Day 45. ROME/FLORENCE

Last day in Rome was bittersweet. We were excited to going to Florence, but sad to be leaving the beach we had grown to love so much. We checked out of our hostel and headed to the beach for one last hurrah before we caught our train to Florence. Perfect beach day. We went to the same private beach we had the day before. We got to do water aerobics in the sea. So fun.We took tons of pictures and had lots of people offer to help. Our favorite were 2 Austira guys that kept saying, "Play with the Camera!" over and over again. Here are some frames from our beach photo shoot.

When we got to Florence that night we ran into the sister missionaires who helped us find our hostel. We weren't sure what to expect since we were only paying 12 euros a night but we were pleasantly surprised. When we arrived the nightlife of Florence was in full swing. There is just something about being in a big city at night that I love more than anything. Everything is more magical. We found a gelato shop ordered our favorite flavors and then wandered the streets.

I never in a million years thought I would be able to travel around Europe with a bunch of my friends.

Day 44. ROME

POPE DAY. 
Have you ever seen the Pope in person? I have. :] 

On Wed. morning we woke up early to go explore Vatican City. We met the tour guide at 9am and then she ushered us in the Vatican. The Pope was set to arrive around 10:15 and then afterwards we would start our actual tour of the Vatican Museum and grounds.

These are the Pillars that surround Vatican City. 

Did You know that Vatican City is actually it's own country? Smallest country in the world. I am embarassed to admit that until our tour guide announced it I had no idea. They have their own money, postal system, and police (which are Swiss...).

The Pope was running a little late so we didn't get to see him until about 10:45. This bright orchestra music started coming and all of a sudden there was the Pope riding around on this golf cart looking car waving to the crowd. The people in the square went nuts. Cheering, laughing, pointing, ignoring the guards and standing on charirs. It was really fun. The Pope gave everyone their a blessing. So techincally I have been personally blessed by the Pope. Alright.

After seeing the Pope we started our tour and boy was it a long one. I have no idea how tourist come to Rome and do things without a tour guide. I would have been so lost. I learned so much about Michelangelo. He was a pretty amazing sculptor that was then forced to be a painter.  Seeing the Sistine Chapel was incredible. I have been in a lot of cathedrals since I began this study abroad and none of them were as grand as this one. The main painting above the alter took Michelangelo five years to complete and that was just one wall! I have a much greater appreciation for art. I consider myself much more cultured for having seen all of these things. Now I just need to study them.

 This is the Pope. I could've touched him if there hadn't been a million guards surrounding him. 

Inside the Vatican Museum 

St. Petersburg Cathedral 

The Vatican tour took 4 hours and by the end we were all exhausted and ready for the beach. The weather was even better than it had been the previous day so we were all itching to put on our suits and get in the water. It takes about an hour to get outside of Rome to the beach. We went to a different spot and ended up paying 3 euros to get on an enclosed beach. It was beautiful. I took a very relaxing nap.
 
For dinner we hit up this place called the Old Wild West. Yes. In Italy we ate "American" food. The best part about this restaurant was that there was a map of Utah right above the door. Apparently we are still cowboys that like to chase Indians. The inside decor was complete with covered wagons and tepees. Hilarious.

Provo didn't make the cut.

Rome was the pefect mix of historical sites and beach relaxation. None of us wanted to leave the next day. Good thing our train didn't leave until 4:45pm so we could spend a little bit more time at the beach.

