Rome
How can you even describe visiting Rome. The infamous Roman Empire, the Colosseum, the Vatican- the list goes on. Being in Rome was surreal. It was almost so much history at one time that I couldn't absorb it all. We'e been learning about this part of history our whole lives and now I am seeing it in real life? It was really hard to take in. We were in Rome from Palm Sunday to Wednesday. To say that it was "really crowded" would be the understatement of the year. It was actually indescribable how crowded it truly was. Before we arrived in Rome, nearly all of our friends had mentioned to us to be careful. People's phones had been stolen right out of their hand, right off the table, or camera's taken in broad day light straight off your wrist. The list went on. Needless to say, we didn't want to bring anything out in public with us. We kept everything we needed in our money belts and that worked out fine.
Daily Life
Kristi, Abby and I on the Spanish steps
My mom warned us in February to book our hostel for this week, because being Rome during holy week had to be expensive and filling up fast. She was right. We ended up finding a room in a hostel all of our U of I friends had recommended us. It was pretty expensive, so we got a room to ourself with three beds and had four people sleeping there. It ended up working out great. Having your own room is truly a treat when you travel so much! Two of the beds were right next to each other, so the girls slept three people to two beds, it was perfectly fine! The hostel's name was Yellow Hostel and it is definitely one of my favorites so far. It had an awesome kitchen on the first floor with really cheap food &. They had this big appetizer for happy hour with mozzarella sticks, caprese salad, cous cous, and potato wedges for only 3 euro! It was awesome.
Our friends studying in Rome told us not to drink the tap water. They said their professors warned them it could give you kidney stones. We listened to that advice, but then they told us we could drink from these strange fountains randomly placed in the ground. Apparently this water was the cleanest. So strange!
Our first experience on the metro was exactly what everyone had warned us about. The metro arrives at the stop and it is already filled to capacity. People were already standing at basically the edge of the door. If this were Chicago, you better believe we would not want to be in that close of contact with people for a ride home from work- you would wait for the next train. Not in Rome. People literally had to bulldoze their way onto the already jam-packed metro. So, we realized there was no alternative- "when in Rome". Being on the metro was a hot, sweaty, SMELLY, ride and we could instantly realize how easy it was to get pick pocketed. Our friends had warned us that little girls and boys are typically the ones to pick-pocket, so don't think you are safe standing by little kids. If not for our money belts, I probably would have gotten pick-pocketed. This little old lady that was standing next to Kyle kept trying to speak to him in Italian. He had no idea what she was saying but she kept looking at me. He got the notion that she was trying to tell him to tell me to watch the right hand side of me. Clearly, this old lady was a pro at metros and new all of the pick-pocketer's tricks. I virtually had nothing in any of my pockets, so I would have been fine. But, to be on a metro and actually not know if all of your stuff will make it back with you is scary! After this experience, we wanted to take a cab as often as we could. We figured spending a few extra dollars would be worth never having to worry about our stuff getting taken or people harassing us. I would advise anyone going to Rome to NOT bring out a purse. You are just asking for someone you "think you can trust" to take advantage of your kind American heart and steal your stuff. Don't trust little children and don't trust people trying to "help" you at train ticket purchasing counters!
Our friends studying in Rome told us not to drink the tap water. They said their professors warned them it could give you kidney stones. We listened to that advice, but then they told us we could drink from these strange fountains randomly placed in the ground. Apparently this water was the cleanest. So strange!
Our first experience on the metro was exactly what everyone had warned us about. The metro arrives at the stop and it is already filled to capacity. People were already standing at basically the edge of the door. If this were Chicago, you better believe we would not want to be in that close of contact with people for a ride home from work- you would wait for the next train. Not in Rome. People literally had to bulldoze their way onto the already jam-packed metro. So, we realized there was no alternative- "when in Rome". Being on the metro was a hot, sweaty, SMELLY, ride and we could instantly realize how easy it was to get pick pocketed. Our friends had warned us that little girls and boys are typically the ones to pick-pocket, so don't think you are safe standing by little kids. If not for our money belts, I probably would have gotten pick-pocketed. This little old lady that was standing next to Kyle kept trying to speak to him in Italian. He had no idea what she was saying but she kept looking at me. He got the notion that she was trying to tell him to tell me to watch the right hand side of me. Clearly, this old lady was a pro at metros and new all of the pick-pocketer's tricks. I virtually had nothing in any of my pockets, so I would have been fine. But, to be on a metro and actually not know if all of your stuff will make it back with you is scary! After this experience, we wanted to take a cab as often as we could. We figured spending a few extra dollars would be worth never having to worry about our stuff getting taken or people harassing us. I would advise anyone going to Rome to NOT bring out a purse. You are just asking for someone you "think you can trust" to take advantage of your kind American heart and steal your stuff. Don't trust little children and don't trust people trying to "help" you at train ticket purchasing counters!
