ROME…wow, where do I even start?!?! Rome was such a whirlwind and I cannot believe that it is over. It was an exhausting weekend, but an amazing one!! I did and saw so many things that I cannot even believe it. So, this blog is going to be a bit different. I am going to write about both days in one blog, therefore, it is going to be looooooooooooooooooooooong…
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Saturday morning started VERY early. I got up at 5:15, though I was already sort of awake when my alarm went off. I called my momma using skype and then I got dressed. I was excited to finally wear my red tights!!! J Then I ate the little toast things with the weird jam and had some water. After I double checked EVERYTHING on my list and changed my facebook status, I was off to the train station at 6:15. It was much darker outside than I had expected, but the walk to the station was fine. There was a good number of people out and about.
When I arrived at the train station I decided to buy my ticket at the window again, but this lady was NOT as friendly as the lady from the other day; nor was she as helpful. Nonetheless, I had my ticket in my hand and I was ready to go…or so I thought. I went to use the bathroom and then I started looking for my train on the departure schedule. I was very confused at first because nothing said “Rome” and none of the times matched mine. I decided to go back to the window and ask (a different lady), but I barely got the words out of my mouth and she shook her head no and pointed at the departures board! Ugh I was so annoyed, but then FINALLY I saw my train number (once I walked BACK out to the platforms (no 9 3/4 though...) and the fact that the trains final destination was actually "Napoli". 
I found my train, and then my assigned car and we were off and moving at 7:00 ON THE DOT!!
When we got moving, I changed seats (from my assigned seat) so that I wasn't sitting with anyone and I could spread out a bit (others were doing the same thing...). I also called my momma and let her know that I was safe and on the train. Right as I was calling her though, I realized that I had left something important...I remembered to bring my camera battery chargers (though I didn't really think that they were necessary), but I had NOT remembered to bring the power adapter/converter. Stupid me!!! I was pretty confident though that my batters would last and be JUST FINE!! They are both practically brand new batteries; so really I was just annoyed that I added ANY extra weight to my backpack!!!
The train ride was good...weird because I wanted it to be more like the Howarts Express ;) (nooooo...this was not an ACTUAL expectation of mine). The one thing I did not like about the train was that my ears were constantly popping...and not just a little like when we are taking off in an airplane...like MAJORLY...like I was in pain! We kept going through tunnels, but it would do it even when we were not going through tunnels. When we came out of one tunnel you could not see ANYTHING and I took a picture because all i could think of was, "dementors??" Enough Harry Potter references for you yet?!?!?
I was soo tired at this point, but I knew that adrenaline would eventually kick in and I would be ready to go! At one point, we passed an RV lot and I need to know how bad it is that my VERY FIRST thought was, "I wonder waht they could be tailgating for!?!?" Now clearly, I know that is not what they were there for...but wouldn't that be your first thought too!?!? No? As we pulled into the Rome area, I saw a big tv station building with an "X Factor" sign painted on the side...I'm assuming that this is where they film their version of the show!!! The other picture here is of the sunrise from the train!
We arrived at the train station and immediately I knew, "Toto we aren't in [Florence] anymore"! Seriously though, Rome's train station is like the craziness of the Times Square subway station, but cracked out because there are so many people going in more directions than even that subway station. **Side note: I miss New York City!! Though I am sure that most of you already gathered that!** There are a lot of stores (like clothing stores, cafes, and stuff) and it was just much more hectic than Florence....though much bigger as well). I was so lost in the confusion of the station. I had to stop and ask a policeman for directions because all i had at this point were directions I had written from the hotel's website. He pointed me in another direction and so I went. I saw that I was exiting the station at the right place, but still had no idea which way to walk. So, I asked another set of policemen and they were "clueless". They said they couldn't remember exactly where one of the streets were that I was asking about...okay really guys?!?! 1. I'm not stupid...you are policemen, you must have SOME idea 2. It's not very nice to not help people...isn't that part of your job?? 3. The policemen in NYC are always helpful...i'm just sayin'!!! They pointed me to an "information" booth where this street vendor(ish) guy was bugging me and trying to help me. I did NOT like this, but I let him tell me whatever it was he was dying to tell me about where I needed to go and then I still asked the information lady!! She said that the street I was looking for was right behind her...this was only somewhat helpful!
