Steve Geiger is an EMMY‑winning former national television news producer turned globe-trotting storyteller and creator of Mellow Wanderer
Every year on March 15, history whispers a warning: Beware the Ides of March. The phrase echoes through time because it marks when and where Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BCE — a turning point that reshaped the Roman world. But here’s what most travelers don’t realize: You can stand exactly where it happened.
And today? It’s filled with cats.
The Ides of March Is March 15
In the ancient Roman calendar, the “Ides” marked the midpoint of the month. In March, that date fell on the 15th.
Originally, it was a festive religious day honoring the goddess Anna Perenna — a celebration of renewal and the coming spring. No doom. No betrayal. That changed in 44 BCE.
Where Was Julius Caesar Assassinated?
Caesar was killed during a Senate meeting held at the Theatre of Pompey, built by his rival, Pompey the Great. The exact location of the assassination is now preserved at Largo di Torre Argentina in Rome.
Not the Roman Forum. Not the Colosseum. But a sunken archaeological complex just below the busy streets of Rome
Here, among four ancient temples and the remains of Pompey’s theatre, a group of senators — including Marcus Junius Brutus — stabbed Caesar 23 times.
The Roman Republic would never recover.
As For The Cats
In one of Rome’s most unusual twists, these ruins became home to a colony of stray cats in the 20th century. Volunteers eventually formalized rescue efforts, creating the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary.
Today dozens of rescued cats live safely and lazily among the ancient stones. The sanctuary provides medical care, sterilization, and adoptions. Visitors can observe the cats lounging in the very place, just a whisker away from where a Roman emperor met his grisly death.
In 2023, Rome opened Largo di Torre Argentina to walk-through visitors via elevated pathways. Beneath a stairwell under the streets, is a small subterranean room where the cat shelter is located. You can purchase a variety of cat-related souvenirs, and visit the cats waiting to be adopted.
It’s one of the most underrated stops in central Rome.
How do I keep a bucket-list Italy trip alive forever in my heart and soul? Through my stomach, of course.
The best souvenir I brought home from Italy wasn’t a trinket or T-shirt—it was a local cookbook. Not one you’d find on Amazon or tucked onto a bookstore shelf.In fact, it’s not even a “book” in the traditional sense—it’s a humble 44-page booklet filled with authentic recipes from a real Italian kitchen. La Cucina Sgariglia is a lovingly compiled collection of traditional Italian recipes by Biagio and Maria Sgariglia.
CookbookBiagio & Maria Sgariglia
For years they ran the cucina (kitchen) at Southern Italy’s Villa Vergiliana, a historic residence near Cuma in Southern Italy. The villa is leased by the Italian government to the Vergilian Society—an organization devoted to the study of the Roman poet Vergil and promoting Italian culture. And of course, what’s more cultural than the food?
Lunch Like a Local—At a Villa Full of History
As part of a Temple University Rome adult learning program, we spent a day at Villa Vergiliana. That visit became one of the highlights of our Italian journey.
Villa EstateVilla Terrace ViewVilla StairwayVaseVilla Vergiliana
The setting was charming: a centuries-old villa and archeological site nestled among olive trees and gardens, filled with poetry, passion, and the aroma of something incredible simmering in the kitchen. Our lunch, prepared by the villa kitchen staff, was a traditional feast served family style—course after course, perfectly prepared and presented with love.
We didn’t feel like tourists. We felt like guests in someone’s Italian home. That’s a memory you don’t just pack away. You find a way to relive it.
From Their Kitchen to Mine
When I discovered that Biagio and Maria had gathered their recipes into a small cookbook—just for guests—I knew I had found my perfect souvenir.
The 44-pages are filled with treasured family recipes—soups, antipasti, mains, and desserts—all humble, hearty, and true to the region. Every time I open it in my home kitchen, I’m transported back to that long wooden table, the warmth of Italian hospitality, and the unforgettable day at Villa Vergiliana, nourishing not just my body, but my memory.
Also lost in the flames: all 80 cabins, the campground, general store, gas station, and the saloon. An entire resort reduced to ash in just a few hours. As of this writing, the wildfire is still burning—only 8% contained.
My stomach sank when I heard the news.
My wife and I visited both the South and North Rims of the Grand Canyon in the summer of 2017. A true bucket list trip to one of America’s natural wonders. We especially loved the North Rim—cooler temperatures, towering evergreens, fewer tourists, and a slower pace. Such a striking contrast to the busier, sweltering South Rim.
North Rim Entrance/MW PhotoGrand Canyon Lodge/MW PhotoNorth Rim Sunset/MW PhotoLodge Rim/MW PhotoGeneral Store/MW PhotoCampground/MW PhotoGas Station/MW PhotoFull Service/Mw PhotoSaloon/MW PhotoSaloon Interior/MW PhotoLodge Rim Cabins/NPS PhotoLodge Rooms/NPS Photo
Now it’s all gone.
The North Rim and its beloved trails are closed indefinitely. Who knows what happens next? Tens of millions will be needed to rebuild. And with today’s political and environmental climate, it feels like a long shot that a new Grand Canyon Lodge will ever rise from the ashes.
NPS Photo
But I’ll always remember what it felt like to sit on that quiet rim, feet up, looking out over the canyon, surrounded by beauty and stillness.
