Pope Bless You

This morning we explored Roma! We met our tour guide and went through the Forum (which was awesome because I didn’t go in it with Nanny and Pop). We saw the original senate, where Julius Caesar was cremated, and where Titus entered the city after enslaving the Jews. We also saw where the virgin vestals lived, which were the most powerful women after the emperor.

Next to the Forum is the Coliseum (my favorite place in Rome), so we stopped by there. We didn’t get to stay long at all, but it was still nice. We headed back on the bus to Vatican City where I was able to mail some post cards and since it’s Sunday we received a Blessing from the Pope himself! He comes out of this really small window probably 20 stories up, so he looks like a little speck. He spoke in Italian, German, Latin, Spanish, English, French, and Portuguese! It was kind of incredible.

We didn’t want to hassle with the line of trying to get into the basilica, so Lindsey and I headed to the bus. It was SUPER packed, but we made it close to the city center. We had lunch at a cute little sandwich shop (and I had one of the best ones I’ve had since I’ve been in Italy). We met a nice Australian couple sitting next to us and they helped us figure out how to get to the Pantheon. We made it there and inside. It has a beautiful open dome roof.

We decided to walk toward the Trevi Fountain, but of course ended up in the wrong direction and going in a circle. However, we did pass a market and a cool building in the process, so we didn’t care! Made it to the fountain, which was PACKED! I mean, I know it’s the weekend but geez Italy is just so populated! We got gelato (they had kiwi which was also delicious) and got hit on by a lot of Italian men…pretty entertaining.

After gaining 5 extra pounds we headed back to the Spanish steps because we knew how to get home from there (via metro AND train!) but little did we know, we were in for a cultural experience. Today in Rome there is a soccer match against some other country and it is a HUGE deal! EVERYONE is wearing pink and black (that’s Rome’s colors) and carrying flags and screaming cheers. Well, when we got into the metro they all started singing. Hundreds, possibly thousands of soccer fans! It was too funny and pretty exciting. I felt bad for wearing blue…

Made it back to the hotel around 3:30 only to find our shower was still not fixed (surprise surprise). Waited an hour and a half for them to come, when they didn’t, we took showers and flooded the bathroom anyway. Then we took off for a Roman Banquet!

It was HUGE and delicious as usual (probably one of the best meals here). We had salad, bruschetta, lasagna, pork, potatoes, and tiramisu. I was the only one at my table who wanted white wine, so he brought me mine own bottle. There was also a guy there playing the guitar and singing songs for us and trying to play American songs where we attempted to fill in the words. It was exciting. Afterwards we went to the Trevi fountain at night, and then I headed back to the hotel (while my roommate and others went out). When I came back, of course the internet was not working (hence the late post) and I tried to stay awake (but fell asleep) until Lindsey knocked on the hotel door at 2:30am. And then we fell into a peaceful sleep for 3 and a half hours before the adventures of today….