FB: Rome

FALL BREAK part three:

Yeah Roma! I loved Rome. We got to Rome by train from Florence [much better than the last train trip we took]. It took four hours so we got to Rome by 1pm. Funny thing though; towards the end of our train ride Whit and I got to talking, and then instead of looking to see which terminal we were at [cause at that time we were suposed to be at the right one] we just got off the train. But we were definately at the wrong stop, Whit asked a guy where we were in English, and he looked at us and was like "The Roma Termina is the next one", and we're like "crap!" So we run back to the train, which already had closed its doors, and by some miracle they opened back up [we still don't really know why] and we, along with another misplaced girl, got back on the train cracking up.

After that, we found our hostel pretty easily [Michelangelo's Palace]. When we first arrived there was this boy there that we heard saying "Sap-on-et-a, sap-on-et-a" over and over again laughing. When he finally comes out, he's like, "You know what saponeta is where your from? America?" we're like "uh, no, we have no idea what saponeta is". He was like "you want to see? I'll show you." He proceeds to tell us about how he has made a mess for the cleaner woman, but it's better this way because it will be cleaner, and so-on and so-on. Turns out he had sloshed a bunch of soapy water all over the bathroom floor. LOL. It was so funny, we passed the girl that was mopping it up and she gave him the nastiest look ever. And he continued doing the "Sap-on-et-a" chant. Funny.

So after showering in freezing cold water [it was that way for the entire time we were there!...oh that sucked]...we went and walked around for some food. We started towards what we thought would end up going to the Trevi Fountains, but instead we were really going towards the Roman Forum [old ruins] and the Colosseum.

On the way there we saw some sort of changing of the guards for Italy. There was a band and two different groups. It was pretty cool. When we made it to the Colosseum, we took the last English tour and heard all about the history it.

Then we really headed towards the Trevi Fountains. These were so great! Absolutely beautiful.

http://www.abcroma.com/Fontanatrevi2.jpg

While we were sitting there we noticed one of the couples that had been right in front of us when we climbed the Duomo bell tower in Florence; I took a picture for them. Both Whit and I threw coins over our shoulder into the fountain; apparently when you do that it assures that you will come back [shrug] we’ll see. I’m not opposed to that at all!

After sitting at the fountains [and being annoyed by the stupid men that try to sell you all sorts of crap!], we made our way to the Spanish Steps [famous for an Audrey Hepburn movie and because John Keats used to write there].

Friday Whit and I completely exhausted ourselves. We woke early and took the freakin cold showers. Then, after some breakfast and latte we went to the Palatine, because with our Colosseum tickets we could get in free. It was a bunch of ruins, but they were really cool. “The Palantine Hill” was really relaxing to walk through and just take in the view and everything. After that we walked forever to the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel…..WOW! How incredible. We saw Michelangelo’s “Pieta”

http://www.bkae.hu/~rhegedu/Vallasszociologia/Pieta%20(Michelangelo).jpg

and then saw his fresco work in the Sistine Chapel [the wonderful ceiling and the wall of the Last Judgement]. We also saw two frescos by Botticelli on the walls and walked through a great contemporary/modern art exhibit.

Saturday we did not do to much, yet got a lot accomplished…or something. We did three major things: the Pantheon, the catacombs (Priscillas) and the Pietza Navono (or something like that).

We did the Pantheon first, and although I was impressed, I have to admit that there are cooler things out there [shrug]. But we got sandwiches and ate them on the stairs here and met two other girls that are from the US but studying in London and were also on their fall break, so that was cool [it’s always cool to meet up with English speaking people when you’re in a non-English speaking country].

Then we walked and shopped and bought a few things and then decided to head towards the Catacombs. So we walked and walked and walked and walked. It was the longest walk ever! [the catacombs weren’t even on our little touristy map!]. But when we finally got there [like 2 hours later], there was an English guide and then we ate pizza on our way back.

We then went the the Navono place which was really cool. Still had the annoying men selling you crap, but it was really pretty and a bunch of artists had set up in the square area, so that was cool to go around and look at too.

Our search of Italian shoes failed miserably, even though I am almost sure that we went into every possible shoe store, we didn’t come home with any! So, to remedy that, we’re going on a hunt around London this coming weekend [smile].

The last day of our trip, Sunday, was soooo long. We got to the airport for our ryanair.com flight at the correct time, [after again rushing for the train and the bus etc.] and then we got in the terminal area and had to wait. And wait. And wait. Until they finally made an announcement that the plane that was supposed to be leaving at 10:20 was now not going to be in until 12. So we waited and waited. And then finally started loading at 12:15, not actually lifting off the ground until 1pm. Apparently there was fog in London and that’s the reason that our plane was so late.

So that’s the end of fall break. And now this weekend, Whit and I relax and shop and do some other things here in London.

LOVE<><,
*maike rinaye*


***so from what I understand "saponeta" means soapy-mess. Soap in Italian is "sapone" so [shrug], yeah [smile].