3rd stop...Rome...

So we leave from Florence and take a train to Rome. Clayton went to find out where the local train left from to go to the other train station to then get our other train to Rome. He came back yelling, “Let’s go it leaves in 1 minute!!” We then just started running through the station looking like idiots because we really could have caught the next one…in 10 minutes. We made in time and then took the train to Rome. We had to arrive at the hostel by 6 and our train got in at 5, so we were in a hurry. Thank goodness our hostel was only like 10 minutes walking from the station and we found it really easily. It’s kind of like the Florence one, just looks ghetto from the outside (a little door with a doorbell) and we walked up the stairs not knowing where to go, by this time we are getting pretty good at this though. They led us to our room – 3 flights of stairs and this one has 6 beds in it (4 bunks and 2 singles). We thought, oh good this bathroom looks better than the other one…that’s what we thought right! So we were pretty exhausted by this point, but we then went to go get dinner that the hostel recommended – they said to ask for Mario…haha. He was there and he gave us free bruschetta!! It was really delicious and I love Italian food. After dinner we went to the internet place which also does laundry and spent around an hour on the computers. we just came back and then showered – that felt much better. But what the “funny” thing is – our toilet doesn’t flush. We go to tell them and they say they can’t do anything until the next day. Greatttttt.



So we start looking in the travel books to see the best way to tackle the Vatican City. We decide that the game plan will be to get up early and try to beat the crowds. (You also have to remember that this is right during Karwoche - Holy Week...). So we take the subway, get off, and do the logical thing....FOLLOW THE NUNS! haha.





The nuns that we were following. :)



We wanted to go into St. Peter's Basilica first since it opened before everything else. There was a huge line already outside and we weren't really sure where we were supposed to go. Well we stand in line for the church and realize that most people have red tickets. I then asked a girl what line we were really standing in and she said you had to have them to go to the mass that day….hmmm. We ditched that plan and asked a guard, he said that no, you can still go in and look around – it’s all in the same line. Oh well we already had gotten out of line, so headed to the Vatican Museums because we realized it opened at 8:45. We got into line there and waited probably around 30 or 45 minutes – a couple from Wales was in front of us so we talked to them for a while. We finally got to the front of the line and bought our tickets to get in – we got student tickets – it went from 14 to 8 euros so that is good! We had to run to the restroom because we were all about to pee our pants since our toilet didn’t obviously work in the morning.



There was a ton of things to see inside the museums but we kind of just strolled through and got to the Sistine Chapel to gaze all around. No pictures allowed. :( There were tons of guards yelling no pictures at people who tried – they also shooshed people a lot too. The front wall of the depiction of heaven and hell was awesome, but the famous part of God’s hand almost touching man’s wasn’t as big or spectacular as what I thought. It was a small piece in the middle amongst everything else. We got a snack and finished looking around there for a while. Once we left, the line was RIDICULOUS! We were smiling so big for how it had turned out that we went early and straight there because it would have taken hours for us to get in. So we then decided that we were going to go to St. Peter’s finally, and then it started pouring rain. We get to the end of the line, what now? Hail.





Me in front of St. Peter's Basilica





I'm obviously have the world in my arms





The ceiling of one of the halls in the Vatican Museum







Outside St. Peter's



We wait through the line and it actually didn't take that long and we were glad to get in from the bad weather. The breath was literally taken out of me when I saw the inside. It wasn't as ornate with gold like the one at Melk Abbey, it was just absolutely beautiful and hugeeeee. Obviously, its the biggest in the world but still. There were basically like "little" churches within the church I felt like. We spent a while in there and it was amazing.

The altar area of the church

We then wanted to walk to the top, so we waited in line...again....and bought a ticket to go to the cupola. It was 551 steps, but SO worth it. I really don't think that anyone should skip this ever in their life if they go. You go up around half way or so, then it opens into the middle of the dome inside the church and you can see down.

Picture from inside the dome. There were fences around, so I tried to get it through one of the holes. You can see the little people in the aisles below.

You then go outside, but can't really see down then continue up the stairs. Some parts were so narrow and the walls were actually slanted at some points too. Not for the faint of heart....haha. But the view then was again....one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. Look below.

Rome/Vatican City from atop St. Peter's - absolutely breathtaking

After that we were so exhausted....basically the whole trip but once again for a good reason, so we got some food at this one little restaurant that Caitlin's travel book recommended. It was hilarious because he couldn't speak English, but we understood some words he was saying. We would order something and he would say he didn't have it. He then listed three things that he did have. As soon as I tried to order, he was like...NO NO NO , you need the lemon chicken...I was like...umm ok? Then Clayton and Caitlin ordered too and he told them no and told them what they "should" order. Mind you...all this is in Italian. We were just laughing and thought...oh well, we'll get something! It turned out to be pretty good after all, even if its not what we wanted! We went to the hostel since we had been up since like 6 or so and didn't get back until like 5. LONG DAY. Of course when we got back we wanted to know if our toilet was fixed...it was...kind of. The flushing just wasn't exactly good. So then we all want to take hot showers because it had been a long day, we walk into the bathroom and the showerhead is on the toilet seat. It was one of those kinds that has the long metal rope and then the showerhead is kind of big. So now all of us get to shower basically with a waterhose - having to hold it with one hand the entire time. COOL.

The next day (Good Friday) we decided to dedicate it to the Colosseum. We woke up and went somewhat early - did the whole Roman Forum, Palantine Hill thing. It's so weird to see these ancient ruins right in the middle of a huge city, but still cool nonetheless! Here's some pics...

Roman Colosseum from a distance
Huge archway next to the Colosseum

Me sitting ON a huge Roman ruin


All of us

Me with a background of the Colosseum

Awesomeness
Inside the magnificent world wonder! So if you are confused, there used to be covering over all that stuff on the ground. You can kind of see what it looked like with a floor in the corner. Underneath it was where the people (gladiators, etc), animals, and other things were kept. The funny thing is that they used to fill it with water and have mock sea battles. Who would have known!

All I'm thinking of now is the movie Gladiator and how I want to watch it.

Me in front of the Trevi Fountain. You are supposed to throw your coin in over your shoulder and if you throw 1 its said that you will visit Rome again if you throw 2 in you are said to find love in Rome. I also learned that around 3,000 Euros are thrown in everyday...they are making a killing.

We get home once again to see if it's fixed...it is...once again or so we thought. Emily was taking a shower we hear a scream followed by laughter- turns up that the shower head just broke off. They "fixed" it by basically trying to screw it back on - which was impossible in the first place. Here were are again...with a hose.

The rest of the time in Rome was basically exploring, trying to find a market, eating, etc. all while it was pouring the whole week. I also went to a Good Friday service and Easter Sunday service just down the street from us in one of the Vatican City Basilica's - what an experience. People tease Lutherans for having long services....ok no. It was like 2.5 hours and all in Italian/Latin? I just a little missed getting to sing "Jesus Christ has Risen Today" since it only comes once a year, but still it was an experience I won't forget!