Evenings in Roma

Hi, everyone!

Just to start out, thanks so much to everyone who wished me a happy birthday over the last couple of days--it was so nice to know that you were all thinking of me across the pond :-)

Anyway, so after we got to Rome a few of my friends and I decided to scope out a legit Italian meal, so we took a bus across town and found a great restaurant (I got Penne alla Vodka...yum).  The most amazing thing was when we rounded this one corner and we were suddenly PASSING THE COLOSSEUM.  It's just chillin in the middle of the city.  SO COOL.

Anyway, after an early evening we got up on Monday (my birthday!) to head over early to the Vatican.  We got a tour of the museum from this very pushy Italian lady (whenever another tour group was in our way she'd whip out her badge and yell "VATICAN STAFF!" until they moved).  My favorite piece in the Vatican Collection was definitely Raphael's "School of Athens" which is incredible in person (although the Sistine Chapel is pretty sweet too).  After we finished there we got gelato--still averaging once per day--because Rome is INCREDIBLY hot.  No wonder they invented such good ice cream here.

Anyway, after lunch we met in St. Peter's Square and our professor gave us a tour of the Basilica.  It was beautiful and absolutely amazing, but most of us were far too tired and sore to climb up to the top so we just toured the crypt where the popes are buried.   Basically it SO doesn't work like it did in Angels & Demons--the crypt is easily accessible to the general public, you just have to be quiet.  In fact, there were 20-30 people silently praying in front of John Paul II's grave.  It was really moving, even to a non-Catholic like myself.

After naps at the hotel, we went out to dinner at the original Alfredo's restaurant (basically where they invented alfredo sauce).  Although WAY overpriced, it was arguably in the top five meals of my life and a perfect way to end my birthday.   The way they make the alfredo is by bringing a giant bowl of linguine to the table and then mixing in the butter and cheese right in front of you--INCREDIBLE.  I also managed to get through most of a chocolate mousse, but after that I was so stuffed that I kind of waddled home.

One of the most beautiful things that we did yesterday was see the Trevi Fountain at night.  Although packed with tourists, we still managed to make our wishes and throw in our Euros over our shoulders :-)

Today was long and tiring--we had 2 hours of class in the morning, then a walking tour of ancient Rome, then a church walking tour in the afternoon.  We just got back to the hotel, and we're hoping for quick naps before we head out again tonight.  Our entire group of 40 is doing this touristy American bar crawl thing tonight, and we'll be celebrating both my birthday and another girl's (which is today).  Should be fun!

Hugs and kisses, as always!

Dara