"You fall in love with Rome very slowly, a little at a time—but for all your life." Nikolaj Gogol sums up so perfectly what many people experience when viisting Rome. The city can be so overwhelming, so daunting, that many people aren't able to fully experience it on their first visit, or even their first few visits. And yet, it's a city that has captivated and fascinated people—perhaps beyond any other city—for centuries if not millennia, and it continues to do so to this day. So what is it about Rome? What is it that pulls people here, over and over and over? What is it that brings people back year after year? Tiffany and Katy try to put their finger on why so many people fall helplessly in love with Rome (either little by little or suddenly), and why one of Rome's most impressive qualities is its resilence. It's a city that has been burned, flooded, sacked, and destroyed countless times. Yet like a phoenix, it emerges from the ashes somehow better than it was before. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon. TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!