When in Rome..

Just thought I'd give a quick update during the week because we've been so busy, and I don't want my next post to be jam-packed!

Caitlin, Katie, Sarah, Sidney, and Dr. Bullock at breakfast in the garden of our hotel in Florence

We got to Rome yesterday (right in the middle of traffic, and Roman drivers are NOT friendly). After checking in to our hotel, we went on a tour with our tour guide for the week (I think his name is Bruno?). Let me tell you.. this guy is boring, at best. His English is broken at best (he inserts an "um" in between almost every word) and he speaks in monotone. Nonetheless, I try to pay attention. We went to three different churches, none of which I can remember the name. They were beautiful though!

One had on display a pillar upon which Jesus was supposed to have been thrashed. I asked Dr. Bullock how historically accurate that pillar was, and he told me I had to go on faith.

Later that evening, we went back to the hotel to meet up with Martin, the trip coordinator. Martin is AWESOME! He is a towering (well over 6 foot) man in his 70s who used to be a Green Beret. He is no B.S. and tells you straight up what you need to know about each church, museum, and historical sight we go (along with some funny anecdotes).

Last night, he took us to the Roman Forum at dusk and gave us a Roman history lesson.

We spent the later part of the night drinking wine and playing card games up on the terrace on the top floor of our hotel. Unfortunately, I couldn't find my pocketknife to open the wine, so I had to suavely convince the bartender at the rooftop bar (whose drinks we WEREN'T buying) to let me borrow his bottle opener. We weren't really supposed to be on the rooftop unless we bought drinks from the bar..

Today we had a loooonnngggg, HOT day. We got up and went to the Coliseum with our mediocre tour guide. The Coliseum was impressive; what was most interesting were the cages and barracks built below where the gladiators would have fought.

Next we hiked up the Palatine Hill and saw more ruins. Supposedly the Palatine is where Romulus (the founder of Rome) built his palace. We also wandered through the Roman Forum. I feel kind of guilty having taken Latin for 6 years and not being more excited/enthralled/enthusiastic about all the Roman history I experienced today. Unfortunately, the heat was really getting to me, on top of having low blood sugar (a pastry around 11 a.m. helped). I'll read up in the Fodor's guide and hopefully be able to describe more later.

the Coliseum

3 Ls with the Forum in the background

Roman Forum 

After refueling for lunch, I felt much better. Martin (the BEST (unofficial) tour guide) took us to a church that was built over three different layers of history. After entering the church, you were in a Medieval building. On the -2 level, you were on a Roman street, and below that was the ancient sewer system of Rome. Basically, it illustrates how much has been built up over the centuries.

Tonight, Lizzy, Sidney, Lanier, and Chris and I went to a delicious restaurant that my Fodor's guide to Italy (Lanier has renamed it "the Bible" due to its 1,000+ pages) recommended. The restaurant was in a trendy area near the Trevi Fountains where we're going on Thursday. I had some yummy pasta and salad, and even tried some of Lizzy's steak, which was the house specialty.

Tomorrow we are going to ST. PETER'S BASILICA! I can't wait. It's going to BEAUTIFUL. We may even see the Pope, since he's holding his visitation hours tomorrow.

Cross your fingers for me :)