The Vatican
Kristi, Abby and I in front of the Vatican
Kristi's mom recommended to us that we should take a tour of the Vatican, because it allows you to cut the lines. Really though, thank God we did this. The line to even get into the Vatican Museum was probably 4 hours long and wrapped around every wall of the Vatican. I did not know prior to my arrival that the Vatican is actually its own country and city with a population of 800. I thought this was pretty cool, especially because it has its own post office. Also, during WWII the Pope was so sensitive about Rome getting bombed he declared Vatican City a neutral safe-zone. The Vatican tour took us through the Vatican museum, the Sistine Chapel, and ended in St. Peter's square. It took us about 4 hours.
The Vatican museum dates back to 1506 and when you see the huge fortress walls- this is very believable. Among the most famous works inside the museum are the original tapestries hung in the Sistine Chapel. These were enormous, woven cloths depicting various religious stories that used to be hung at the base of the Sistine Chapel as a way to insulate it in the winter. The tapestries eventually started fading from exposure to sunlight, so the tapestries were moved into a dark room in the museum. Another famous set of works in the museum is the "Gallery of maps". These are maps of Italy commissioned in 1572. It was so interesting to see what people thought the country used to look like. They were beautiful, hand drawn maps.
My favorite part of the Vatican tour was going into see the Sistine Chapel. I have a very vivid memory of sitting in Mrs. Szalaj's class in 6th grade and having Mrs. Whitney come to give art day. She had us tape paper plates to the bottom of our desks and then we had to lay on our backs and paint the paper plates. Obviously, she was trying to show us how extremely difficult it would be to actually do that. The memory stuck. Walking into the Chapel was so surreal. Our guide told us that the style of painting Michelangelo used is called 'fresca'. This means that the colors for the painting are all retrieved from nature. When wet plaster is applied to a surface, the painter must immediately use the oils from fruits or plants and apply them to the plaster. There is no room for mistake, because when the plaster dries it can never be altered. Knowing all of this and seeing how absolutely beautiful the chapel was made it all the more impressive. Unfortunately, there are no pictures allowed inside of the Vatican!
At the end of the picture reel below, you will see another dark brick building. There is actually an underground tunnel from the Vatican to this other building that the Pope escapes you in times of threatened security!
The Vatican museum dates back to 1506 and when you see the huge fortress walls- this is very believable. Among the most famous works inside the museum are the original tapestries hung in the Sistine Chapel. These were enormous, woven cloths depicting various religious stories that used to be hung at the base of the Sistine Chapel as a way to insulate it in the winter. The tapestries eventually started fading from exposure to sunlight, so the tapestries were moved into a dark room in the museum. Another famous set of works in the museum is the "Gallery of maps". These are maps of Italy commissioned in 1572. It was so interesting to see what people thought the country used to look like. They were beautiful, hand drawn maps.
My favorite part of the Vatican tour was going into see the Sistine Chapel. I have a very vivid memory of sitting in Mrs. Szalaj's class in 6th grade and having Mrs. Whitney come to give art day. She had us tape paper plates to the bottom of our desks and then we had to lay on our backs and paint the paper plates. Obviously, she was trying to show us how extremely difficult it would be to actually do that. The memory stuck. Walking into the Chapel was so surreal. Our guide told us that the style of painting Michelangelo used is called 'fresca'. This means that the colors for the painting are all retrieved from nature. When wet plaster is applied to a surface, the painter must immediately use the oils from fruits or plants and apply them to the plaster. There is no room for mistake, because when the plaster dries it can never be altered. Knowing all of this and seeing how absolutely beautiful the chapel was made it all the more impressive. Unfortunately, there are no pictures allowed inside of the Vatican!
