Day 9

WOW! Where to start with our day in Rome? We woke up, left our hotel a little after 8:45, which was our goal time. We got the the train station, and ran to the 8:59 train to Rome, but it left early, so we missed it. We had to wait for the 9:41 train. So not only did we leave a little late, we had to wait another hour for another train. Oh well. We got on that train with no issues, and made it to Rome, getting off at the San Pietro (maybe St. Pietro? Ashleigh thinks that may be it). We walked towards the Vatican, and were planning on going through the plaza area outside of the Basilica, to the museum to buy our tickets, then start at the colloseum and work our way back. Well, apparently, we didn't know that the Pope speaks to the public on Wednesdays, so when we got there, he was outside the Basilica, talking under his white tent with the cardinals on his left, and speaking in either Italian or Latin. I would assume Italian, but I know the masses are sometimes spoken in Latin. It was such good luck that we got there and he was acutally outside too! I can now say that I have seen the Pope. I don't care how far away it was or how crowded it was there, I saw him, and heard him talk in person. It was really neat to say I was there. Well, we walked around the basilica, and we were planning on buying our tickets for the museum, but there were SO many people there this time because of the time of day (like 10:30) and the Pope was there, that we just wanted to get out of there. So off to the colloseum it was. We took a little bit finding the metro near the Vatican that can take us to the colosseum, but we found it. It was our turn leading for those who were there last year and this year. Last year we followed people who were experienced. But it all worked out.

We finally figured out the subway system and made it to the colosseum. Everyone seemed to be in better spirits once we stepped out of the station and saw the huge colosseum right across the street. I have to agree I love that it is right across from a modern day building like the metro station. We waited in line to get in, and once through the lines, we explored. It is always such a great sight to see, even when this was my second time seeing it. It is so cool to see something so old still standing strong, and to be standing in it. I really like seeing the holding areas that were under the fighting level. It just helps to remember the fights and the gladiators were real, and youare standing in a place where that happened (well not on the ground level, you can't go that far, but in essence you are there). You are standing in the crowd at a game. It is crazy.

We go outside of the Colosseum, and some of us were thirsty or had to pee (me). The ones who had not been to the Roman Forum where the ruins were went there, while the rest of us got food and drink and I tried to find a bathroom. Mental note, the Rome metro does not have a bathroom. I had to hold it for another two and a half hours. We met this guy from Tennessee who was backpacking across Europe by himself because his friends backed down but he had already bought his ticket. He said he was taking a flight or a train to Cairo the next day for four days. I thought that was so cool. I really want to go to Egypt some day. He was pretty funny. We heard his story about getting hit by a car the night before, and how he was on his fourth beer today and it was 12:30. Just a funny character.

Anyways, then we got on the subway and went to get off at a stop near the Trevi Fountain. We skipped three things. The Pyramid, which is the only pyramid in Europe, the Mouth of Truth which I had been to, and the Pantheon, again I have been to it. It was a shame we had to cut those things, and I really wish we could have gone again for everyone who hadn't been there yet. Oh well. Well, we got lost on our way to the Trevi fountain. Apparently the subway stop is not very close to the Trevi Fountain like we thought. We had to ask someone, and we were apparently going the wrong way. They took us the right way, but we realized they were taking us back to the Metro. So that did us no good. We finally found an Italian who spoke really good English, and she told us there really is no easy way to get there from the metro. We were right to get off where we got off, but she showed us a way to walk there from where were now, and that worked beautifully. We even got to walk past the president's house/castle. it was huge. Then, we made it to the fountain. It was hot, and very crowded; so much more crowded thn it was last year unfortunately. But, we all got our pictures, and then we needed to eat. We ate at this little mom and pop restaurant, and I had the rigatoni with bacon and cheese. I also had succi de fruta, ananas. It is pineapple juice. I needed some sugar, and it was delicious. We also got bread from our waitress, and that ended up charging us 9.60 extra. That is the most expensive bread I've ever eaten. And not even the best tasting.

We left there, and decided to cut out the Pantheon and the Spanish steps too. People were getting tired, and frustrated, and time was running out, so we went to the metro so that we could just go ahead to the Vatican. When we got there and walked to the museum, I turned the corner and saw these huge doors closed. I had a pit in my stomach. I was going to ask a worker at the exit what time they closed, but someone else beat me to it. He said they closed already. I asked what time and he said 4:00. One of the people in the group said they looked it up and it was 7:00, so we thought we were safe. But I felt horrible because all day we were saying that we wanted to see the Vatican, and now we couldn't go in. I was worried people would be mad at me for leading them poorly or for not knowing the times. But, we walked around to St. Peter's Basilica, and once inside I knew it made people feel better too. It was so nice to be back in the Basilica again. I love it so much; everything is so ornate and beautiful. It makes you proud to be Catholic, proud to be a part of something so beautiful and sacred as this cathedral. I went to the back of the cathedral to check on their mass times. They had started mass jut like last time we were there, and I walked in and took Communion for the second time in the Basilica. I was very excited to do that. It reminds me of how important my religion is to me, and the roots of my religion. It really makes me proud to be a Catholic. I find myself going back to old routines, like getting Holy Water and blessing myself with it when entering the cathedral, and genuflecting when leaving the mass. I loved it all.

When we left, we went to the Post Office again, and I mailed two post cards, and bought four more. Two addresses I didn't have, so I will just give them to the people. They even have the stamps on them and everything, so they will never know. We walked back out of the Vatican, and shopped at the vendors and stores right outside of it. I bought three rosaries, one shot glass, three shirts for ten, a cheap little italy flag, and a cameo ring which I LOVE. Wee were all in better spirits for sure. Then, we split. The people who did not want to go to Hard Rock left for Civitavecchia, and the ones that wanted to go to Hard Rock left for the metro. It was Heather, Tiffany, Andy, Steven, Kylene, Emily, and myself at Hard Rock. Craig Cobain and his mother, Ashleigh, Mara, Jessica, Kaitlyn, and Jordan went ahead without us. It worked out pretty well. We got to Hard Rock in no time, got our things we needed (I got a shot glass and shirt for me, then a shirt for Bryce and a pin for his dad upon requests, then a shirt for dad for his birthday. I know, it was a lot, but it was either requests, or birthday presents, or something from me because I don't have anything Hard Rock. After that we were wiped, just like we had been all day. We took the metro to Termini, and took the train from there to Civitavecchia. We were literally running to our train as soon as we got into the station from the metro. We had seven minutes until the train left. We got there with a few minutes to spare. It was very lucky. We got back at around 10:00, grabbed paninis and water at the little gelateria at the corner. I had tuna and tomato with mayo, or tonno pomodoro with maionese. It is my favorite thing. I also got some lemon tea, and their tea here in Italy is SO good. Light and refreshing, not too sweet or filling. It is so good! We met Ashleigh up at the gelato place (another one) along the strip after Steven got his Cannoli, and we got gelato. I was going to get lemon ice and strawberry gelato (Granuita di lemone and fragola) but the guy convinced me to get lime instead of lemon. I mean it was like a strawberry limeade in gelato form. It was good. Then, we came back upstairs, and here we are.

I am so so tired right now. I didn't want to write this blog, but I pushed myself too. Plus, Ashleigh is my roommate and she likes falling asleep to me typing. It is similar to me and my fan obsession at bed. Well, tomorrow is market in the morning, then a dclass with a guest artist, and then whatever we want. We are eating dinner with Caterina and some of the Italian dancers I would assume. Can't wait! It seems like only yesterday that we got here! Crazy how time flies. Well, Ciao for now!