The Bavarian Hat

Bavarian Hat Blog

The first pin:  Roma

The pin from Rome (Roma) is at the top of the hat – because, at one time, all roads lead to Rome. It was the center of the universe for much of the ancient Western world. Some of the memories I have of Rome include standing at the bottom of the steps of the Trevi Fountain. Vendors set up shop, sitting on the sides of the steps, and tourists walked up and down the middle. Did it seem like steps because I was small? My memories blend with movies I’ve seen and may not be completely reliable about the facts. We threw coins and made wishes. I do remember that!

I also associate this pin with the Coliseum. We walked between the fountain and the Coliseum and looked down on it. We must have been on a hill. I was five and six when we collected the pins for this hat, so, indeed, some details are vague. But still, others are vivid:  I can hear the water splashing from the fountain and still see the statues of the horses.

For me, this mosaic pin represents Rome. I remember someone asking me when I was in 3rd grade, which part of Europe I liked the most, and I answered Rome, Italy. Who’s to say that early experiences don’t matter or that children are too young to be affected by what they see? Some of the memories of the pins are as fresh as yesterday. Yesterday, becoming today.