Monday, January 3, 2011

Off to the Coast!

So we are packing tomorrow morning, for the second last time, and us three girls are heading to the coast of Rome. We are done our sight seeing in Rome, and the next two days will be days of relaxation. But Rome is amazing and full of amazing history. Here is the run through of our time in Rome:

Our first day was a lazy day. We got laundry done, which was desperately needed, and slept in. We walked to the grocery store and got breakfast for the week. Oh, and we walked to McDonalds in the evening, which was an adventure. I thought French drivers were crazy....then I saw Italian drivers. Every time I step out onto the street I risk my life, they are crazy here. Our taxi driver ran through a handful of red lights, and lines on the roads are 'suggestions,' not laws. But we thankfully got our McDonalds and made it back safely. We've eaten at a McDonalds in every country we have been. What an accomplishment, eh? Ha ha.

The next day, which I consider our first day in Rome, we went to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. We checked out the area around there and figured out the Metro. In order to get into the heart of Rome we have to take public transportation; a bus and a Metro. I will never complain about our public buses again, because they don't sound like they are going to break down and crash into a person or another vehicle every ten seconds. The combinations of a sketchy engine and back roads equals fear. Ha ha, but God is good!

The following day we hit up the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. We saw the Pantheon and the surrounding areas. Lots of walking! We also hit up the Medici Gardens. Lots of statues! I also had a crepe that day and I think us girls found some shopping. Actually, the main terminal called Termini has a bunch of shops. And McDonalds, their Euro menu, basically saved our life. We ate there basically once a day, cheap food that we knew would be good. Thank goodness we did so much walking...hopefully burned off all those calories. And for New Years we bought a ton of junk food, and rented movies, and partied in our room. We also saw crazy amounts of fireworks. I guess anyone can light them here, because they were going off all around us! The entire sky was lit up. It was crazyyy!

Then we went to Vatican City the next day. It was January first, so we thought maybe the Pope would be there, but there was actually nothing but line ups. So instead we walked around the area. It wasn't a super exciting day...and then the weather went bad and we headed back home.

The the following day, which happens to be yesterday for me, we went to Vatican City again hoping to see the Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. Well, what do you know; when we got there, it was packed, and the Pope was there. It was the first Sunday in the New Year. He was in some window way up in a tall building, but I got some pictures of him. Then we got inside the Basilica, and sat in a Masse for a couple minutes. It was fun, and the Sistine Chapel was unfortunately closed. On our way back we stopped at McDonalds...and it took like a half hour to get our food, and they messed up our order. It was chaos and I was happy to hit the hay and sleep.

Then today, we went to the Vatican Museum, where the Sistine Chapel is. After two hour in line, we finally got in. And though you aren't suppose to take picture of the Sistine Chapel, I snuck one or two pictures in. :) I am sneaky! It was fun. And then, the highlight of Rome, we rented Segways for an hour at the Medici Gardens and rode them around. It was a blast and all of us had so much fun.

And tomorrow we head out to the coast for two full days, then back to Bode. I am taking a night train back to Germany from Rome. And that's Rome in a nutshell!

We are all looking forward to Bode, and not spending money everyday on food. Plus I can't wait to have three full meals made for me each day, we have been getting by on bare minimum. Traveling is fun, but super tiring. Three weeks is a long time, and I can't wait for stability and routine. And I can't wait to not have to pack again for three months! I am so done with lugging my stuff around buses and train stations and airports.

And God is continually good. All I can do is praise Him and glorify Him for everything.

Happy New Years! 2011!
Miss and Love you all,
Jessica

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