Rome, Italy

Friday, November 9 - Sunday, November 11, 2012

ROME! They might not have built Rome in one day, but Kacey, Meghan, Sam, Tiffany, Alice, Cody, Fan, and I tried to trek it in two. Friday night we did the city in my favorite style: light up by the night. The Coliseum did not disappoint, though the street vendors tried to. Nonetheless, we admired the ancient structure just to turn and appreciate another piece of ancient Rome. To the right of the Coliseum we walked past the Arch of Constantine and Roman Forum en route to the Trevi fountain. While I won’t tell you my wish, I will tell you the fountain was more beautiful than I imagined it.

St. Peter's Squar

Saturday morning we went to Vatican City! It was so exciting to finally go to the place I’ve learned about since such a young age as a Catholic. Contrary to tourist websites and tips from friends, we saved 70 Euros by waiting in line for St. Peter’s Basilica instead of purchasing a skip the line ticket and tour. After only waiting about an hour, we stepped into the church of all churches. My favorite part of the church were the doors which are only open on Jubilee years; I pictured my grandma walking through this very door frame 12 years ago… I wish she were with me to marvel at the beauty of the basilica (see you soon!). It was so amazing to walk around a church with so much history. I pictured the full pews during a mass said by the pope, who lived just a few hundred yards away in an apartment that was pointed out to us. While I left Rome with not enough time to go to wait in line to attend mass in St. Peter’s, I made due by marveling at the intricate decorations of Santa Maria Maggiore on Sunday morning. After walking far too fast through the upper church we walked downstairs to the crypts and out of the lower exit of the basilica. Next, we hiked over 500 steps to the Cupola, or dome, of St. Peter’s Basilica. The view of Vatican City was incredible as was the surrounding Roman buildings.

Recharged after dining at Nova Café, we went to the Vatican museum. The history, sculptures, mosaics, and frescoes which filled and covered every inch of every hallway were incredible. Appropriately, it was in the Sistine Chapel that I finally took my first real breath of the day. While oohing Michaelangelo’s artistry, his ability to paint such a large ceiling awed me… my neck hurt just from looking up for twenty minutes! Our long day of touring concluded with a night at the Spanish Steps and an inadverdant trip to the first, and to my eyes largest, McDonalds in Italy.

Though we saw the Coliseum lit up at night on Friday, Sunday we toured the old stomping ground of gladiators and lions. The arena was both smaller and larger than I expected: while I felt that I covered the structure quickly, I silently calculated the noise decibel and personality the crowd which sat years prior produced. Drizzling rain subsided for our time in the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill and we were able to enjoy a rainbow which painted the sky behind the ancient ruins.



Though the rain returned for our final stop, the Pantheon, prior to catching a train home, I was really happy it was raining because I was able to discover that the hole at the top of the ceiling has no covering. The area underneath the large skylight was marked off to prevent people from slipping in the rain which dropped from the sky to the floor of the ancient of the church initiated by Caesar Augustus. Leaving the Pantheon, Alice, Cody, Sam and I trudged through a monsoon and made it to the train station just to board a train which for once was not delayed, but instead, took an hour and four minutes longer to reach Milan. …And the Italian trains disappoint again!