Day 43. ROME

Rome day #2 was dedicated to the beach. Unfortunately when we woke up it was raining! Appropriate because it seems to rain in every single city that we have been to. We decided that instead of heading directly to the beach we would make our way over to the Pantheon. After sleeping in a moseying over there we arrived at about noon and the clouds had burned off revealing nothing but blue skies. We were all really excited.
    The Pantheon is the largest dome in Italy that is constructed without any support rods. It is just cement. I was so glad that I had a bunch of people with me that have taken art history classes. Without them I would have been so lost this entire trip. The dome lets in light and because it was initially cloudy when we got there the light was much more concentrated. It was a really beautiful building. After spending time there taking pictures and such we went wandering and found a really neat cathedral.
     Cathedrals always surprise me in big cities because it doesn't matter how loud it is outside. When you get inside it is a sanctuary. They are always peaceful. Unless there is a tourist group with a tour guide. I just took a moment to sit down and think about things. Ever since I had to do the whole pray in a Cathedral thing for my writing class I have no issues with offering up a prayer in a public place.
    After the cathedral we grabbed snacks and headed to the beach. I love the beach. There is just something about the rolling waves and the warm sand between your toes that instantly makes you a happier person. i got to swim in the Mediterranean Sea. How cool is that? The beach was a gray sand beach which I had never seen before so cross that off my life to do list.
     For dinner we hit up this local restaurant that our tour guide David from the previous day mentioned. I love eating with the locals. Makes me feel like a lot less of a tourist, which I like. I got pizza. Pizza in Italy. Could life get anymore perfect? I don't think so.
    It was also Jana's birthday so we celebrated back at the hostel with a granola bar and some nutella. Her animal birthday card was pretty sweet too.

Pillar of Light. 

 

 Construction?! Really. Shouldn't ruins be kept ruined?

My current/future Roomie!

On the beach. 

This pizza may look gross... but rest assured it was one of the most delicious pizzas I have ever had. And yes there was egg on it.

Whitney is one of the most hilarious people I have ever met.

Let Jana's birthday celebration begin! 

Another successful day in Rome? Check. Check. Check. 

Day 42. ROME

ROMA ROMA ROMA.

    After long train ride through the Italian countryside we finally made it to Rome. The train station was GIANT and so we spent a significant amount of time trying to figure out where we could buy tickets for the remainder of our trip. Eventually we found the right line and we pleased to find out that people in Italy are much nicer than the ones in Austria. The man we nicknamed "Italian Norbert" helped us purchase all of the tickets we needed for only 87 euros. He wanted to make sure that we got the best deal. Nice guy. After we made our way out to the Hostel. We bought a map to help us get there only to figure out that we were standing on the street where it was. 

    The Mosaic hostel. Nice place. I don't know about you but whenever I envision the word Hostel I think of some super sketchy place and isn't clean. Lucky for us the Mosaic was not only nice but they provided breakfast for us in the morning. Score! We went and put our backpacks in the luggage room and then went off to explore Rome! 

    Rome is a beautiful city. It is just such a different way of life. The architecture is lavish and all of the buildings are old. I mean this country has been around for thousands of years. We decided to go to the Colosseum first. It is HUGE in person. I had always learned about it in school but never really understood the magnitude of this historic structure. We had the cutest tour guide take us around. She explained in her thick Italian accent what was original and what wasn't. I love having tours otherwise I have no idea what is going on. We also went up and explored Palatin Hill. It was the center of the Roman Empire. Pretty sweet huh? After our long tour we were tired and hot so we headed back to the hostel where they fed us dinner. Love. 

    Have you ever seen the Lizze Mcquire movie? Cause pretty sure we were quoting that movie the whole day. We ran off at night to the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. Just wandering the streets of Rome at night eating Gelato. Pretty much perfect. The weather was amazing! Not to hot not to cold. We hung out with the locals and talked to people from all over the world and just lived it up. 

In front of the Spanish Steps at night. We weren't really sure why they are so famous so we started asking people. Apparently no one really knows.

Coins to make a wish!

Love these girls. 

Inside the Colosseum 

Me and Ambree! Doing a photo shoot of ourselves on Palantin Hill.

 Poor Guy.

Spanish Steps at Night!

In front of the Trevi Fountain!

First day in Rome was a complete success! We went back to the hostel collapsed into our beds ready to do it all again the next day.