Sorry I'm so incredibly late in writing, but I've been quite busy and honestly, a bit lazy to fill you all in. Anyways, for the weekend of Immaculate Conception (we had a three day weekend) I went to Rome with my host family and some of their friends. Saturday, I left school early and we were off to Rome! It took about 5 or 6 hours to get there from my town. On the way, we stopped at a rest stop close to Naples and I got to eat a muffin (finally!!) and heard the Naples accent! For a while my host dad has been joking around about the Naples accent and when we entered the rest stop and heard a man talking he was like "Emily! Emily!! Naples accent! Listen!!!"
At the hotel we stayed in, everyone who worked there spoke English...it was so great! One night
we were sitting at the hotel restaurant and I heard a group of college students all speaking English. Later, I got to talk to two of them and one was Dutch (who also had had a bit too much to drink hahah) and the other was from Oregon! Though the Dutch guy was a bit crazy, it was so great to speak some English, and with an American too! Everywhere I went I saw and heard some English and I was very pleasantly surprised. As for Rome I saw so many beautiful things.
we were sitting at the hotel restaurant and I heard a group of college students all speaking English. Later, I got to talk to two of them and one was Dutch (who also had had a bit too much to drink hahah) and the other was from Oregon! Though the Dutch guy was a bit crazy, it was so great to speak some English, and with an American too! Everywhere I went I saw and heard some English and I was very pleasantly surprised. As for Rome I saw so many beautiful things.
The first night I had my first Roman pizza, we took a walk around the city, we passed by Termini Station, we saw Piazza della Rupublica, the "Wedding Cake," the Roman Forum, and the Colesseum. I was so amazed to be actually seeing these things in real life. It was all so beautiful, and definately like nothing I've ever seen before, and all these things were all lit up for the night.
The next day we first took the train straight to Vatican City and saw St Peter's Square. 
However, we were only able to stay for a bit because we were planning to see a lot of things that day and it was very crowded. After that we went walking to see all the sites. We went next to the Piazza del Popolo and to the Piazza di Spagna, saw the Parliament building, and the famous shopping street near 
there. Then, we saw the Trevi fountain, the Pantheon and after Piazza Navona. Apparently, when it rains, the rain doesn't enter through the hole of the Pantheon. I don't see how this is possible, but I'm curious to know if it's true! After all this walking we took the bus to the Colesseum and saw a bit more of that (however, we didn't go inside). We went back to the hotel to rest our feet for a while and then went out again to have some delicious Italian food. I got lasagna... yummm!!!
However, we were only able to stay for a bit because we were planning to see a lot of things that day and it was very crowded. After that we went walking to see all the sites. We went next to the Piazza del Popolo and to the Piazza di Spagna, saw the Parliament building, and the famous shopping street near 
there. Then, we saw the Trevi fountain, the Pantheon and after Piazza Navona. Apparently, when it rains, the rain doesn't enter through the hole of the Pantheon. I don't see how this is possible, but I'm curious to know if it's true! After all this walking we took the bus to the Colesseum and saw a bit more of that (however, we didn't go inside). We went back to the hotel to rest our feet for a while and then went out again to have some delicious Italian food. I got lasagna... yummm!!!
On Monday I got up early to go see the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel (fortunately, one of our friends offered to take me because my host family had forgotten to buy the tickets in advance). I saw so many beautiful things there. I walked around with my audio guide (in English!!!) so I could figure out what all the things I was looking at meant. The Sistine Chapel was amazing! There were just so many gorgeous things to see there. Before we went in, however, I saw the line for the people who hadn't made reservations and I felt so sorry for them: it was huge!
After that we went to St Peter's again and actually went inside the Basilica this time. Wow!
There was so much fantastic artwork, it was so big, and very peaceful. I even got to help a women who only spoke hebrew and english to explain what something was. It was exciting to feel so bilingual :P We decided to climb to the top of the Cupola. The stairs were quite frightening seeing as the walls were slanted, though it was all worth it. When I reached the top, it was spectacular! I could see the piazza down below and a great deal of Rome. Truly awing. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures from this day because my camera battery had died, but I hope all of you will be able to see it for yourself some day!
After that we went to St Peter's again and actually went inside the Basilica this time. Wow!
There was so much fantastic artwork, it was so big, and very peaceful. I even got to help a women who only spoke hebrew and english to explain what something was. It was exciting to feel so bilingual :P We decided to climb to the top of the Cupola. The stairs were quite frightening seeing as the walls were slanted, though it was all worth it. When I reached the top, it was spectacular! I could see the piazza down below and a great deal of Rome. Truly awing. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures from this day because my camera battery had died, but I hope all of you will be able to see it for yourself some day!
