Rome

Hola!

Okay, so this Rome blog is well overdue (as my mom informed me), but I’ve been running around quite a bit here.

Anyway, Rome was absolutely beautiful and I saw as much as I could feasibly see in three days time.

We were fortunate to have a lovely unofficial tour guide in Becky, who is a friend of Angie (the girl I traveled with) and currently studying in Rome. She took us around and explained some of the archeological sites that are casually nestled in the midst of buildings that are way older than anything in the U.S., but still rather “new” for Europe.

Our first afternoon was mostly confused until we met up with Becky, who we followed like helpless ducklings trail a mother duck. We went to mass at a cathedral I can’t currently remember the name of (okay, there are about 900 cathedrals in Rome, we should be proud if I remember any of them).

Afterwards, we were directly across from the Holy Stairs and so we went in and climbed them. Just so you know, you have to climbed the stairs on your knees (you know, because the Catholics love penitence). My poor Protestant-raised knees were in quite a bit of pain as we ascended the well-worn wood stairs. At bit of background for you: The Holy Stairs are the marble stairs Jesus climbed on his way to be condemned by Pontius Pilate. They were brought to the city by Saint Helen and covered in wood and are now climbed by Christian pilgrims. The observer in me couldn’t help but look around at everyone else (which is probably frowned upon) and I found it absolutely fascinating to watch people. Everyone moving at their own pace, some solemn face, some praying, some ready to just be done with climbing on their knees (I may have fit into this category. Just maybe.)

The next day we saw the Pantheon and Spanish Steps and I insisted that when Angie and I visited the Colosseum and Forum, we take a guided tour. It definitely made both locations worth venturing into (as otherwise there are no markers or explanations). I’ll spare you the (literally) gory details, as I’m sure you’ve heard some of them repeatedly. On the tour we met a lovely mother-daughter duo who was venturing through Italy and were fascinated by our studying abroad. Our tour guide for the Forum was an American woman who had studied abroad in Rome and loved it so much that she eventually moved there.

The following morning we ventured to St. Peter’s Basilica for morning mass. As is my custom, I had to somehow unintentionally cause trouble. When the priest we knew who worked there took everyone through a door where little tourists are never supposed to venture unescorted, I, however, missed the door and got stuck on the other side. After fiddling for several moments with the latch, I managed to get into the hallway where an Italian guard sprang up and inquired as to what exactly I thought I was doing. As I shot down the hallway I chirped, “I’m with the group!” Eventually the priest explained that it was okay and I was with him, but not before the whole group took notice of my rather loud reentrance.

I could probably go on and on but I’ll stop by telling you that after wandering around the Vatican we got blood orange gelato and it may have been one of the most wonderful things I have ever eaten.

I hope you’re all enjoying yourselves and I apologize for the delay of this entry (I currently have a visitor).

Love,

Natalie