Su una sera a Roma

On an Evening in Roma

Friday and Saturday of first week

Friday, again, consisted of meetings. This time warning us about getting drunk and jumping off bridges into the Tiber River, meeting more faculty, and some culture issues.

Friday night I went with some friends to see the Vatican because the Nativity is still up.  It was absolutely gorgeous!  When I was in Rome with my family ten-ish years ago, we went to Mass and it was absolutely packed and overwhelming.  Last night it was completely empty, with the exception of some other wanderers.  It felt so different.  My night pictures aren’t turning out so well, but a lot of people are having this problem, and this picture doesn’t do the Nativity justice, but I’m so glad I was able to see it.  I’ll be back at the Vatican next Wednesday to attend a Papal Audience. 

Close up of part of the Nativity at the Vatican

From the Vatican we wandered to the Spanish steps.  The view from the top is marvelous at night.  We didn’t spend too much time here, and called it an early night.  I’m sure I’ll be going back many times.

On our way back we wandered around Castel San Angelo.  Again, breathtaking.  We also spent some time just looking at the River.  The current was so fast.  Going down would have been an awesome row, but back would have been, what I think I can safely assume, the worst rowing experience.  Good thing, I wasn’t rowing , I guess.

Castle S. Angelo at night

Today was busy.  We were constantly on the go until we got back about an hour ago.  We got up and ran a few errands (alarm clock, blow dryers, notebooks, camera chargers, etc).  We made it back just in time for a lecture on the Roman Forum, and then hopped right onto a bus down to the Forum.  Amazing.  I don’t know how else to describe it.  The Roman Forum was one of the sites in Roma, I have wanted to see for so long.  I thank my Latin roots for that.  Learning about it for 4 years in high school is one thing, but actually being there, side by side with ruins that have been there for over 2000 years was indescribable. 

View of parts of the Roman Forum: you can see one of the 6 arches of triumph in this picture.  This was taken looking down from right near the casa di augustine.

We were supposed to go to the Coliseum today as well, but they closed early for some reason, so hopefully I’ll be able to get in there again soon.   Instead we decided we were starving and went and got a great little dinner.  Then we headed to the outside of the Ministry of Culture.  (we decided to save the inside for a rainy day)  The church of Sant Ignazio is another gorgeous (I need to find some better words to use, but there are no words to describe anything)building.  This church had special meaning, because of the Jesuit education we are getting.  We have mass there tomorrow night, so I’ll get to see it again, but hopefully when I figure out how to add pictures to this thing, I can show you some  of the amazingness I am speaking of. 

This is the view of the Coleseum from the Roman Forum.  That is not me.  I don't like to be in pictures so you won't be seeing many of me.

We stopped by the Pantheon, but mass was being said inside, so we’ll have to go back another time.  The journey back to JFRC took us a long time.  The pros: we came across a bookstore…I was able to buy Harry Potter in Italian, so now I can improve my Italian even more!  We asked so many Italians for directions to the 990 bus that my Italian is improving, or my confidence in it, either way is definitely a pro.

Random Things I’ve noticed:

1.        At the Vatican, outside the Nativity, there was netting , and people were throwing coins.  I asked some people around school, but no one knows the significance of that.  I am on a mission to find out, so if you have any ideas let me know!

2.       I’ve survived three days of crossing streets now.  This may seem like a simple achievement, but I have trouble in the United States, so I thought for sure my death was going to be by a Roman car.  Fingers crossed, that my luck stays good.
3. The people with roses are very persistent. We said no, and he said, “no charge, just 1 for free”  we didn’t take them, because we were told this was a tourist trap, and instead put them on the steps next to us, and then he started his schpeal about  how poor his family was, just like the books say he will, and when we wouldn’t give anything he took the flowers back.   I guess we weren’t as beautiful as he said we were.