




The trip to Rome has been AMAZING since the first day. Today, we mostly had time to ourselves. We got up at the usual time and headed over to see some more churches. We've seen a lot of churches, but they're all churches I've seen in Art History so it is really amazing. Plus, it's like going to a museum, there is so much art in them!
Then we had time to ourselves. Some of us headed over to the Vatican Museum. There, we changed over money and I bought a rosary for a friend. Then, David and Jason and I decided to strike out on our own while John, Lina, Readi, and Fengwei went to the Sistine Chapel and Sam and Tiffany went to the St. Peter's for gifts. Unfortunately due to my wonderful coordination abilities, David, Jason, and I had to walk all the way around the Vatican. In the rain. I swear it looked like the shorter method, but let me tell you - it wasn't!!! -_-
Eventually we got out to the courtyard of St. Peter's where we were supposed to meet Sam and Tiffany, but they were no where to be seen. (Probably because we were so far off course that it took us longer than they cared to wait.) So we decided to head over to the Spanish Steps and get lunch.
The Spanish Steps was a bit of a disappointment. You couldn't see them very well from the angle at the bottom and since it was rainy they just seemed rather deary. However, we did end up finding most of our party again there.
We got to eat lunch, and then Jason, David and I did some shopping. I got Korey some gifts, and they got some leather items. This was in the high-end section of town, though, complete with Armani and the like, so everything was very pricey! I was content with my purchase, though I saw many pairs of expensive shoes I'd love to have!!! =)
It's interesting how much more expensive things are here. Before you purchase anything, you have to consider that you have to add half of your purchase price to the amount you're spending in order to get the American $$ amount. Therefore, when you see something for 30 euros, you have to remember it's actually $45. I wish the dollar wasn't so weak. =(
We also saw some more churches afterwards and the museum recently completed by Richard Myer in 2006. (He also did the new branch of the High Museum, but I thought this work was much better.)
So far this trip has really been an eye opening experience. There are so many things different. No only big things like the language and public transit system and the thousands of little Smart Cars, but little things like the toilets and the way you leave your key card in the hotel lobby and how wireless internet isn't free everywhere.
And let me tell you something, if you thought Georgian's were bad drivers.... well, you have another thing coming!!! I think Korey'd like to have a heart attack if he saw me cross the street like I do. (Not to mention my mother!!!)
Overall though you never really feel alone like I was afraid you would because we always have people here from the school. I worried it'd feel like another world with the language barrier. But really, you get by.
I just wish we had more time!!
The airport was a very easy experience, but from there, it only went down hill.
When we got to the hotel around nine, Jereme's laptop bag was stolen within the first fifteen minutes! The hotel representatives wouldn't believe us at first, although we all saw the known suspect, and it was their fault for having us place all our bags in an unsecured room.
Nine hours later....
We finally have an informal police report and a new hotel. The new hotel is nicer and seems safer, but more people have to share a room together. We get to dinner, which is yummy, and then some of us inquire about making phone calls because we all have people wanting to hear from us back home.
Now, you might ask why we didn't make phone calls in the nine hours we spent hanging out in the first hotel's lobby. Well, it always seemed that any minute things were going to resolve themselves. No one wanted to wander too far from the hotel in case we had a solution. We didn't know it would be nine hours in the making.
Anyway, we go off to see some monuments after dinner. There was much to be fascinated by, and the old Roman monuments are marvelous when you think of how long ago they were made - in some cases over 2,000 years ago!!
We all started to get tired around midnight and started to head back. (Luckily, most of us got to take naps in the hotel lobby, although this is discouraged as a means of getting over jet lag and it is instead recommended to be in bed by nine.) At this point, it became obvious to me that the likelihood of me getting to call home was dropping by the second. My feet hurt like hell, and I'm going to admit it because everyone knows it anyway, I was crying almost the whole 30 minutes it took to get back to the hotel. I never thought I could possibly be so homesick, but every minute was like a stab in the heart. All I could do was think about what time it was back home and how worried Korey must be that I hadn't called him.
We finally realized phone calls would be impossible after getting back to the hotel and heading to Termini Station - the central hub of the train system.
Luckily I got to send Korey an e-mail, but it wasn't very satisfying. =(
Overall, today has been an overwhelming mix of emotions. Fear, confusion, anger, frustration, awe, sympathy, and excitement have all had their place. Hopefully, though, tomorrow will be better for me. I'll get to call Korey, alleviate some of my homesickness, and be able to get on to enjoying Rome. For now, I hope to get some sleep and that something gets settled with Jereme. =/ Even through my own issues, I feel worst for him.
Posted by Twila at 8:45:00 PM Modern Living Which would be hardest to live without? | |||||
Internet Access | 71.4% | 5 | |||
Television | 14.3% | 1 | |||
Your Cell Phone | 14.3% | 1 | |||
total votes: 7 |
Halloween Poll Should George be allowed to attend a concert at the Masquerade in Atlanta on Halloween Night? | |||||
No way. | 62.5% | 5 | |||
I would have been punished just for asking! | 25% | 2 | |||
Sure. Why not? | 12.5% | 1 | |||
total votes: 8 |