Roman Holiday

This weekend has now replaced the previous in terms of my "favorite weekend in Italy award."After much anticipation, I caught a train to Roma on Friday morning and eagerly rode the 1.5 hours to my destination. Upon arriving alla stazione, I ran into Kelly's arms like I was her long lost love returning from war (which I pretty much am!) Kelly proceeded to take me on a wonderful adventure that included cappuccini, gelato, the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, the Roman Forum, sunshine and many hugs. I was graciously invited to stay the night with Kelly's host family; an act that led me to purchase some thank you tulips.

The next day began with more cappuccini and blood oranges, which sound suspicious but are very delicious! Then Kelly took me to see some ancient bones in a Roman crypt. I was not allowed to take pictures, but I shall steal some from the Internet to give you an idea. As an avid bone lover and anthropologist, I was blown away by the intricacy and sheer volume of these ancient skeletal designs. It was slightly eerie to see the bones of probably thousands of Roman martyrs, but I thought it was so fascinating!

The rest of the day involved hours and hours of wandering around the back streets of what Kelly and Colleen call "real Rome." I was able to experience the touristy sites as well as the cobblestone-covered streets less traveled. Later that night I sat beneath the moonlight in front of the Colosseum and shared a bottle of wine with Colleen and Kelly. Life does not get much better! We were then reunited with Sage and John, our fellow SLU-goers, who have been abroad in France since September. The night was filled with more city exploration and wine consumption, all in a responsible fashion I assure you!

The next day, Sunday, was my favorite! After a hasty visit to the Vatican where we got our slates wiped nice and clean, we quickly set off to dirty them up again. The five of us wandered to many different corners of the city, acquiring various cheeses, olives, fruit, chocolate and you guessed it-wine! We then hiked to the Borghese gardens and sat in the sunshine while enjoying a lovely picnic. The whole thing made me deliriously content! I love that it is perfectly acceptable to sit anywhere in Italy and enjoy a bottle of wine with your friends. That night we fought off hoards of men at a bar, using a strategy that involved all members of our group. This reinforced my idea that I must find at least one male friend in Florence! Sadly, my last night in Rome had to draw to a close, and we all retired to our respective beds with weary feet but happy hearts.

I had a very nostalgic train-ride back to Florence on Monday, and arrived just in time for my 3PM class. Overall it was a magical weekend, and I was very grateful to see my friends! Part of me almost wishes I decided to study in Rome, but let's just attribute that to another honeymoon phase. Many more adventures to come!