From Journal: written on October 15th (Tuesday)

So I didn't have a chance to write last night, but now (sitting directly in front of the Trevi Fountain on a gorgeous night) seems like a good time to recap...

I slept at Nikki's on Saturday night and we woke up early to go to pass at the Vatican. We walked along the walls of the Vatican until we finally reached St. Peters Square. It was a sight to see! I saw a million videos at Villa about the Vatican and St. Peters, but I never actually think I would see it in person! It was amazing! We waited in line to get into the Basilica until we finally got inside and ended up having to stand for mass. Even though I couldn't understand a good 90% of the mass because it was in Latin, it was still enjoyable and quite and experience. I even got communion. Mom-I got communion at the Vatican. That has to renew me of all sins or something lol. Just kidding. But how cool is it to say that I have gotten mass at the Vatican!?

After mass we walked outside into St. Peters Square just in time for the Pope to do his daily prayer with the people. So, not only did I get communion at the Vatican, I saw the Pope and shared a prayer with him! My batteries in my camera ended up dieing, so I went and bought new ones and then me and Nikki went back inside the Basilica to take more pictures both inside the Basilica and outside of the square. The Basilica is gorgeous! It isn't too gawdy, but elegant enough to truly be deemed a treasure. I can't put into words how beautiful the church is, it is something you really must go see.

We went back to Nikki's apartment and dropped of some clothes because it was getting hot and then went out for some sight seeing. We started off at Piazza de Popolo (the Piazza of the People). Its center is a huge egyptian obolisque with two identical churches on either side of it. The via del corso runs between the two churches and is the main shopping area for the majority of Rome. While in the Piazza we ran into the temple crew, and planned to meet for dinner later on that night. Me and Nikki continued on by ourselves and stoped next at the Spanish Steps. I honestly didn't find anything really exciting about the Spanish Steps. I can appreciate the history of how it was basically the barrier and entrance to the hispanic district in ancient rome, but other than that...they are just stairs.

We then walked to the Trevi fountian, which I think is one of my favorite, if not my favorite thing in Rome. The architecture is so masculine and so powerful looking, yet so incredibly elegant and peaceful. You could be experiencing any emotion and you would be able to see it or feel it when you went and sat at the fountian. Nikki and I did the touristy coin throw in the fountian for good luck and then shopped along via de corso for a while. After shopping for a while we headed back to her apartment where I packed up my stuff and went back to the hostel with the rest of the Temple kids (Brian, Katie, Erin, Heather and Madeleine).

The temple kids and I all went to dinner at some hole in the wall resturant where we got traditional italian food (pasta) and then some gelato (which by the way is the most amazing desert ever when made correctly). We hung out at the Trevi fountain later that night and and ended up going back to the hostel late at night.

This morning (tuesday) I woke up earlier than everyone else and went to the Musei Vatican (Vatican Museum) by myself. The line was 2 hours long and spanned the majority of the Vatican wall. I met a cute old couple from Conn. so that helped to pass the time a little bit. Once inside the museum I spent a good hour or so inside. I saw some old christian art from Micholangelo and Raphel and some interesting religious relics. There were a lot of ancient roman and greek statues and a lot of paintings of Pope Pius (I forget which one exactly). Eventually after walking through a million rooms with painted ceilings, I finally got to the one I really wanted to see....the Sistine Chapel. If I only saw one thing in Rome and the Sistine Chapel was it, I think I would still be happy. It is just and incredible siglt to see and something that can't ever be duplicated because of its magnificance and pricelessness. I could have staired at that ceiling for hours (I can now understand how Micholangelo almost went blind painting it). I know I am not a really religious person, but you almost wonder how this chapel doesn't convert people, it is that breathtaking. The Sistine Chapel is the one thing I could talk about for hours, but never fully be able to explain in words that do it justice.

When walking out of the museum I ran into the rest of the temple kids standing in line. I had wanted to go to Pompeii in the afternoon, but the unexpectedly long line put that thought out of my mind. I went shopping while the rest of the temple kids stood in line at noon. I almost felt bad for them. They weren't going to be able to see half of what I had seen because they all slept in. We were all in Italy for the first time...don't you want to see things?? Oh well, not my problem. While Shopping I ended up buying my big purchace for my trip...a real italian leather jacket. Made in Italy, I got it on sale, and I am in love with it!

That night I met Nikki for a real Italian dinner in Piazza Nuvea where I had the best meal of my life. I ended up having a mixed cheese appetizer and then pasta for dinner and to top it off the best tartufo of my life! It was worth the almost 40 euros I spent on it lol. After the lovely dinner with my roomie I said goodbye to her for good and then went to the Trevi fountian where I am currently writing this journal entry. I was interupted half way through by a cute old Italian man who thought I was writing a book.lol. He spoke very broken english, but we ended up talking about films and rome for a good half hour.

I love how media seems to be the one thing that everyone can relate to. Whether is be Jon in london, the german girls we met in Paris, or this old man I met at the Trevi fountian, everyone can relate to movies and music. They are truly universal equalizers. I love being in a field that can transcend cultures like that.

Roma as a whole was actually a really dirty city compared to Paris and London, but it was still sooo pretty. I would love to go back to Italy again. The atmosphere and food and life of Italy is just so much more alive and vibrant than in London or Paris and it makes you love the city so much more. Paris you can't help but love, Italy you love because you just do.

Tomorrow we take a train to Florence which should be fun. Im going to bed now though, so until then, goodnight and love always!