Happiness in a Keyhole

I am such an easily-pleased person. I was having a 'meh' kind of weekend up until this afternoon; I was sick and tired and sore and unable to escape my roommates (whom I really like, but you know...some days you hardcore need hermit-mode.) At any rate, I was very cranky when I left my Italian class today, which is silly; who wants to be cranky in Rome?!

Sarah, Tammy, Jan and I decided to go on an adventure, to walk around on the Aventine Hill, a part of the city none of us had explored yet. At the top of the hill is the teeny sovereignty of the Knights of Malta. In a gate in one of their walls is a keyhole that looks clear across the city to St. Peter's. You literally look across 3 countries to do this: Territory of the Knights of Malta, Italy, and the Vatican. We stood in line to see it, and it was fantastic. Not to mention that the Aventino neighborhood is beautiful and quiet. (A quiet area is a rarity in this crazy city.) The weather is finally cooler, there was a nice breeze, and the view was awesome. It took just this to completely turn my mood around. I need to always remember to appreciate small things, like staring at St. Peter's across the city through a keyhole. That's how small a thing it takes to make me happy: it can fit in a keyhole. And I consider myself lucky for that.

(I stole this picture because it's better than mine. The black stuff you see around the greenery is the keyhole.)