I started walking, but I was walking blindly. I did see a beautiful piazza...ironically, it was "Piazza della Repubblica". I walked down what looked like a busy street and eventually I stopped in a hotel and asked for directions. I stopped in a nice hotel; I figured the odds of them speaking English and of being helpful were pretty high, and I was right!!! :) The guy was so helpful and gave me a map...he marked a walking path for me and was just so kind. I was SO grateful!! I eventually found the hotel, though it was a little difficult...this was my first clue that Rome was a little more difficult to navigate than Florence. However, the hotel was really nice!!! I was excited that I had made a good choice! :) Even though it was only 9:10ish, they had my room all ready for me to go to. I was very excited about this because it meant I could get all of my stuff rearranged in my purse/backpack and get my thoughts together before I headed out!!
THe hotel: The elevators were really small, which has been a common thing here in Italy! I've only been in two now, but they were both tiny...almost too tiny for me to handle! My room was nice...it had two twin beds and a nice bathroom, etc. There were two weird things about the room: 1. the shower had two shower heads and handles to turn the water on, but only one turned the bath water on...it was strange. and 2. you had to put a key thing in a hole in order to turn on the lights. Thankfully though in the entry way there was a light that was on a sensor so you weren't left in the dark when you were leaving or entering.
I took this time in the room to organize my things, put important things in the safe (which I had to set a code for), and got my purse ready for the day! I studied the map for a few minutes and marked all of the places I wanted to go, and I traced routes to each of them....I had very little time to see everything on my itinerary, so I had to be organized about it.
So I was off on my Roman journey! As I was walking down one street I saw some men putting up what looked like Christmas decorations on the outside of a hotel. The bellman was standing outside, so I asked him, "per Natale?" He said yes and then proceeded to ask ME questions (e.g. where are you from? Where are you going? etc. etc.). As I was walking off he said, "ciao bella!" So sweet, but then about 5 minutes later I came to a busy piazza where there was a caffe' with a lot of people sitting outside. Not looking at all lost because i knew I was going down this street for a little bit, a waiter who was just standing there practically yelled, "oooh bella, where are you going??" I was slightly confused and then realized he was talking to me. He practically jumped out in front of me and was asking me where I was walking to. I told him the Spanish Steps and he said that it was "far away...well for the Japanese it was far away. But for a beautiful young lady such as myself, it wasn't far at all...maybe 5 minutes." Okay, so I found this statement to be utterly bizarre. What do the Japanese have to do with how far it takes to walk somewhere?!?! So, as I walked off he said, "ciao bellisima!" So, I made two new friends in about a 5 minute time span. Not long after this I turned onto the street that would take me to the top of the stairs at the Piazza di Spagna...it was a little bit of a hike up this hill, but not too bad. I stopped at the window of a jewelry store and looked at the charms. They had some nice "Italy" charms (i.e. colosseo, etc. etc.), but I didn't stop because I wasn't sure if I really wanted a charm or not and I had only been in Rome for like an hour. So, I walked a little bit further and then there I was...at the top of the Spanish Stairs! I was really excited...it was another major "must see" place marked off my list!! The church at the top was beautiful!! I went inside, but it didn't compare to others I had seen already!! I stood and got a great view of Rome from the top of the stairs and then started making my way down the stairs...I took a few pictures of me at the stairs, but I dont really like them...so here is a picture senza me! :)
The area around the Piazza di Spagna is really nice. It was like 5th Ave times 5. All the high end designers...and a Missoni store (so, who needs Target...right?!?!?). Obviously, I couldn't afford to be shopping here, so I took some pictures in the area and then moved on!! My next stop was the Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi). It was pretty crowded, but not terribly crowded I suppose. There were a lot of people just rotating through being close enough to it to throw their penny in the fountain (the "legend" of sorts is that if you throw a penny over your shoulder into the Trevi fountain, then you will return to Rome).