The number one tourist destination in Hawaii isn’t a beach, a luau, or an active volcano. It’s Pearl Harbor—a U.S. military base and national memorial that honors the seamen, airmen, soldiers, and civilians who lost their lives in one of the most devastating attacks in modern warfare.
On the morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and Oʻahu that changed the course of history. America’s entry into World War II began that day. At the time, Pearl Harbor was home to the U.S. Pacific Fleet, including aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. Nothing before this moment had ever so deeply shaken America’s sense of safety and strength.
The toll: nearly 5,000 dead and 2,000 wounded—mind-numbing casualties. The battleship USS Arizona sank after being struck by specially designed torpedo bombs dropped from Japanese aircraft, taking 1,177 men down with her. The mission was to obliterate the Pacific Fleet. It was severe—but not a total success. By pure luck, all of the U.S. aircraft carriers, the backbone of the fleet, were out to sea.
A Memorial Experience Steeped In Reverence
The Pearl Harbor National Memorial, managed by the National Park Service, offers a free, deeply moving experience through its exhibits, museums, and memorials. It presents the story of the attack with respect, clarity, and emotional weight.
We arrived on a weekday afternoon to avoid morning crowds—and secured a spot in the visitor lot ($3.00, card only). A month earlier, I booked a 2:45 p.m. reservation online for the Arizona Memorial. The $2.00 fee covers your round-trip Navy shuttle ride to the site. (Reservations are strongly recommended.)
We arrived just after lunch, which gave us plenty of time to explore the grounds. The layout is intuitive and mostly open-air, aside from the theater and gift shop—something to keep in mind if you’re visiting during summer heat. Water is allowed, and refill stations are available near the restrooms. Be sure to pick up the free NPS brochure at the entrance—it’s packed with helpful timelines, maps, historical context, and more.
You could easily spend an entire day here. We focused on the two main galleries: “Road to War” and “Attack”. We chose the self-guided route, though audio tours and ranger-led options are available. I prefer to move at my own pace—ideal for quiet reflection.
The exhibits trace the complex economic, diplomatic, and political history between the U.S. and Japan, showing how tensions escalated into war. Powerful video interviews feature both American and Japanese veterans. One standout artifact: President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s original “A Date Which Will Live in Infamy” speech, complete with his handwritten edits—crossing out “world history” and replacing it with the now-iconic “infamy.” Seeing a piece of real history like that hits hard.
A Journey To The Arizona
Boarding the Navy shuttle to the USS Arizona Memorial, I felt a lump rise in my throat. We glided slowly across the water toward the stark, radiant white structure glowing in the afternoon sun. Just beyond, the USS Missouri—the Mighty Mo—stands in solemn watch. She represents the end of the war, the very deck where Japan officially surrendered. The Arizona marks the beginning. Side by side, they tell a story of sacrifice and victory.
As we approached the Arizona, a hush fell over the group—visitors of all ages, some old enough to remember, others too young to yet understand. Our Navy guide reminded us to treat this sacred site with the respect and reverence of a final resting place.
A gentle sea breeze flowed through the memorial as we stood above the submerged ship. Through an opening in the floor called the Viewing Well, you can see the shadowy remains of the hull—a haunting, solemn image. This is where brothers, sons, fathers, uncles, and cousins—many barely out of high school—perished. A melting pot of America. Some survivors even chose to have their ashes returned here, to rest with their shipmates after living full lives.
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We stayed just fifteen minutes, but it left an indelible mark. As the shuttle took us back to shore, I turned for one last look—a silent farewell and heartfelt thank you.
A line of tour buses stacks like dominos outside Pompeii, Italy’s legendary ancient city, once entombed under volcanic ash. The past draws visitors from around the world, eager to glimpse history frozen in time. Excavation continues to reveal new marvels, reminding us that Pompeii is far from a relic—it’s a city still telling its story.
In the remains of a bakery, a stone oven and grist mill stand as remnants of a past that vanished in an instant. To me, the preserved structure resembles a modern-day pizza oven, its shape and purpose frozen in time beneath layers of ash. Was a baker at work when the sky darkened with fury from Mount Vesuvius?
Millstone & Brick Oven
Beyond the marketplace, the homes of Pompeii’s wealthiest residents reveal the elegance of a bygone era. Pristine courtyards once flourished with gardens, a tranquil contrast to the city’s lively streets. The walls and ceilings still bear vibrant frescoes, their colors defiant against time. These painted scenes weren’t just decoration; they told stories—myths, legends, and daily life immortalized in sweeping detail. In dining rooms, guests dined beneath grand images of gods and heroes, feasting on meals as rich in symbolism as they were in flavor.
One of Pompeii’s greatest gifts is its ability to transport visitors back in time. Every doorway, every weathered column, every mosaic-strewn floor speaks of lives interrupted yet remarkably preserved. Bathhouses, theaters, and even graffiti scrawled on walls paint a picture of a city brimming with life and culture, only to be silenced in an instant.
Human Remains Preserved In Ash
And yet, Pompeii endures. As archaeologists continue to unearth its secrets, the city remains a bridge between past and present—a place where history isn’t just learned but felt with every step.
