built in the 1600s & 1700s, when I moved from California to Virginia for a year!
That photo of your daughter is ADORABLE. What a neat trip!
Thanks, Jeni! She absolutely loved playing house with the sheep all around.
That photo of your daughter is ADORABLE. What a neat trip!
Thanks, Jeni! She absolutely loved playing house with the sheep all around.
Thanks, Jeni! She absolutely loved playing house with the sheep all around.
That photo of your daughter is ADORABLE. What a neat trip!
oh, I agree with Sweetpea. I like the sheep. Of course. So now I’ve caught up on your fall! I’d love to see pictures with actual daughter face in them, if you wouldn’t mind emailing some time. I’m feeling all encouraged by having the time and mental energy to read all this – I have the students watching a movie this coming class, so my preparation is way down, and look, life! Which implies that in only four more classes (and one awful paper – why did I say I’d do it, Amy? Idiocy) I will be a woman free to spend my energy where I most value it, and that I’ll actually be able to keep up with friends! I DO miss you more in England than in Boston. That is almost certainly b/c of my silly fall. But oh, Amy, I’ve gained SO much in certainty. I’m not saying I’m entirely free of self-torture, but much more free than before.
I thought you’d like the sheep! Will try and email you some more photos once I’ve gotten this bronchitis beat. And YAY on certainty and freedom from self-torture! That’s worth a *lot*.
oh, I agree with Sweetpea. I like the sheep. Of course. So now I’ve caught up on your fall! I’d love to see pictures with actual daughter face in them, if you wouldn’t mind emailing some time. I’m feeling all encouraged by having the time and mental energy to read all this – I have the students watching a movie this coming class, so my preparation is way down, and look, life! Which implies that in only four more classes (and one awful paper – why did I say I’d do it, Amy? Idiocy) I will be a woman free to spend my energy where I most value it, and that I’ll actually be able to keep up with friends! I DO miss you more in England than in Boston. That is almost certainly b/c of my silly fall. But oh, Amy, I’ve gained SO much in certainty. I’m not saying I’m entirely free of self-torture, but much more free than before.
I thought you’d like the sheep! Will try and email you some more photos once I’ve gotten this bronchitis beat. And YAY on certainty and freedom from self-torture! That’s worth a *lot*.
I thought you’d like the sheep! Will try and email you some more photos once I’ve gotten this bronchitis beat. And YAY on certainty and freedom from self-torture! That’s worth a *lot*.
oh, I agree with Sweetpea. I like the sheep. Of course. So now I’ve caught up on your fall! I’d love to see pictures with actual daughter face in them, if you wouldn’t mind emailing some time. I’m feeling all encouraged by having the time and mental energy to read all this – I have the students watching a movie this coming class, so my preparation is way down, and look, life! Which implies that in only four more classes (and one awful paper – why did I say I’d do it, Amy? Idiocy) I will be a woman free to spend my energy where I most value it, and that I’ll actually be able to keep up with friends! I DO miss you more in England than in Boston. That is almost certainly b/c of my silly fall. But oh, Amy, I’ve gained SO much in certainty. I’m not saying I’m entirely free of self-torture, but much more free than before.