Today I don't feel like doing anything, I just want to work on my tan.

It's officially been a week since landing and in keeping with The Bible (as is appropriate in Rome):

On the seventh day, they rested.

And it was good.

Noelle and I enjoyed a lazy day on the patio. We tanned all day and just as we got hungry, we were surprised by the lovely Ashley DiTomaso, when she rang the doorbell bearing gifts of fresh food from the market. We had chicken, mozzarella and tomatoes with olive oil and risotto with wine. Afterwards we went out for gelato and finished planning our trip to Florence and Pisa for the weekend.... which we will be waking up for in approximately 5 hours. Joy! But exciting none-the-less.

We will be staying at Camping Michaelangelo in Florence, which is a Hostel that offers its guests 3 person tents for 15 euros a person. The hostel got great reviews and looks like it will be a lot of fun because it is located right on the banks of the Arno River.

While in Florence, we will be doing all the must-see things (i.e. Michaelangelo's David, Il Duomo, stalking the Jersey Shore cast). You know, all the necessary things. Then on Sunday we will jump on another train to see the famed leaning tower of Pisa before returning to Rome.

One thing is for sure, this fabulous day of R&R was much needed as I will probably not get any for the rest of the weekend!

Happy Memorial Day weekend to all of my American friends stateside :). Buona Notte!

...I just blew a fuse and knocked out the power in our entire apartment trying to publish this post. I am what happens when disaster meets talent. Mamma mia...

Ciao, bella! Do you speak English?

Today was by far the hottest day since I have arrived in Rome. I have been trying to avoid looking like a tourist by wearing cardigans over anything that would show my shoulders and sunglasses to hide my eye color but as Noelle put it: "They know we're American! I don't know why you try to hide it."

So I *gasp* donned a sun dress sans sweater bearing it all (and by it all I mean my shoulders and back). Scandalous stuff, I know, but that was enough to make any person within neck-craning distance practically fall off their Vespa at the shock of it all.

My day started out lazy. Slept in late... again. I just love waking up to Noelle telling me, nay, yelling at me to get out of bed. First I attended Italian class in the market. We learned all the ins-and-outs of ordering fresh fruits, veggies, meats, seafood and cheeses with my professor, Christiano, and his wife, Olga, who can best be described as Mom and Dad figures to those in the class. They showed us a couple inexpensive places to shop and eat as well as where to find amazing gelato.

When class ended Noelle and I walked into the city to get our school books, much to Christiano's amazement, who was baffled by the idea of walking that far. On our way back home we grabbed some pizza and Coca-Cola (which by the way, like almost everything else, is far better over here) and then came home to do homework because, after all, we are STUDYING abroad.

This weekend we are planning a trip to Florence and Pisa with other people on the trip. We've had trouble booking the train tickets though, which is worrisome since we're leaving Saturday morning and already booked a hostel on the ocean called Camping Michelangelo. After giving up on that for the night, we went out for dinner, which to be honest, was kind of a let down. The pasta was something I could have easily made myself. We did stumble across a FANTASTIC gelataria called Old Bridge just outside of the Vatican City. The gelati and staff members were equally delicious so I give it two enthusiastic thumbs up. As we ate the gelato we headed to the Vatican to take in the sights at night sans millions of tourists which I would definitely recommend doing. Not only was it gorgeous but there was basically no one around. We listened to the bells toll at midnight and then made our way back to the Residence.

Ground-breaking stuff, I know. Nothing too big today went on as it was so unbearably hot but we did learn that if you just stare right back at the locals they eventually feel awkward and stop looking at you. No school tomorrow so I am just going to sit back, sip my wine, and listen to some country music. I've been on a weird country kick lately although I'm not quite sure why... maybe its my nationalism bubbling up in me or something now that I am in a foreign country. I will only be worried if this nationalistic spirit turns tourette-like. Buona Notte!

Obama. Da bears.

You have no right to health care.

Damn.

And 2 coins for a new love...

I had classes all day today but it made for yet another wonderful day in Rome. In Roman History today we met on Capitoline Hill. The hill is home to the epi-center of Archaic Rome and is representative of over four centuries of development and transition within the city. It was amazing to sit amongst the ruins and hear about how the ancient city came to be what it is today. Every now and again I can't help but reach out and touch all of the history around me. It has been here long before I was and it will remain long after I am gone.

We looked at huts and graves. Remains left behind by those that each had their own hand in history. It makes me think about life and how short it is in the grand scheme of things. Each of these people lived their lives in pursuit of happiness but I wonder what they found to be significant. Was it the work they were doing and the jobs they aspired to attain? Was it their families? Or was it, in the case of many of those that I know today, the pursuit of love and general happiness? We study the things that the Etruscans (as they were known between the 8th-3rd century BC) left behind but what does this really tell us about the people they were and what they believed to be important. Whatever those things were, one thing is for sure: they believed in honoring their loved ones when they passed away.

The experience was amazing and their is no other way to describe it. It was one of those days that makes you feel honored to be a part of the long history of the area.

