Roma

Dear Readers!

On November 22, three days after returning from Paris and the day after my 21st birthday I boarded another plane and flew to the magical city of Roma in Italy.

So let's start from the beginning. I am sure many of you are aware of a gentlemen named Rick Steves author of the informational guides of Europe and really the world.

He wrote books for every country in Europe taking special care to inform people where to go, where to stay and the safe and not so safe places to travel.
His son, Andy Steves learned from his father about safe traveling in Europe and all over the world. Andy, now a graduate and famous world traveler created a program for young students studying abroad in Europe. It is called Weekend Student Adventures (WSA) This is a program that makes traveling to different cities and countries easy and affordable for the college student budget. 200 euros later and a 100 euro ticket I was booked and ready to fly to see Roma in all it's beauty.
When I arrived I found my hostel and unpacked what little I brought for the next three days. The trip only allows a certain amount of people and we all stared two rooms, 8 person rooms. About 6 people arrived on Thursday so we went out to eat and hang out. The night came fast in the winters chill and we went to bed soon so to be ready and prepared for the day to come.

Day 1:  Ancient Roma
We woke early and met our tour guide, Andy himself, and got the day started. Boarded one of two metros that make a big X under the earth of Roma. 15 American students studying all over Europe, Ireland, Paris, London piled into the metro and road it to the closest station. When we walked out my mouth literately dropped open in surprise. This is what I saw...

The first thing I was the magnificent Roman Colosseum. Originally called the Flavian Amphitheatre,  construction began in 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian was completed in 80 AD under Titus. The Colosseum was once a lace of brutality and entertainment. A place where men would fight animals from all over the world. And men would prove their honour with a sing of their sword. Kings would watch, and pass judgment upon the fallen. The people of Roma would cheer and scream as their favorite Gladiator fought for his life, and with his own blood and sweat won his freedom.
We met our tour guide, a British man who studied the Roman's for many years. Our tour began by leading us into this magnificent structure and see where hundreds of people lost their lives and some gained their freedom.

 Inside the Colosseum, it was a life changing experience. It was like I could feel the energy's of the dead, their screams and battle cries still lingering in the air of a crumbling city. Their blood long sunk into the sand and stone that forever wait at the bottom of the columns.

We left the Colosseum and headed towards a place right across the way, called the Roman Fourm. This was once the Roman City Center now almost 20 feet below modern Roma. This old piece of the reeks of story, the streets are still flat stones larger than a grown man and the old buildings still hold their rich history. 

We walked for another hour, looking and taking the in the age and history of one of the greatest cities in all of Europe. A place where men conquered and lived to serve the god their loved.
This day was my favorite, because I have a fascination with history and a soft spot for crumbling buildings.

Climbing our of the Roman Fourm we walked down the steps of the building to the right. I am not sure what it was called but it was three different museums with two huge statues waiting at the entrance. You can see the people below and see how they compare to the sheer size of these guys. Everything is really BIG in Roma. They sure like to make a statement with all their beautiful art and rich history.

For those of you who have seen the movie Angels and Demons or read the book I just want to say how AMAZING this was to stand at the base of the Pantheon, one of the oldest churches in Roma. The Pantheon, the name meaning "temple consecrated to all gods" and was rebuild in 126 AD. What makes this church stand out from the rest is the oculus, a giant whole in the middle of the ceiling which lights the entire inside with natural light. And even on a slightly cloudy day like this one the entire inside was beautifully lit.

What made this WSA trip so successful was after the start of the day with tours, Andy let us free into the city to explore on our own time. We had a choice to either go back to the hostel to sleep or walk around the city and get food and see everything possible. We chose to walk around. We stopped at a cute little restraunt and had pasta and "sexy wine" which is the best in all of Roma.

As the sun went down on our first day my group and I found this huge building and said "I bet the view is fantastic from up there." With a glance at each other we took off up the stairs and into the building trying to find stairs to get us all the way to the top. 10 euros and a elevator ride up we walked out to see this...

...A beautiful view of the city at sunset. In the distance if you look close enough you can see the Vatican and all of Roma.

We stayed on top of this building for almost an hour, staring off into the sun kissed city, slowly the lights of the town began to light and the golden rays disappeared behind white car lights and honking horns. 

When night fell we regrouped with our entire party and met Andy back at the Hostel. Andy spent his undergraduate year abroad in Roma so he was very well eager to show us the town nightlight and boy was it fun! After some welled earned gelato we walked the town until we found a pub. Many of us made it an early night because the next day was going to be even more walking. By this time of the day I realized I had brought the wrong shoes to walk on the cobblestone streets of Roma. So a long nights rest was what I needed.

Day 2: Vatican City

This day had us going to the smallest country in the world, Vatican City. For those who know me well, I follow my own string of religious, picking and choosing from many old and ancient beliefs. But I have to say I was so unbelievable excited to see the Vatican in person because this is where it began, the worldly struggle of church and state.

We arrived early and met the same tour guide as yesterday. And began our tour of Vatican City.

 As we walked slowly through the rooms and hallways filled with statues of old and paintings and rugs and anything you could think of.
This statue to my left is a great piece. It is a great piece representing a famous man in Troy. The right hand man of the king, who warned the king and his men not to let the Trojan horse into the city. A powerful goddess, who was in favor of the Greeks, sent her sea serpent into the man's chambers to devour him and his two sons therefore killing him before he had time to stop Troy from allowing the horse into the city and ending the war.

Do you recognize this? You should. Cause I broke the law to get it. Ok that was a little dramatic! But it is a picture of the Sistine Chapel painted be Michelangelo. This was such a great thing to see in person, though the guards stood only a few feet away shouting "no photos" I bravely brought my camera out and took a picture photo of one of the greatest art piece in the world.

After our little Sistine Chapel adventure we walked a little ways to see the Vatican. This was not only a wonderful and moving sight it was also a spiritual one as well. I will keep going back to the movie Angels and Demons, if you want first of all a great movie and a great way to see Roma, watch that one.

Inside was very beautiful but it made me wonder why a church made to represent God and the Pope would be so grand while the rest of the city was not as taken care of? It made my think how money was poured into the making of this amazing building instead of it's people. Which is not the first time I guess. But seeing the Vatican in person was a moving experience.

As we were sent free into the city once again my group and I walked along the river and until we found this structure. This is the mighty fort that the Pope will escape to if something threatens his life. It is a huge building enforced and guarded by the swiz guard. I feel as if this is becoming an advertisement for Angels and Demons but really it's a great movie and worth the watch! All the major buildings you've seen in my blog are in that movie along with a great storyline.

As out day came to an end we found a beautiful courtyard which housed a lot of younger people. It seemed it was a great place to hangout and spend time with friends. We sat and relaxed and watched the sunset around the city again.

We did call it an early night and go back to the hostel, our feet throbbing and our minds overloaded we  took a cat nap and relaxed until nightfall.


Our final destination before a long meal and a night on the town we stopped at the Fontana di Trevi. This is one of the most spectacular fountains in all of Roma. Said to represent the Ocean. The God of the sea Neptune. There are two horses, one being led by Neptune so show the calmness of the sea while the other is of a wild horse struggling agasint Neptune's power.

American students studying all over Europe came together for three days, and bonded for life. WSA Roma 2012 will forever be remembered!