Rome Recap

June 13-17

More detail to come...

June 13

Took our first test today and then ate, rode our bikes home and then rode to the train station in cambridge. Today was soo hot and I was definately glowing like a pig by the time I arrived at the station. We bought round trip tickets to Stansted, the nearest airport to cambridge, also the nearest servicer of Ryanir(discount airline). Our flight left at 5:30. and we arrived in Rome at 8:30. a 2 hour flight but you have to factor in the one hour time change. On the flight I ate my pack dinner, journaled, and mostly tried to avoid eye contact with this Italian girl who was litterally staring t me.  I felt very uncomfortable by it, especially since her entire body was turned around so she could look at me.  I even tried to put my sunglasses on as a way of saying, 'Dont stare, I can't be bothered now', but homegirl proceeds to mimic me and put her glasses on as well. Mind you she is not a child she is 12 or so.  I finally gesture to her a game of tic tac toe, which she smiles and refused, whatever.

 We arrived at the airport, and took a 40 minute bus ride courtesy of telavision from the airport to the Termeni train staion in rome, which convienently our hostel was near.  All 12 of us got euros out of the ATM there and then proceeded to walk to our hostel.  When we got there the lobby was tiny!  We barely all fit, ridiculouslness.  It ended up that 6 f u could stay in that hostel site and 6 others had to go around the corner to another building owned by the hostel.  James, Kacie, Rebecca, Laura, Jennifer and myself ended up going to the other site and I was happy with that decision.  James and Kacie split a room with 3 ther boys and the 4 of us girls had our own room.  There was a lounge area between the so we mostly hungout there before we left to go places and after we got back from some.

That night we all went to a nearby resturant.  Rebeccan and I decided to split an appetizer, some tomato bruchetta.  In American, I expect a couple pieces of bruchetta t come out, well in or case it was only one measly piece and we had already agreed to share it, over 1.5 euro a piece for that shrimpy thing!

At midnight Kacie turned 20 so James arranged for the waiter to bring out some Tiramisu for her.  Well at 12 the lights started to flicker and I assumed that ment it was time  to get out of there, but then a piece of tiramisu came out complete with 4 sparklers on the corners.  It was so cool!!!  We all sang and tried a bite.  A really cool first night in Rome.

June 14

Today was our first real day in rome.  We woke up and treked to the main part of the hostel for breakfast.  It was chocolate crisonants and fruit juice, yumo(not really) but i ate it gladly.  The 6 of us headed out to the Palentine Hill, where the old roman forum is.  We walked from our hostel which is a fair distance but it was nice to see the city and the hustle/bustle.  The Palentine hill was cool. There were ruins everywhere in rome but especially there since there has been extensive excavations.  However when they are in a ruined condition it is hard t tell what you re looking at.  After we finished the hill we headed literally across the road to the Colosseum.  We ate lunch right outside the metro stop.  we all had pizza and a soda.  I had a salami pizza and a coke light!  Greasy but good.  Then it was Gladiator time.  I Kept trying to picture Russel and Joaquin fighting on the arena floor and what it would have looked like in its glory day.  All outside the Colosseum were 'Roman Soldiers' who wanted 5 euro to pose in pictures with you.  We must have delcined 8 times it got old fast.  Besides most f there outfits looked like something I could pick up at Toys R US.  After the Colosseum we headed back to the hostel for dinner(which came included).  Pasta and salad, nothing fancy, but it satisfied.  That night was a lot of fun.  We went first to the Spanish Steps, where a lot of people chill, and drink and talk.  We looked at all the vendorsof knock of dolce and prada, bags, belts, etc.  I do wish I would have bought a bag now.  They were soooo Cheap.  Anyway, after we did the Spanish steps we walked to the trevi Fountain, which I believe is one of the most goregeous things I have seen.  It reminded me of a water park or something.  I just had the biggest urge t jump in it.  anyway we hung out there, threw our coins in and suddly I see this man in the fountain.  And he has a ring in his hand.  The woman he was with is flipping out!  She jumps into the fountain(takes her shoes off first) and goes to hi.  now these peeps might be fourty and are alll dressesd up fancy.  So she meets him in the middle of the Trevi fountain where he kneel and asks her.  She says YES and all 100 peeps or so cheer for the couple.  Now the ring was HUGE.  I was blinded from where i was sitting.  The whole time I thought someone was going to rob them or she was going to lose it in the bottom of the fountain.  Anyway It was definalty one of the most romantic gestures I have seen.  As James put it 'That guy is a baller.'

TO BE CONTINUED