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I just got back from the best travel break yet. My parents came to visit and we were in Rome for Easter weekend, and it was indescribably amazing. Honestly, I cant even begin to express how relaxing, fun, and beautiful it really was.
After a 5 hour long ride while sitting next to a screaming crying baby, I finally arrived in Rome. I had 2 bags with me; one roller and the other was an extremely heavy bag that I had to carry on my shoulder...which had pretty much half of my room to go back with my parents. It was definitley a sight to see me trying to haul this around. You can imagine how happy I was to see my dad after I felt I was going to drown in my own sweat. I walked into the hotel and couldn't beleve my eyes. It was GORGEOUS. I felt so out of place...it was NOTHING like the 8 person bed dirty hostels I've been staying at. haha.
We spent the rest of the afternoon just walking around and getting our bearings. We went to the Pantheon, which was pretty cool. While we were walking my dad was telling me a story about my mom on the flight over here. Apparantly she had 2 glasses of wine and then took an Ambien, and the effects were not so suttle. She started hallucinating, and at one point thought my dad had 4 eyes...and she couldnt figure out why they would let animals on the plane. It was hysterical. I was seriously in tears laughing so hard.
When we reached Piazza Novana, we had a little bit of time to kill before dinner so we sat down outside and had a bottle of wine. There was a lot of action in front of us, including a kid playing the accordion and singing. My mom and I thought it was the Italian version of American Idol...
Dinner was quite an experience too. It was a quaint little place where we got to sit outside to enjoy our authentic Italian meal. Man, the food was really good. Then after that we walked around a little more, tried some Gelato, and then found this place from the Fodor's book on Rome. This bar was labeled "Fodor's Choice", so we just HAD to go. It was on top of a Hotel Raphael, and overlooked the Rome skyline. It was pretty neat to have a glass of wine overlooking the Vatican.
The next morning we had our private tour of the Vatican. When we arrived with our tour guide, there was a line that would probably have taken us 6 hours to get through. Luckily, we got to cut the entire line and go right in. For the next 3 hours we were emmersed in more history than I think I have learned in my entire education. It really made me want to learn more about Rome and history in general. We saw the Vatican museum, the Sistine Chapel, Pope John Paul II's tomb, St. Peter's tomb, and St. Peters Basillica. I can't even attempt to describe the overwhelming feelings I had and the utter amazement that took my breath away during my visits to these places. You just have to experience it for yourself.
When our tour was finished, we walked around some more. We walked up and down the main shopping area, and even got in a couple purchases. Fendi, Prada, Ferragamo, Gucci, MaxMara, etc just FILLED the streets. Prettttty amazing.
We made our way to the Spanish Steps admist the crowds. Outside on the bottom there was a group of guys probably around my age who were visibly intoxicated singing and waving their Portugese flag. They were having a great time attracting the crowds, and at one point they made a human pyrimid, and then proceeded to go a congo line around the entire place. It was definitley entertainment.
That night we had dinner at a place that the concierge recommended. It sat below the ruins of a Roman theatre (I cant remember the name). It was such a cool atmosphere because you were literally sitting underneath where this theatre was standing a LONG time ago, and all around you were rocks that made it seem cave-like. Not to mention the food was to die for, once again.
Then came the most eventful part of the trip thus far. We walked to Campo Di Fiori, and sat down at a cafe outside to have a bottle of wine. We positioned ourselves to people watch out on the Piazza because there was a TON of action in that area. We watched the couple across by the fountain going at it so much that we probably would have PAID for them to get a hotel room, we clearly indicated who the Americans were with their style of clothing, etc.
At one point this street vendor came over to try and sell my dad flowers or something, and when he refused he grabbed his hand and started massaging it. My dad was trying to say no, but it was too late. This guy was on a mission, massaging and cracking every single joint in my dad's hands. My mom and I were dying laughing. What started with the hand, turned into the shoulders, neck, head, etc. This guy was literally going at it massaging my dad. He cracked his neck, and at one point he unbuttoned my dad's top button and started messing up his hair while he was working. I couldnt help but laugh to tears. The people around us were just staring, and the guys next to us were laughing and making fun of the fact I was snorting and coughing. I couldnt help it...it was probably the funniest thing I have ever seen. And my dad didnt seem to care...this guy apparantly was really good at what he was doing. The only thing my dad wishes was different was the person. So we'll just pretend it was some hot Italian woman.
We were at that place until 1:00am, but time just flew. We even witnessed a bunch of American college students who were so drunk that at one point one of the girls puked in the middle of the Piazza. We were watching like hawks just waiting for someone to step on it, and eventually I was lucky enough to witness a couple people doing it.
When we left we walked to the Taxi stand, and there was a LONG line. We waited nearly 45 minutes to get to the front of the line. When we were finally up there at the front, these 3 Norweigan guys cut in front of us and were going to jump a taxi right in front of us. My dad looks at them and says "no, no, no". They started talking to my dad and I honestly thought there was gonna be some sort of fight or something. Good thing my dad's a lover not a fighter. At one point my dad says, "Look guys, I love Norweigans. Don't change my mind...and don't push me on this one" in a very cool and calm manner. I think this was the deciding factor, and the guys finally walked away. If they had tried to jump in a cab before us I would have jumped right in front of them. I was ready I tell ya. haha.
What an eventful night, huh?
The next mornign we woke up, had another wonderful brunch at the hotel, and headed off to Easter mass. We went to Santa Maria Vittoria church which was right next to our hotel, and it was an extremely beautiful hotel. It holds a very famous sculpture of St. Theresa in there, although I cant remember the meaning of it. Anyways, after an hour of Italian mass and not knowing what was being said, we were off to a sightseeing tour. We hopped on one of those buses where you can sit on the open roof, and it stopped at each major attraction with a guided audio. It lasted 2 hours, and we realized it didnt stop at the Colliseum (the only place we really WANTED to go) on holidays. OH well, it was fun anyways!
That night we made a reservation at the hotel restaurant for Easter. We got to dress up, and it was nice to wear heels and not have to worry about walking for once. The place we ate at was extremely nice and fancy. THey served a 5 course meal, and the food was easily the best food I have had since being here. I felt like a princess...seriously.
We were so full at the end that we had to walk around for about an hour at midnight to walk off some of the food. Needless to say we slept well that night.
Monday was a short day...because I had to leave at about 1pm. We ate breakfast once again, and then walked around a little bit more. We walked up the richest street in Rome, and it felt like Rodeo Drive in California. At the end of it we discovered a wideopen park which was beautiful. The only weird thing that we noticed, however, was that noone was running. Usually you see people run in parks, and there was no sign of this anywhere. WEIRD.
Not much else to say. I got on my train and had to say goodbye to the parents. It was sad doing so. I know I only had 2 1/2 weeks left, but it was so nice to see them and spend time with them. It made me miss home a lot...and helped me to look forward to going home and seeing my family and friends. I had one of the best weekends of my life this past weekend...and will forever hold it in my memory. I love my family!!!!
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