An Unmemorable Vacation
The townhouse had just a soft hum from the hydroponic garden in the living room. Briana was busy with dinner, throwing in roasted peppers and garlic until there was a rich smell. Dinner was almost ready, but the real anticipation simmered around the announcement Briana was about to make.
"Mateo, cariño," she began, setting a large pot of pasta puttanesca on the table. "Your father and I have a surprise."
Mateo took off his holo-screen, automatically exiting from his fight against a genetically engineered kraken in the latest bio-punk game.
"What's up ma?" he asked, already looking bored by his family.
"We're taking a trip," Gabe, Mateo's father, chimed in. His voice was filled with excitement. "To Rome!"
Mateo didn't share his father's smile. He had disbelief on his face.
"Rome? Seriously? Why would we go there?"
"Why not?" Briana countered as she sat down. "It's a beautiful city, steeped in history. Imagine walking through the Colosseum... Exploring the Vatican..."
"I can do all of that in VR," Mateo retorted, gesturing towards his headset. "In fact, I probably get a better view of all that stuff without all the crowds and... the _actual_ heat."
"But you'd miss the real experience," Gabe chuckled. "You don't get the feel of cobblestones beneath your feet or the taste of authentic Roman cuisine. Plus there's all the unexpected encounters..."
"Unexpected encounters? Like getting pick pocketed? Or food poisoning? No thanks. I'll take the curated VR experience where everything is perfect."
Briana sighed. "Mateo, there's something to be said for the serendipity of travel. You can discover hidden gems or meet interesting people. Those are moments you remember."
"That's so old-fashioned, mom," Mateo rolled his eyes. "And I can't go. I've got a tournament coming up in 'Kraken's Revenge'."
Their debate over the merits of real-world versus virtual travel continued throughout their dinner, but Mateo remained steadfast on his refusal to go. He couldn't grasp the appeal of "serendipity" and "authenticity" when he had a perfectly guided simulation at his fingertips.
Finally, Gabe, with a hint of resignation in his voice, made a decision.
"Alright, Mateo. You can stay home. You're old enough to take care of yourself for a few days. Your mother and I will enjoy Rome the old-fashioned way, as you put it."
A flicker of surprise crossed Mateo's face. Staying home by himself?
"Fine by me. I can finally move my whole VR setup into the living room."
Briana, ever the mother, let out a cry of worry.
"Gabe, don't say that. Mateo, you'll be alone for a whole week. What about meals? What if something happens?"
"Mom, relax," Mateo answered calmly, looking at his nodding father. His mind was already calculating how many hours of uninterrupted gaming time he'd have. "The apartment is fully automated. If I'm hungry I can always throw something together. You've taught me well. Besides, you can add me as a dependency to your credit card for emergencies."
Gabe, with a twinkle in his eye, clarified, "A dependency with a _limited_ balance, of course."
"Agreed," Mateo grinned.
The next morning, Gabe and Briana had packed their mycelium suitcases and got on the bus headed towards the spaceport. Mateo stood on their stoop waving merrily to his parents.
Then he retreated to his room, ready to immerse himself in the virtual world. He had no doubt that his Roman holiday would be far superior to his parents. Authenticity? What a joke. After all, his version had customizable weather, no crowds, and unlimited access to any attraction he wanted. What could possibly go wrong?
He slipped on his headset and opened up the _Tourism Plus_ app. The device gave him a welcome invitation to the adventure of his choice. He selected the "Ancient Rome" experience, starting a meticulously curated digital world promising to transport him back in time. Instantly he was standing in the heart of the Roman Forum thousands of years ago. The sun was bright overhead. Although he didn't feel any heat, he could imagine its warmth on his skin.
The ancient marketplace buzzed with activity. Merchants hawked their wares in perfect Italian, with subtitles underneath each one. They displayed shimmering silks, handcrafted sandals, and exotic spices. Mateo navigated through the throngs of people. His avatar brushed shoulders with a Centurion and a gaggle of giggling children. He even bartered with a street vendor, his haggling skills surprisingly effect. He came away with a delicious-looking virtual kebab.
He spent hours exploring the Colosseum. Not as a weathered down relic, but as it was in its heyday. He marveled at the intricate details of the arena. He even spotted a virtual tour group, led by an AI guide who regaled them with tales of gladiatorial combat and historical events. He decided to participate in a mock battle, wielding a gladius for the first time and defeating his opponent to roaring crowds.
