The Piazza di Spagna is home to the Embassy of Spain in Rome, Italy.

The Piazza di Spagna is home to the Embassy of Spain in Rome, Italy.

<p>The Trinita dei Monti is located at the top of the Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy.</p>

The Trinita dei Monti is located at the top of the Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy.

<p>The high altar of the Trinita dei Monti in Rome, Italy, is one of many beautiful features of the church.</p>

The high altar of the Trinita dei Monti in Rome, Italy, is one of many beautiful features of the church.

<p>The Fontana della Barcaccia in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna was sculpted by Pietro Bernini and his son, Gian Lorenzo.</p>

The Fontana della Barcaccia in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna was sculpted by Pietro Bernini and his son, Gian Lorenzo.

<p>The Spanish Steps lead up to the Trinita dei Monti in Rome, Italy.</p>

The Spanish Steps lead up to the Trinita dei Monti in Rome, Italy.

<p>The Column of the Immaculate Conception is located near the Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy.</p>

The Column of the Immaculate Conception is located near the Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Marjorie Appelman is off this week so we are offering an encore of a previous column.

From the Trinita dei Monti, the Spanish Steps cascade down to the Fontana della Barcaccia, fanning out in either direction before reaching the middle of the Piazza di Spagna in Rome, Italy.

It’s from that fountain in the middle of the Piazza di Spagna I had long envisioned myself climbing up the steps in Rome, Italy. Walking up them. Sprinting up them. Maybe a combination of both. I hadn’t yet decided.

Prior to traveling, my husband and I anticipated that experience while on our daily walks. If we ever felt inclined to skip a day, we’d motivate ourselves into motion by joking, “Those Spanish Steps aren’t going to walk themselves.”

But on our first day in Rome, as luck would have it, our route led us first to the Trinita dei Monti, a gorgeous church overlooking the square and the eloquent stairs. And once we concluded our tour of the church, we exited to a momentarily distracting view of Rome. And then to that of the object we’d long anticipated climbing: the Spanish Steps.

Only, they descended toward the fountain. And suddenly, I realized the experience I’d envisioned didn’t align with my location.

Nevermind the beautiful church and priceless art we’d just admired. Nevermind the breathtakingly beautiful fountain roaring at the bottom. We had spent so much of our time and conversation discussing our anticipation of climbing the steps, I’d never really pictured ourselves descending them.

I didn’t know the expectations of others around us that day, but I observed many of them as they sat alone on the steps or in small groups. Some simply looked out upon our setting, while others took a variety of photos to commemorate their respective visits.

And so, with no other option, we began our descent toward the fountain. An incredible sinking boat sculpted by Pietro Bernini and his son, Gian Lorenzo, the fountain, like the church, offered yet another unforgettable element to our experience in the square.

As did a quick stroll through Babington’s Tea Room and Cafe and a moment spent in front of the nearby Column of the Immaculate Conception honoring Our Lady.

Still, my long-held vision remained unfulfilled. Walking down the Spanish Steps wasn’t the same as walking up them. The thought, the discrepancy, continued to play on my mind.

Until finally, I reconciled my illogical thought process and realized time still allowed for us to run up them as well before continuing our walking tour of Rome.

So, we did.

And once we reached the top, heart-pounding and exhilarated, the sum of the entire experience enveloped me. It became more than just the isolated goal I’d envisioned.

The church, the fountain, the tea room, the column, meandering the square, and descending the stairs as well as climbing them all molded together to form the true experience.

(Note: Marjorie Appelman is an English, communications and journalism teacher at Mason County High School and co-founder of Tales from the Trip, which is on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. She can be reached at [email protected].)