Elizabeth Gilbert in Eat, Pray, Love, brilliantly said, “There's a power struggle going on across Europe these days. A few cities are competing against each other to see who shall emerge as the great 21st century European metropolis. Will it be London? Paris? Berlin? Zurich? Maybe Brussels, center of the young union? They all strive to outdo one another culturally, architecturally, politically, fiscally. But Rome, it should be said, has not bothered to join the race for status. Rome doesn't compete. Rome just watches all the fussing and striving, completely unfazed. I am inspired by the regal self-assurance of this city, so grounded and rounded, so amused and monumental, knowing she is held securely in the palm of history.”

Rome is magnificent. It is an unparalleled adventure tangled with ancient sights and a modern vibrancy. It is Italy’s political capital, the capital of Catholicism, and the center of an ancient empire—still visible through evocative remains.

We began our visit in the Roman Forum. It's neat to imagine that at one point in time these few acres of land were the center of the civilized world. To think that the Romans ruled for 1,000 years and, after the fall of the empire, the once-grand city dwindled to 10,000 is almost surreal. Though today the forum is largely a sprawl of ruins, the glory of Rome remains eternal, living on in the Catholic Church and through the empires timeless influence.

While the Roman Forum was unforgettable, the true magic of the trip came with our visit to St. Peter’s Basilica, the greatest church on earth. It’s a humbling thought, though, to think that even the greatest and grandest of earthly churches utterly pale in comparison to His heavenly kingdom. Mere words cannot express the profound satisfaction of my visit. It was simply marvelous. A pilgrimage to the capital of not only Catholicism but of all Christendom is something all should do.

I am beyond grateful to have visited such a culturally and historically saturated place. I recently read, “The legend goes that as long as the Coliseum shall stand, the city of Rome shall also stand.” And how true it is. The “Eternal City” indeed.

We ended our spring break on the lovely island of Santorini, Greece. The island itself is a flooded caldera (a collapsed volcanic crater). The massive, steep, multicolored cliffs thrust up a thousand feet above sea level, leaving tourists captivated by the brilliant beauty. Along the ridgeline is a number of perfectly placed whitewashed villages, reflecting the bright sunlight off their azure domes.

As I silently sat and watched the sunset, I couldn’t fathom that this place actually existed. It was otherworldly. The sky was dyed a pomegranate pink, the color of a Nebraska sunset during the harvest. I gazed at the orange rays dancing on the calm sea as the clouds ghostly drifted away and twilight beckoned the stars. Sitting in the cool spring air, lost in the beauty, I couldn’t help but say to myself, “If this isn’t nice, what is?”