The fountain was beautiful!! So many details and it was HUGE...well, not the water part I suppose, but the rest of it...WOW!!! 
I loved how white it was and dominating...Again, it was just so amazing to be seeing something that I had always dreamed of seeing...something I heard about all of the time, and I was actually there, and seeing it. I took quite a few pictures and I took pictures for other people and they took pictures for me! I went over to the side where I saw people taking some pictures and drinking from one of the smaller fountains. So, apparently in Rome it is completely safe to drink from these public "fountains" because it is some of the purest water in the world (it comes from aquaducts or something). Anyway, so this girl was so kind to take my picture drinking from it and also sitting on the side of the Trevi Fountain.
I have been so lucky to find nice people to take my picture (and I usually always take theirs first...or definitely return the favor if they'd like!). After I walked away from the fountain I went into the church across the way. It was pretty, but again, nothing compared to what I had already seen and definitely not compare to what I was going to see later that day!!
After the Trevi Fountain, I started trying to find my way to the Pantheon. Now, if I thought Florence was confusing those first few days, it was NOTHING compared to Rome. Even with a map in hand, I was so confused half of the time. I had to stop and ask directions to the Pantheon like 3 times! By this time I was also getting REALLY hungry. I started looking at the restaurants I was passing. I have yet to really go into a restaurant and have THE MOST AMAZING FOOD OF MY LIFE!! No disrespect to the Italians or anything, but so far all of the food I have eaten in restaurants is not that different from something I could make (or my momma could make...or definitely Nonna could make...or Fran could make). However, I stopped at this restaurant that had a really good sounding gnocchi and apparently their gnocchi was handmade. So, the guy was able to convince me to come in and eat. I had decided earlier that when in Rome I was going to have a nice meal for lunch the first day, a small dinner, then breakfast would be at the hotel, and then a small(ish) lunch before I left Rome. So, this was going to be my big meal! After looking at the menu, I decided that it was time to try the "prosciutto e melone". 
If you have seen "Eat, Pray, Love" she orders this at that last meal they have at the outdoor restaurant. I have been curious about this since I saw the movie and then we read about it before I left. So, this was the first place I have noticed it on the menu...so I ordered that and the gnocchi (which was tomato and basil). The prosciutto and melon was ...interesting...I ate a few bites of it with the proscuitto (hey, i tried it...and it wasn't bad, it just wasn't for me) and then i just ate the melon. The melon was really juicy and ripe and delicious...it was also good because I was thirsty and it was so juicy that it quenched my thirst without me having to drink a ton of water!!! Then, my gnocchi came (after they gave me funny looks for not eating ALL of what was on my plate...a common theme for my life in Italy!). The gnocchi was really good; again though, it didn't taste THAT much different than the gnocchi that me and my momma bought and made from Publix!
So, that was slightly disappointing. However, the people that worked there and who stopped by this restaurant were characters. There was this young girl who was walking around who got SO excited when this older lady showed up. She RAN out of the door and like pounced on her and was hugging and kissing her and screaming "eccola" (she's here!!) and it was really sweet. It appeared to be her mother, but didn't look old enough to be a grandmother. It was really sweet. There were also random people who kept coming in and talking to people. It made me feel like I was eating somewhere that was very authentic and the people who worked there had many friends in the neighborhood who were stopping by to say hello and chat while they were on their way somewhere. It was really nice. The only thing that I did not like about the restaurant was that when I asked why it appeared that they charged me for the water twice, she held up the napkin and said that the charge was for using it. UMM EXCUSE ME....WHAT!?!?!? I didn't say anything, but I thought that was absurd. I understand at the restaurants where you can get something to eat and go vs. sitting down or drink your coffee at the bar vs. sitting at a table ...here they charge you extra for the table. However, this place was NOT at all like that...you had no choice but to sit and eat...so why on earth would they charge you to use a napkin?!?!? Okay...whatever!
Oooh I almost forgot...before I got to the restaurant...I saw this street sign...sadly though, I did not find an actual Marcello here! :(
When I left the restaurant, I was not far at all from the Pantheon. When I saw it, it was amazing from the outside. I mean the history...my travel book said it was built between 118 A.D. and 125 A.D. and was used as a church and an astrological tool. How awesome to be standing in such history!