Mateo was enthralled. He explored the Pantheon, whose massive dome was a breathtaking sight even among the rest of the elegant city. He took a stroll down the Tiber River, giving him a brief respite from the bustling city. He even got to take a virtual cooking class, learning how to make an ancient form of pasta from freshly harvested grains.
Days turned into nights and Mateo remained glued to the VR headset. He discovered hidden gardens, explored the city catacombs, and cheered along to a chariot race. He was living the dream, experiencing the best Rome had to offer without ever leaving his apartment.
He stayed in touch with his parents, reassuring his mother he was fine.
"Just had the best pizza ever!" he wrote, attaching a snapshot of his avatar devouring a virtual slice.
He chuckled to himself, knowing they were likely trudging through crowded tourist spots while battling the heat. He, on the other hand, was experiencing the perfect vacation.
A few days in, there was a nagging feeling which began to tug at the edges of Mateo's enjoyment. At first, he brushed it aside. It was just the fatigue of spending hours in the VR world. Yet the feeling persisted, growing into a nagging awareness that something was wrong.
He kept trying to deviate from the designated paths, curious about what lay beyond the perfectly manicured landscapes. But each time he strayed, an invisible barrier prevented him from venturing further. He tried to climb over a wall, but his avatar began glitching and walking backwards, phasing through walls until he was back in the city center. He tried to run down an alleyway, but it was a flat wall which was just painted to look like an alley.
The realization slowly dawned on him: the crafted world was just a cage, albeit a beautiful one. Every experience was curated, but every encounter was scripted. He was trapped in a digital theme park.
While the virtual Rome teemed with digital citizens following their daily routines, Mateo couldn't interact with them on a real level. He tried to strike up conversations, but they would just give a simple greeting and continue with their pre-programmed actions. He was a ghost in this vibrant world, unable to feel like he was truly a part of it.
He thought about his parents wandering the real streets of Rome. They might be encountering unexpected problems, getting lost in an alleyway, or unable to decipher Italian menus, or even having to hide from a sudden rainstorm. But they were also experiencing the thrill of discovery, the joy of shared experience, and the connection that came from interacting with real people.
Suddenly Mateo was envious. His VR experience was a technological marvel, but it lacked genuine connection. There he was, surrounded by wonders, yet utterly alone.
There was a sudden chime of a bus outside, revealing the return of Mateo's parents. He emerged from his room, blinking rapidly as his eyes adjusted to the sudden light. His VR headset now dangled in his hand like a forgotten toy.
Gabe and Briana bustled in with large grins on their faces even as they struggled to lift their heavy bags over the mantle.
"Cariño, you wouldn't believe the trip we had," Briana said, her voice overflowing with excitement. "We stumbled upon this artisan market tucked away in a tiny piazza. The craftsmanship was unbelievable! We just had to buy a music box from him."
Gabe, though putting on a cool persona, was equally happy by the trip. "The food was good too. We had to stop our walk short so I could get something to drink, so we went into a family-run trattoria that served the best pasta carbonara. The chef even shared his recipe with us so you could try it sometime."
Mateo tried his best to be happy, but there was nothing but unease. His parents were radiating with a kind of joy he hadn't felt in days.
"The most amazing part was that one night we decided to walk back to our hotel. Of course there's so many small streets. But we stumbled upon a festival. Apparently it was a local celebration of the harvest moon. There was music, dancing, and this wonderful procession with giant puppets and even fire dancers. That was certainly my favorite part."
"We never would've found it if I hadn't gotten us lost by taking that wrong turn. It was pure serendipity. But I guess we wouldn't have gotten lost with a minimap in our headsets," Gabe laughed.
Mateo's heart sank. His virtual Rome had offered nothing like that. There were no unexpected encounters, no hidden gems, no shared moments of wonder. He had seen everything, but he experienced none of it.
"That sounds..." Mateo's voice trailed off. He wanted to express his regret, to confess they had been right about the magic of real-world travel. But he didn't know how to say the words.
Briana placed a comforting hand of his shoulder. "We missed you, Mateo. It wasn't the same without you. But we brought you something special."
She reached into her bag and pulled out a small stone. It was perfectly smooth, etched with intricate patterns.
"We found it near the Trevi Fountain," she explained. "Legends say that if you hold it tight and make a wish, it'll come true."
Mateo took the stone and felt its coolness, something that no virtual environment could ever produce. And this simple rock could. He finally understood that the real world had a million imperfections and still held a magic that no virtual world would ever be able to replicate.