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On Monday we started our normal classes again. In my 428 class we presented in groups a brand's ad from a list he gave us and then it's competitor's ad. And then we basically just analyzed them. That's pretty much all we do in this class is analyze ads. Gets pretty monotonous. Oh well. In tom's class he talked more about Italian culture and then gave us our group projects. I'm in a group with mostly my roommates since it's easier that way because we all live together. In our project we have to pick a U.S. ad that we want to bring to Italy and have to develop a campaign for it. For our U.S. ad we show redbox because Italians are always out and at the grocery store so it would be really convenient for them. Then, we have to choose an Italian brand that we want to bring to the U.S. and develop a campaign for that. For the Italian brand we chose the Alfa Romeo car company. Most of you probably don't know it, but it's an Italian luxury car but it's also small and efficient. I thought it would be good to bring to the U.S. since gas prices are so high and people are starting to think about buying energy efficient cars and this would be that but it's also a luxury car that's really pretty.

Earlier in class we received a handout that a teaching assistant made last year that named some good nighttime places to go to n Rome. Me and trista decided we wanted to check out one from the list that night so we did some research and found this bar called Stairs. A bunch of other peope came with us however, when we got to where it was supposed to be, it wasn't there! We seriously couldn't find it. We walked all around the area, and even when we asked people where it was they pointed as back to where we were however it was just this mystery place. We eventually gave and ended up going to a different place we saw when walking around trying to find Stars. It was still a really fun night. A couple days later, Edgar told us he thought it closed down. Woops….oh well.

On Wednesday, we had our last tour of the Vatican. To make things clear, the Vatican/Vatican City is it's own country within Italy. The main church of Italy/world and where the pope gives mass is called St. Peter's Basilica after the first so called pope. In the morning we had the option of going to the morning mass where the pope would say a few lines in a bunch of different languages outside in front of the church. I decided not to go because I had already seen him inside the church last time I was here and I really wanted to get some sleep. So me and a couple of other people who didn't go went to the Vatican later on to meet up with everyone for our tour. We first started in the Vatican museums. I remember looking around and thinking, I remember everything from last time! I thought it was pretty cool that I was getting to see this stuff for a second time. We saw a bunch of old artwork dating back to 50 b.c. (??) , ancient floors, some pretty cool statues and the Raphael rooms which were amazing. Before the rooms were a museum it used to be where the Pope lived! I can't believe they got to live in these ornate rooms. It's all frescos which is different from painting on the wall because you apply the ink and let it set and it's a more complicated process but basically the painting becomes the wall. Pretty cool. After the Raphael rooms we finally got to go to St. Peter's. This blog photo is inside St. Peter's.

When I first walked in I was overtaken with the sight. Even though I had been here before I was just as amazed, if not more than the last time. It's one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. I would have to say I am more impressed with St. Peter's than the Colosseum. It's just so surreal inside! As we walked in they were having mass so there was a choir singing right as we entered and it made it even more holy than it already is. I'm not very religious but I felt like I was being inside of there. After walking around for a bit, we got kicked out because apparently big groups aren't allowed in after 4:30 because they have mass. However, me and a couple of people plan to go back and climb the basilica because we definitely didn't have enough time in there.

After, a couple of us decided to get Chinese food since we were STARVING. My asian roommates recommended a place they had found so we went there and the food was soooo good. What was even better was it was really cheap! I'm definitely going back there some time. Best asian food I've had in awhile. And it was a nice break from all the carbs and pasta I've been eating. Overall, it was a very successful and wonderful day. I can't wait to go back to St. Peter's.