The inside was beautiful as well!! 
At one point when i was inside, they came over an intercom and told everyone to be quiet. Of course, it got quieter, but it never became completely silent! I looked around and took some pictures and then left. When I walked out and further away from it to take a few more pictures, there was a girl there doing a modeling shoot! She looked pretty and the clothes were cute! There was a pretty decent size crowd standing there watching.
Then I began walking. I was in search of the Piazza Novana. I had read about it online and discovered that it was kind of on my way to The Vatican (if I wanted to walk past other big things on the map...which of course I did!). It was beautiful. A lot of outdoor vendors selling artwork, etc. (nothing trashy of stupid like in some of the outdoor markets I have seen). All of the buildings had restaurants and they had a lot of outdoor seating...it was a great vibe!! There were fountains and huge buildings. I was walking the path to leave the Piazza to head to the Vatican when I spotted this store that said, "Made In Italy". 
I was curious so I walked up to it. It had leather bookmarks that I was thinking I might buy for my momma. THEN I WENT IN...everything was beeeeeauuutiful!! SO much handmade leather (and it didn't smell bad). They had the most beautiful Italian Leather iPad cases, iPhone cases, wallets, purses, journals, all the stuff from the stationary stores that I am so obsessed with (fountain pens...pens that you dip into the ink...the wax seal stamps that I want so badly...the handmade paper/photo albums/journals/books/etc.). They had leather key chains...etc. etc. I was in heaven! So, I saw a keychain for my momma and I was going to leave. Then I spotted the letter openers; the most beautiful murano glass letter openers, but they were way expensive. Then I saw the silver letter openers with Mirano glass in the handle...MUCH more affordable and so i picked one out! Oooh and at this exact moment when i needed my momma to call and help me make a decision...MY PHONE RANG!! How perfect?!?! Then I was ready to pay and leave (at this point I was about an hour behind the time I had planned to be AT The Vatican). However, the people in front of me when I was paying were purchasing one of the wax seal stamps. The guy working there was demonstrating it for them and that was the moment I caved and I HAD to have one! I was thinking that they were more expensive than in Florence (but a few days later I discoverd that I actually got a better deal). So, I picked out the script "E" (not "M" because I want to be able to use this FOR FOREVER!) and then I had to pick out a handle...ughh this was SO hard. They ranged in price and the first one that caught my eye was this beautiful Murano glass handle that was swirly and had blue and tiffany blue and I think silver in a clear handle...then i saw just a Tiffany blue colored bulb handle...and then there were the cheapest which were gold colored or wood (yuck). So, I called my momma back and asked her which one I should get. She encouraged me to get the one that first caught my attention and to not worry about it because this would be something I would have forever and would always remember buying it in Italy! :) So, I went with the swirly handle one. I was SO SO SO SO SO excited...and of course I went with the crimson colored wax...DUH! The guy was so sweet and kind. I left there feeling really excited about my purchases...the letter opener was something I came to Italy knowing that i wanted and the wax seal stamp is something I have been wanting since we were in Savannah last year! However, I'm glad I waited because this one is SOOO much nicer! :)
As I was leaving, the guy pointed me to the street that would get me to the bridge to cross the river for my walk to the Vatican...he said it would be about 30 minutes, but he just didn't know my speed walking abilities. However, the "street" that would take me to the bridge...did not...Rome was SOOO hard to navigate, but I quickly found my way and crossed the bridge.
As I was crossing the bridge I came to the most beautiful building: Palazzo di Giustizia. It was so big and majestic. Then I came to the Castel Sant' Angelo. THis was all walking along the river and it was just such a beautiful and perfect day to be making this walk. The sun was shining, the river was sparkling, and I WAS IN ROME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What's that you say?!? Rome?!?!? YES! I was so excited to be seeing Rome!!!!
So once I passed the castle, I was getting closer to St. Peter's and the Vatican. Once I spotted St. Peter's I was REALLY excited!