On a lighter note, Noelle and I revisited the Trevi Fountain (as promised) and each tossed in two coins as per legend (see last post). We shall see. Here are some photos from the day:

On that note, I feel extremely blessed to be here and have the opportunity to experience everything I am seeing firsthand. It's late and I'm exhausted (and excited to see what tomorrow holds as my Italian class is taking a field trip to the market). Buona Notte!

Home is... that way?

Today was the second day of classes and I only had Italian, so despite some sleeping in, Noelle and I decided to venture into the city after school. We had no plan in particular but we knew that we wanted to explore so off we went.

9.7 miles later...

Greatest self-guided tour ever.

We left school and picked up a slice of pizza from the nearest Pizzeria and headed back through the Aurelian walls (which contain downtown Rome). We walked through the Piazza del Popolo and followed the road straight back to the Spanish Steps to snap a couple more photos and look around a bit more without a tour guide. As we took in the view, we couldn't help but ask ourselves what set these steps apart from any other. Yes, I admit they are beautiful to look at and certainly one of a kind, however, the amount of tourists that just plop down on and occupy them for hours make them an eye sore. I am hoping to revisit them for a third time on a day that is not quite as busy tourism-wise.

From there, we walked to the Trevi Fountain. As we approached the Piazza di Trevi, the sounds of splashing water filled the air. We came around the corner, coming face-to-face with the famous fountain. I was truly speechless (which is a miracle on its own if you know me). You hear about the fountain, see it in movies and snapshots on the internet but you cannot truly grasp the grandeur of it until you are close enough to smell the water. I honestly did not expect the fountain to be as large or detailed as it is in person. I threw a penny into the fountain, made a wish and savored the moment as the coin floated to the bottom. When we got home we were informed that according to Roman legend the number of coins you toss equates to the different types of luck you will receive:

1 coin-- Guarantees a return trip to Roma before you die.

2 coins--Guarantees a new love

3 coins--Guarantees marriage... or divorce haha

Looks to me like we'll be making a second trip to the fountain during our stay. I am hoping to take it in at night. I can't even fathom how gorgeous that would be.

Next, we stumbled (quite literally) upon the Holy Apostles' Basilica. Thank goodness for Noelle and her gate fetish or else we would have never taken notice of the incognito church, which from the outside looks like a glorified apartment building. Unfortunately, the church did not allow photography once inside. There was very low lighting in the church but it boasted about 12 of the most beautiful chapels off-shooting on each side of the equally magnificent church. Each of which had been built, cared for and passed down through generations of the same families for centuries. The one plaque read that it had been cared for by the family since 1494. The main altar boasts the entrance to the tombs for whom the church was built to honor: Phillip and James (the younger). Above the alter is a beautiful, 3-dimensional painting of the heavens opening up and angels falling from the sky. The painting is known as the Fall of the Rebellious Angels. I could not look away. It was amazing and terrifying all at once. This will sound a bit dramatic but it was the type of art that makes you have to hold on to a something to steady yourself as a reminder that it is inanimate. Here is a photo I found of it (although it in no way does it justice):

After spending an hour or so inside the church I left convinced that there could not be a more unbelievable building on this planet but I was incorrect.

Next, we accidentally headed into Ancient Rome and checked out the Forta d'Imporli, the Monumento a Victorio Emmanuel II and the Basilica of St. Mary of the Altar of Heaven. Unfortunately, I am getting a bit sleepy (It's almost 2 AM here) so here are some photos:

Forta d'Imporli:

Monumento a Victor Emmanuel II:

Basilica of St. Mary of the Altar of Heaven:

After all that we were EXHAUSTED and decided to call it a day with only one question left on our minds: Which way was home?

Planes, Trains... and Mercedes Taxis?

Day 1 (5/19/2011 to 5/20/2011):

I traveled from Erie to Philadelphia to Yardley to Newark to London to Rome.

Phew.

I get jet-lagged just typing that out. After 6 time zones, 3 flight delays, and an ill-fated passport incident, I have finally arrived in Roma. It has definitely been a learning experience to say the least. Upon arriving in Italy, we walked through the airport without a problem: flashed our passports, picked up our luggage (which all arrived safely, thank goodness) and breezed through customs. It was not until we were waiting for a taxi to campus that we realized that the passport agent did not stamp our passports. Brilliant. Three American girls who don't know a lick of Italian in a foreign country (illegally, now, at that). An hour and many games of charades later, we finally go the stamps we needed. Yay for being legal (never thought I would have the pleasure of saying that again) and being able to cross being an illegal immigrant off my bucket list.

When we got into the shuttle to the residence, we were looking forward to a nice relaxing ride. Instead, we got a Mercedes taxi and a driver that was apparently Dale Earnhardt in a past life.

So here I sit. Unpacked and clueless about the city that lies beyond the walls of my new apartment building. As my mother likes to remind me, the world is truly my oyster. Here goes nothing and everything all at the same time.

Scrive piu tarde! Ciao.

Va bene...

My first official post will be tomorrow. Until then, here is a photo of the sun peeking out from behind a cloud just after a storm in the Italian countryside. Bellezza, non?