When in Rome...

Anticipation:

After looking forward to the trip for the whole quarter, I was definitely ready to finally go to Rome. I was a half an hour early at CVG, but I wasn't the first one there. As we were waiting to board Jordan got me and Tyler and Justin into the Delta Crown room as you can see in the picture of Tyler. And we hung out there in Atlanta also. Eventually we actually made it to Rome after a pretty long and tiring plane ride, even though I didn't sleep a wink, I was energized and ready to go. After getting a metro pass and a train ticket and manuvuering my suitcase through tiny spaces and crowded streets we finally made it to the street our hotel was on, and we were accosted my men selling umbrellas and rained on, but it didn't matter to me because we were in Rome finally!

Day one: I can't believe we're in ROME!

After what seemed like weeks of traveling, but was merely hours, we finally made it to our hotel. I was plesantly surprised by how nice the hotel was. We were the only people in it and I was on the first floor and my room was the first to get our keys so we didn't have to wait around as much as everyone else did. My roommates were Allison and Ashleigh. I sat next to Allison on both planes, but other than that I had never talked to them before, but they seemed (and I later found out are) really nice. I was really happy because there was a little nook in our room with a little bed which became my room. We also had a really nice balcony with tables and chairs and a nice view of a garden. I explored the rest of the hotel and quickly came to the conclusion that we had one the best rooms in it for sure.

After relaxing for a little bit I went in a group of twelve to a nice little pizza place. Afterwards me, Jordan, Justin, and Tyler went to the Spanish Steps, which were beautiful and then we went to the Trevi fountain, which was more beautiful. My impression of Rome from then on was definitely good.

Day Two: Let's See Some Sights!

The first sight we saw as a group was the Circus Maximus. I wasn't that impressed, it was cool, but I didn't realuze that there weren't really any remains, so I expected more. After that we went to the Baths of Caracalla which were really cool, I was definitely impressed. Even though I was really tired I really enjoyed it it was so pretty. There were some stray cats that we played with while we waited for the rest of the group to join us.

After the baths we all went to the theater of Marcello which was pretty interesting, but we weren't able to go inside and there wasn't that much to see, then we explored a bit and found some cool places and climbed a lot of stairs.After that we had lunch and then we went to the Pantheon. That was really cool because it was the first fully intact building we went to and it was indoors so we didn't have to worry about getting rained on.
After that me and some other people wents on a shopping trip, in the rain, and we got lost and ended up going in a circle. After that me Justin, Jordan, Brian, Molly, and David tried to find a disco or a "piano bar" but after many failed attempts we ended up at a bar right by our hotel.

Day Three: More Sights!

The first place that we went was the Colosseum. It was really cool there was a lot left. It was massive and there was so much to see. I didn't realize what the bottom of it was like. Afterwards me and a bunch of people walked a fairly long way to a flea market by the river. When we were there I made some impulse buys and Brian laughed at me. It was kind of bad because me and Brian mainly stuck together, which was a bad idea because neither of us had a watch or a phone and neither of us knew any italian, but we made it to the rest of the group and walked back to the Colosseum to meet up with the rest of group.

We got back to the meeting place early so a small group of us decided to get gelato, it was the first of many gelatos for me, I got cherry and it was really delicious. Then it was time for the forum. Even though it was almost completely in ruins it was really cool. What was left of the bascilia was really awesome. Me, Tyler, and Brian decided to venture off on our own up the steps to the Casa di Augusto which was really cool. It was one of the many amazing views from the top of buildings in Italy.

Later me Tyler, Phil Sour, Ashleigh, Kat, and Allison and David decided to go on a tour of Christmas trees. We started at the Spanish Steps and saw the pretty cool metal one there.

Then Allison and David went off on their own and the rest of us had dinner and this less then great place and then headed over to the Vatican. Even though it was really dark by then and it was raining pretty hard the Vatican was really cool. I'm not Christian and I know very little about Christianity but it was just so beautiful anyway, although the huge tree was a little disappointing.

Day Four: Where's Apollo? (Pompeii)

I was definitely looking forward to Pompeii ever since we started the second PBL and it was definitely one of my favorite activities. Although the bus ride was a little long I had a seat all to myself and I was able to sleep a bit. Once we got to Pompeii, Me, Jordan, Justin,Tyler, Molly and Remo, and then later Andrew, all decided to go to the alternate eatery instead of the first one. The food was decent. After, we finally got ot Pompeii and Our tour guide started to give us the tour. Since this was one of my groups research topics I paid close attention and I was very happy because I knew most of what he said already from my research.

