After arriving in Rome, we made it to our hostel without a problem and then met up with some friends of my roommate's who are studying in Rome this semester. At first, the vibe I got from the city didn't seem too far off from the feel of Spain but that all changed as soon as we walked a little further and were able to delve into the Colosseum and the ruins of the ancient city of Rome. We splurged a little and took the guided tour of the Colosseum in order to avoid the seemingly never-ending line to get in and in the end it was definitely worth it as we got to hear a lot about the bloody history of the Colosseum and the story behind all of the ruins left by the ancient Roman Empire and all of the emperors in succession, which was really cool. From there, we continued on to see the Trevi Fountain and I got to toss in a coin to make a wish, supposedly that means I'm destined to return to Rome which is fine by me! We also got some real Italian gelato and saw the Pantheon and the Spanish Steps which were a nice vantage point from which to take in the view of the city.
The Colosseum: from blood thirsty gladiators to blood thirsty tourists
View from the inside
Nameless ruins left by the Roman Empire
Part of the arch built in honor of one of the numerous Roman conquests of the ancient world
Tossin' my euro cent into the Trevi Fountain! Just like Lizzie McGuire..where's my Paolo?
The Madrid crew on the Spanish Steps, how fitting.
On Saturday, we woke up early to get to the Vatican before the crowds got really big. We waited in line to go into St. Peter's Basilica, which was HUGE and very pretty. When we walked out, it was actually pretty hot outside and we were famished, so we opted for some pizza and gelato, which was a fabulous decision. We sat and ate in one of the local piazzas (plazas) and people watched for awhile while taking in the heat of the Mediterranean sun. After getting our fill (temporarily) of Italian cuisine, we walked around and wound up at the Borghese Park, a huge park filled with locals perfect for a little nap in the sun or people watching at one of the cafes, both of which we managed to fit in before it started to get dark.
The Vatican
Inside St. Peter's Basilica
Fun fact: those letters on the ceiling are 7 feet tall
List of all the Popes from St. Peter to JPII..I think you have to die first to get on there, so really Benedict should be happy he's not on there yet.
Park Borghese
Do as the Romans do..
Sunday morning, we woke up and walked to the Tremini train station to catch the trenItalia to Florence where we were going to meet up with my friend Anna Marchio from high school who is studying there. After a few separations and missed train stations (not by me this time!!), we all managed to meet up at our hostel early that afternoon. Although the cold and rainy weather was less than ideal, we decided we would walk around, get some food and take in the sights of the city. We saw the Duomo, which is a beautiful cathedral in the center of the city and just took in the vibe of a much smaller Italian city with an old friend to show us all the hot spots.
Il Duomo
Alternate view
Night out in Florence..at a Mexican bar
(only after finishing a dinner consisting of the best pasta I've ever had)
Monday morning, we woke up to a much unexpected glorious day filled with sunshine, a much better atmosphere to enjoy the beautiful city of Florence. We started the day with pastries and a cappuccino and headed down along the river and hiked it up the hill to the Piazza Michelangelo where we had an amazing view of the river, the Ponte Vecchio (famous bridge), and the entirety of Florence. After that, we went to this market that takes place in the center of the city where you can get really good deals on clothes, accessories and Italian leather to your heart's content...and dismay of your shrinking wallet. I tried to stay strong but I did end up getting a pretty good bargain on a pair of sunglasses, a scarf, and a purse, all made in Italy! That makes it okay, right?? Ah well, when in Rome..or Florence!
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| Ponte Vecchio Fun Fact: this is the only bridge in the city that wasn't bombed during WWII |
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| Florence from Piazza Michelangelo |
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| A tad sunny... |
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| A little better...CDH goes to Florence- Kenzie, Anna, and Myself |
That night, we took the train back to Rome so we could catch our flight in the morning back home to Madrid! After all that traveling, I was really looking forward to some rest and relaxation. Unfortunately, that little winter break they gave us was actually intended to be a study break, as we have midterms today and tomorrow. Who knew the "study" part of Study Abroad was supposed to be a real concept?? In which case, I have four tests then right after my last one, I have a bus to catch to Barcelona for the weekend. Looks like sleep will have to wait until next week, wish me luck!!
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