If you hadn't known you were close the Vatican before, you would have as soon as you noticed all of the touristy shops, etc. were selling rosaries like crazy!! The front of St. Peter's is just stunning! WOW!!! I was awestruck...it was HUGE!!! So I saw this crazy long line and just assumed that this was where I was supposed to be. So I got in it and my first thought was, "ooh crap...I'm going to be here forever...is this the ticket line, am I missing something? Well, as you get closer to the Vatican you start being harassed by people saying, "do you speak SPanish? Do you speak English? Want tour? etc. etc." Well, I was super annoyed by these people until this one guy walked up and was explaining to me that I was in the line to get into St. Peter's and that I was going to miss the Sistine Chapel and Vatican museums because of the time. Now, I knew that was he was saying was unfortunately true and he offered me the tour at the child's price...so I took it! He took me to the group that was getting ready to go, I got a sticker, and listened to the other guy (who turned out to be the actual tour guide) give some history of Christianity and St. Peter's. Then they took us to the tour office to pay...of course they didn't take debit or credit cards and because I spent so much at the "Made In Italy" store that I needed cash (plus I knew I would need it for the cab I intended on taking back to the hotel). So I walked to the ATM and then came back and paid. Then we got our earpiece thingys and we were on our way. It was a good walk to the entrance, but cool because we saw the HUGE wall that surrounds Vatican City
and we saw a famous gelato place that I had read about (and intended to come back to later...for dinner...because I knew I wouldn't be able to eat a meal), and then we entered. We went to security, went to the bathroom and then we were on our way!! So On your way to the museum entrance you pass these guards. They are Swiss guards that are solely for Vatican City (which has it's own zipcode, area code, passports, etc.). THey are Swiss military "men" between the ages of 18 & 24. THey have to be single, and apply within their military for these HIGHLY REGARDED positions...AND they HAVE to speak at least 5 different languages. They get one day off a week and again, they work ONLY for the Vatican!!! CRAZINESS!!!**Note: I cannot possibly describe all of the amazing and historical things I saw in the museums so I wont even try. There were so many things that were one of a kind (either forever or at this point in time they are now the only one) or things that were so expensive or so historical...etc. etc. It was seriously just a huge display of the wealth of the catholic church in Rome. So, I am going to put a few pictures and then talk about the Sistine Chapel.
This is a tapestry...by Donatello maybe?!?!? Or some famous person and notice the angle of Jesus' chest and the stone...then in the second picture I have walked to the other side of it from the other angle...notice how he moved with me and so did the stone...a tapestry people...that is amazing!!!! The Vatican museums are actually additions to the Pope's home made by past pope's. They were converted into a museum when there was such a huge collection of things to show off. At one point I think we were standing in the living room of either Michelangelo or Leonardo Di Vinci (i'm not much for art so I dont remember these things). Everything was beautiful...i saw paintings that look 3D, but aren't...I saw the most amazing tapestries...I saw so much! If I think of more details I'll put it in. We had to get a lesson about the Sistine Chapel outside with the use of "boards" that they have set up for people to look at before they go in because you aren't supposed to be talking or taking pictures (though our tour guide told us we could and that he would explain why when we were leaving). **P.S. you can take pictures EVERYWHERE but the Sistine Chapel...do you know why that is?!?!? Well, I'll do you like he did us...I'll tell you after you've seen it! ;) ** So we finally made it there and went in. At first it truly isn't that breathtaking (dont judge me for this). THere are two guards standing at the front saying, "no picture/dont take pictures/put camera away/etc". Hardly anyone was listening and EVERYONE was sneaking pictures...so OF COURSE, I did the same. However, at the end I just outright took them with my big camera because we were ALLL THE WAY in the back and there are only two guards in the front. Okay seriously guys...if you REALLY dont want pictures taken then you are going to have to spread that out!! So, these are two of the BEST pictures I was able to get!
