When In Rome...

Ok, sorry about the title - I couldn't help myself even if it is a bit cheesy. I hope you all are doing great!  We are back from Rome and it was funny to find myself saying on the bus ride back "I'm so happy to be coming home" HaHa, guess I adjust pretty fast if I am already calling Florence home! Really though, it was such a long (but fun!) weekend of traveling that it was so nice to walk in our door and take a load off (and use the internet!).

We left Florence by bus early Friday morning - and about 4 hours later we were driving into the Eternal City.  We went straight into a walking tour - which was enjoyable even with a little rain and thunder. We hit up some the typical tourist spots - Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Novana, The Pantheon, and learned some great history about each place.  

We were somewhat unlucky with our tourguide this time. Tricia put it best when she wondered out loud if he had learned his English skills from a drunk Irish man.... It was an accent that you would have to hear to believe. 

After the walking tour, we had a lot of free time that we spent walking around and getting the feel for the city. We had some wonderful cafe latte's and relaxed some too. The Hotel we stayed at was called Hotel Ponte Sisto, and it was wonderful. We enjoyed the long hot showers and really good breakfasts both mornings. Also, I am wearing the complimentary slippers right now - not a bad deal! :)

Saturday was much busier because we departed for the Vatican State in the morning and toured St. Peter's, Castel Saint Angelo, and the Vatican Museum.  Each place was fascinating and beautiful in its own way.  I felt like I had to keep pinching myself that I was actually seeing each thing in person - not just learning in a history class! The museum both impressed and overwhelmed me. I liked the Gallery of the Maps the best - and for those of you who have been there I am sure you can agree is was a beautiful sight to see.  We tried to soak up the art in the neverending rooms - but we were also on autopilot to see the Sistine Chapel. When we finally made it there, it was wonderful to stand, throw my head back and stare for what seemed like hours at each detailed part of the ceiling. Pictures to come of that!! (Just kidding - I would be scared for my life to take pictures in there!) But seriously, I can't wait to post some more pictures of Rome and Florence. That is my goal for this coming week!

Saturday night was a lot of fun in the city because we happened to be there for an annual tradition called "White Night" in which the city stays "white" (all lit up) for the entire night!

There are parties in the streets and all the clubs and bars were packed! It was absolutely crazy - but great to take part in such an exciting tradition.

Today we had free time in the city, but it continued to rain and storm which made walking long distances sound like a bad idea. We shopped and people watched in the Campo De Fiori ( a fun and lively square) and just enjoyed some down time on a Sunday morning. In the afternoon we had a bus tour of some more of the ruins and then finished up our Rome visit with the impressive Colosseum! I have never been able to handle the gore of the movie Gladiator - but I've always loved the history of the Colosseum's gladiator spectacles.  It turned out to be a beautiful afternoon and we got lots of great pictures.

Now, I'm back in Florence, sitting at my kitchen table and starting to prepare for the second week of classes here.  I'm looking forward to posting some pictures soon!

Love to all at home! :)

Ciao! 

Kate