So. Much. Walking

Buonasera,

Taking some time to relax before going out for dinner so I decided I'd update everyone on the past few days. It's been tough since my laptop is broken again already so I'm having to use an old PC desktop in our apartment that's sooo slow.

For those who don't feel like reading all of this (it's a long blog, I have some time to kill) here's the highlights of the day.

1. Castel San Angelo
2. John Paul II Bobblehead
3. St Peters Square/Basilica
4. Club Mood

Anyways, with the exception of the laptop everything else is going great and smooth. So to catch you up, Thursday was mostly spent at AUR doing orientation things and then at a neat pizzeria at night, wasn't too eventful/I can't exactly remember what I did because these days are all blurring together. I feel like I've been here weeks but its really only been a few days, wow.

Yesterday (Friday) was real fun. Went to Castel San Angelo which was really cool and sturdy for a building 2000 years old. Got a good view of the city from up there and of course made sure to spot out 'il passetto' from Angels and Demons ha.



After San Angelo, we (my roommates and some friends) got pizza at an amazing pizzeria right across the bridge and then I professionally negotiated with a street vendor to get a Pope John Paul II Bobblehead (sweet, right?) for only 7 Euros (the price tag was for 25, I'm good). He now stands guard and stares over us in our main hallway here at the apartment. Oh and I bought 40 postcards so send me your address if you want me to send you one!

After lunch, we did the Vatican, what a sight. As if walking into Saint Peters Square wasn't incredible enough, we climbed all 550 steps to the top of the Basilica Dome for a view that left me speechless (you guys know its hard to shut me up).



Down inside the Basilica, the atmosphere was just as memorable. Despite being in the biggest church I've ever been in, full with tourists, you could have heard a pin drop there because of how quiet and reverent everyone was. They had the body of Pope John 23rd (I think?) by the front alter eerily perfectly preserved despite him being dead for over 50 years. Being in there just gave an indescribable feeling. Next we went down into the tombs and I got to touch my St Michael Medallion necklace on the tomb of John Paul II (soon to be beatified while I'm here). That was pretty neat. People were trembling on their knees at the sight of his tomb. Got a decent picture of that that I'll put up, but started getting yelled at for having a camera out where I wasn't supposed to (wasn't the first time that happened Friday, won't be the last time, oops, I'm over it.)



Got to experience the night scene here American style for the first time. We went out to Campo dei Fiori which is the American area of the city. It was nice to walk by people and here English being spoken for a change. The area we live in here is all Italian, it's not even pictured on most maps of Rome, that's how untouristy it is.

Overall was a fun day, so much walking though. Oh and our last roommate finally arrived, shout out to you Ryan.