Episode 14: When In Roman Holiday

(This one is longer than most, but it describes a three day weekend in Rome.  I think that allows for some grace. And there would have been pictures, but my camera is being very silly right now.  I might have a whole other blog dedicated to the pictures.)

In being a student through my particular program, it was mandatory for me to attend a three day weekend in Roma, or Rome as us English speakers refer to it as.  Though I only have to pay for a few meals I have suspicious that the trip and passes into or tours of various historical old places was paid for through part of my tuition.  My suspicious have thus gone unconfirmed, but at the moment I really don't care to look into the matter.

As initially excited as I was at the prospect of seeing the eternal city, I was not looking forward to the prospect of getting up for a 6:30 am departure.  And I, as usual, woke up later that planned luckily through the prodding of my roommates who were also going, throw stuff into my backpack and allowed them to lead me through the slumbering city to our meeting point. But, the pain was all rewarded by our first stop at Tivoli where we spent a good hour and a half exploring the Villa d'Este.  Actually, the garden surrounding the villa is what makes the place well known and widely traveled because honestly, the building itself isn't that grand to look at.  But the garden is known as The Hundred Fountain garden, for as the name suggests, it is a maze full of beautiful statues and fountains.  Maybe there actually are a hundred.  I'm not sure.  The fountains were dormant until about eight years ago, and the most amazing thing is that they are still using the original plumbing from when they were made in 1550.  Yeah, you're mind was just blown, I can tell.  We then were treated to a light dinner at an olive grove consisting of bread, a dish of pasta, then a dish of potatoes and meat, and more bread.  Light dinner.

Saturday was when our walking tour of the city was scheduled, but mother nature also scheduled rain.  When people ask how it was, I have conflicting emotions, because I was overwhelmed at seeing, touching, and being amongst historical monuments I had only read about and admired from a distance through pictures in history books. The Colussium, The Pantheon, The Trevi Fountain, the Arch of Constantine, and a bunch of other important historical buildings I wasn't as familiar with.  However, the rain made it utterly miserable.  Walking around Rome for about 4 hours straight soaking wet is not as fun as it sounds.  Just ask my legs and my once white now blue tennis shoes.

Then in my four hours of freedom a few friends and I decided to trek to the Vatican. Weaving through the masses through the obilisk lined street, we came upon the state within a state and a huge line of people.  Joining in line with some friends we saw, who ended up leaving the line for this special tour deal, and in twenty minutes we made it pass security and into the pope's casa.  Though we had no tour guide and didn't exactly know the exact historical significance of what we were looking at, we ventured through the tombs of the popes and then the St. Peter's Church.  Like every church and cathedral in Italy, it was beautiful. The Basillica S. Pietro can't even be described with pictures.  I took a few as proof that I was here and that I was seeing what I was seeing, but I stopped even trying to take pictures that would be adaquate in relating all that is this building.  I was not able to go into the Cistine Chapel, for I made it there too late for admitance into the museum.  I'm really sad about that, but I only had an hour left of my free time and that wouldn't have been enough time at all.  Maybe I will go back if I am able to.

Sunday we had a bus tour, much to our relief from walking around the Eternal City of seven hills.  And the sun was out.  After a mad rush to get spots at the top of our open roof tour bus, we listened to an automated tour person as we moved through the traffic, seeing each of the hills and more ruins and the place that Ben Hur was filmed but unfortunately I was unable to run around it and do a self re-enactment (Sorry Aleah).  My new friend Jenna asked me once why I was so quiet, but I didn't know how to explain the feeling of being there.  I feel I keep mentioning this over and over, but my mind can't compute being here.  And more I think about it the more I feel as though there are more deserving people who should be here.  After our tour and time to eat, we traveled back to Florence, giving us time to finish homework and catch up on sleep.

That was the shortened, condensed abridged version.  If you would like to hear more, shoot me an email.  I would love to converse with you electronically.

Until Next Time!
Ciao!

(Everytime I send my post saying "Until Next Time" I feel as though I am ending a radio show.)