I do love that the paintings are stories from the Bible. Again, I just love the beauty here in Italy that the Lord has inspired...what WILL Heaven be like?!?!? The splendor in the Sistine Chapel is just as our tour guide said: It took ONE man 4 years to do this BY HIMSELF..not 10 years...not 15 years..4 YEARS!! That is the beauty! I loved too that there are still dark spots in the corners where the scaffolding hung during restoration and so you can see what it looked like before and the clearness and crispness of it now!! SO, why aren't you supposed to take pictures you ask?!?! Well, some of you already knew (Gracie, Kelly, maybe Dr. H-R), but you aren't supposed to because the Japanese television company that paid for the restoration holds all of the copy rights for another 20 years or so...sooooo really it's not that you are hurting anything...they just want you to buy THEIR pictures...so, um NO THANK YOU; I will just take my own!! :)
So when we left the Sistine Chapel, we walked down the stairs that the Pope walks down after he is elected...I thought that was pretty cool! :) Then we passed the gift shop that is run by Vatican nuns and everything in it is pre-blessed!! So, I bought my daddy a rosary and a surprise! :) Then, I went to St. Peter's! WOW!!! My pictures DO NOT even do it justice, but I will post one of my faves! Also inside St. Peter's is Michelangelo's only signed sculpture.
There really are no words for St. Peters. It was built to honor the Apostle Peter. There are keys everywhere to symbolize Jesus handing over "the keys of the kingdom" to Peter and telling him to carry on here on Earth. Apparently Peter was crucified and buried where the church is standing. Of course Peter asked to be crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die the same death as Jesus (I am telling the correct story aren't I?...feels wrong right this minute). Anyway, the next time I am in Rome I want to see the prison where Peter was held...I didn't get to see it this time (it was near the Roman Forum). Anyway, St. Peter's was just BEAUTIFUL...apparently they like to brag about how big it is and there are markers in the church for how many other churches will fit into it...and there are 30 markers for 30 well known churches in the world that would fit inside St. Peters...want to know what the SMALLEST one is...St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City...you know that tiny one?!?!? Haha..tiny whatever!!! Ohh St. Peter's is the LONGEST church in the world...that's what it was!! and the dome, which was done by Michelangelo is 1/2 meter smaller than the Pantheon out of respect for it (Michelangelo's decision).So when I left St. Peter's I figured I needed to eat something, but I wasn't too hungry so I decided to find that gelato place from earlier! I remembered where it was and there were a lot of people out, so I didn't mind walking the 10 minutes or so to get there. It was TOTALLY worth it. In the smallest cup you can buy you were able to get three flavors; I tried nutella, caramel, and coffee. I ate it on the way to the taxi stand. Surprisingly, the nutella was not very good! I was so disappointed...the caramel was the best!
I wasn't too cold at this point...until I got i line at the cab stand. In Italy you can't just randomly hail a taxi like in NYC, you have to go to a stand. This particular night at the cab stand in front of St. Peter's there was a line of about 20 people...I stood there for FOREVER...and I didn't have my coat because it had been so nice outside! I was FREEEEEZING...so were the Asian girls i front of me who were wearing next to nothing. However, after about 20-25 minutes (what felt like an eternity), I got a cab! The weird thing was that it was a mercedes...pretty nice!!!SO, the cab was warm and cozy! We took a little longer to get back because he stopped and let me take a few pictures and then some roads were closed. The coolest thing that we passed was the press waiting for the Minister to come out right after he resigned. I went back and saw some of it on the news!! :) SO this cab ride was the scariest OF MY LIFE...forget NYC cab drivers...this cab ride in Rome scared the crap out of me...ESPECIALLY when he went backwards down a street...very fast!!! Ughh, however he was nice!!!
SO when I got back to the room I decided to just sit in a hot bath for about an hour...or 45minutes ish! It was amazing. Then, I am ashamed to say that I watched some of "The Jersey Shore" cast on the episode where they come to Italy! It was the only thing I could find in English and then when it was them coming to Florence, I thought I might watch it. THAT SHOW IS TRASH!!!!! Omg they have the worst language and they are just trashy...ughh! Yuck!!!
Then I talked to my momma and daddy for a few minutes and then I was OUT!!! I was exhausted...and so ready to go to sleep!!!
Stay tuned for day #2 in Rome!!!
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