Pompeii was definitely really interesting and as we got to more and more specific locations I really learned a lot. I was really happy that we went. It was really cool to finally see Apollo's statue and all the other things that I had read about.

Day Five: HOLY CANNOLI! The Vatican and Dinner

This day was a lot less planned out. We went to see this weird place with a bunch of skeletons in the morning, which I must admit sort of creeped me out. We had the choice to go to other churches, but instead a group of us decided to got the Vatican before we had to meet up again. Me Chris, Brian, Molly, KJ, and Tyler all went to the museum part also. I was really impressed, at first the art was boring, but as we went it got better and better. There were so many chapels and amazing ceilings that I was starting to get tired of looking up. When we finally got to the Sistine Chapel it was really amazing, but not what i expected.

St.Peter's Bascilia was AMAZING. It was so beautiful, I think it was probably my most favorite place in Rome. After that all the other churches looked like nothing Later Dean Newrock took us out for dinner and it was the best food in Rome, by far. Me and Molly were a little late and I sat at the head of the table. I had a glass of both the red and white wine and they were both amazing. We had a five-course dinner and I personally loved every course. It was really really fun. Day Six: Florence

This day we went to Florence. I was really excited because my dad told me that Florence was his favorite place when he went to Italy. The bus ride was good, although I didn't have a seat to myself. Me and Remo played a little dot game, but I either slepts or read most of the way there. Florence was really beautiful. But I really didn't want to see the church, I'm not Christian and although it was pretty its really not interesting to me at all especially after seeing SO much Christian art. Me, KJ, and Remo went shopping a bit before we all went to the Domo. The Domo was really really cool. Although I felt like passing out because of all the stairs and Phil S. had to half push me half encourage me to get up there I was really glad I did the views were really really amazing.

After that we went to the museum and saw the statue of David. I hadn't realized how huge David was, but he was really really amazing and I am really glad I got to see hime. Of course I didn't take a picture because you are supposed to. Although it was definitely really tiring it was Florence was really fun.

Day Seven: This is like Pompeii, but not as cool. Ostia Antica

This day we went to Ostia. I wasn't that excited because i didnh't really know anything about it. At first I didn't really like it but the more and more I explored the cooler I thought it was. My favorite part was when me, Molly, and Jordan decided to run across the field and see the very edge of Ostia. It was really cool to climb up the walls and see below you.

Afterwards, Me, Jordan, and Remo decided to go get something to eat instead of seeing the EUR. We got these calzone like things, which were really cheap and really good. Then me and Jordan helped Remo find perfume for his girlfriend. But it was mainly just jordan Smelling Dolce and Gabbana light blue, me hating all the perfumes and the sales lady spraying Remo with perfume. Once he finally got something( which he went back and exchanged later) we went back to the hotel. Jordan was really scruffy and decided he wanted to go to the barber shop to have a shave. Later me, Remo, and Tyler went out shopping and sight-seeing. We went to a carnival and I was really happy because I won a bottle of sparklink wine, later i found out it was really horrible and cheap.

Day Eight: Pisa and Florence

This was our free day and me and Tyler decided to go to Pisa to see the tower and then go back to Florence, so we could have more time there and shop. We decided to leave at 5, but of course Tyler knocks on my door at like 4:30 and we're both ready by 5 and so we go and we have to wait around in the cold for the metro to open at 5:30. The train ride to Pisa was pretty nice and I slept for most of the way there, since i got about 3 hours of sleep the night before. While I was dreaming of me and Tyler riding a train, Tyler woke me up to tell me we were in Pisa.The city of Pisa wasn't that nice compared to Rome or Florence. But The tower and surrounding sites definitely were really nice. The leaning tower was really really cool and I was so glad i saw it. When you walked up you could actually feel it leaning. It was amazing.


After that we caught a train to Florence. Florence was fun we shopped and ate and had a good time.

Day Nine: Departure

This was the day we left Italy. I didn't eat breakfast because I needed to finish packing and getting ready. The whole trip back I was tired, but ireally didn't sleep, i have trouble sleeping when I can't lie all the way down. I read a lot on the plane and watched all three movies. Since our flight was late it was a scramble to get on the next flight everyone ran. I was one of the last people past security and when I was at baggage claim Tyler was still waiting for his bag, so I decided to wait with him instead of running ahead alone. Phil and his new friend did also. We weren't even close to getting there on time, so we just went ahead and got our boarding passes for the 9:35 flight. Then we waited, luckily we weren't the only ones. i was a little upset at the professors because none of them were there until a lot closer to the flight and I had no idea where anyone was and if everyone got on the flight. I only knew jordan and Logan got on the first one. I was a little worried and kind of mad and extremely tired.