At the end of the picture reel below, you will see another dark brick building. There is actually an underground tunnel from the Vatican to this other building that the Pope escapes you in times of threatened security!
The Pantheon
Rome feels like such an enormous city. In comparison to the other locals we have met, Roman's are not particularly friendly, unless you can speak some Italian. In Florence and Venice, you hear mostly English. We were a little surprised that Romans did not know more English, because it is such a tourist attraction, but we can't be mad- it's our fault we don't know Italian! I have mentioned before how seriously Italians and Spaniards take their siestas. After our Vatican tour, we went to get some pizza. Kyle asked the owner what his favorite thing on the menu was. The owner responded that it had to be pasta because he cannot serve us pizza now because it would take to long. We asked him if it's possible for us to order pizza, even if it takes a while. He was really serious about it- no pizza! We could not figure out if they were closing because people were still coming in, but then we realized as soon as everyone left, they could go home for siesta.
The major sights in Rome are all pretty close together, so if it wasn't really awful weather we would have been able to do everything in a day. But after so much rain, it's time for a shower. Since we had our own room- we actually showered. I can't say the same for other legs of the vacation.
Next stop was the Pantheon! This temple was built to worship the Roman gods in 126 AD. Even after 2,000 years after its construction, it is still the oldest un-reinforced concrete dome in the world. It is one of the best preserved buildings from Roman history. One of the most impressive facts about this building is that it only took 3 years to build. Yes it took over 700 construction workers. But nowadays, you know this sort of project would take forever!
The major sights in Rome are all pretty close together, so if it wasn't really awful weather we would have been able to do everything in a day. But after so much rain, it's time for a shower. Since we had our own room- we actually showered. I can't say the same for other legs of the vacation.
Next stop was the Pantheon! This temple was built to worship the Roman gods in 126 AD. Even after 2,000 years after its construction, it is still the oldest un-reinforced concrete dome in the world. It is one of the best preserved buildings from Roman history. One of the most impressive facts about this building is that it only took 3 years to build. Yes it took over 700 construction workers. But nowadays, you know this sort of project would take forever!
The Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain may be my favorite because how cliche romantic Italy is it?! I loved it. It was basically the best part of the Lizzie McGuire movie, but also it was in Audrey Hepburn's movie 'Roman Holiday'. There is even a replica of this statue in Disney's Epcot! The statue is absolutely enormous. You actually can't get the entire thing in one picture. It was built in 1732 and will undergo a 2.2 million dollar restoration props of Fendi (yes, the Italian fashion design company) starting in 2013. It is one of the most famous fountains in the world.
The legend behind the fountain is that you are supposed to make three wishes when you toss a coin into the fountain. First, that you will return to Italy. Second, you wish about your love life. Third, is health/happiness related. You would think that the entire bottom of the fountain would be covered in ugly copper coins, but it isn't! This is because the Trevi Fountain is actually a charity! At the end of every night, the coins are collected and given to the Trevi Fountain foundation. They collect about 3,000 euro every day!
The legend behind the fountain is that you are supposed to make three wishes when you toss a coin into the fountain. First, that you will return to Italy. Second, you wish about your love life. Third, is health/happiness related. You would think that the entire bottom of the fountain would be covered in ugly copper coins, but it isn't! This is because the Trevi Fountain is actually a charity! At the end of every night, the coins are collected and given to the Trevi Fountain foundation. They collect about 3,000 euro every day!
The Colosseum
The Colosseum is an iconic symbol of imperial Rome. It is an amphitheater in the center of Rome and is the largest ever built by the Roman Empire. It is made of solid concrete and stone and is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering. The Colosseum took 10 years to build- from 70 AD to 80AD. The money to build the Colosseum came from the money taken from the Jewish Temple during the Siege of Jerusalem. Originally, it was capable of seating 50,000 people and was used for gladiator contests. There used to be public spectacles or shows held inside. Some examples of the shows are battle re-enactments, animal hunts and executions. In the early medieval era, it was no longer used for entertainment but became an alternative purpose building. At one point it was a Christian shrine.
In the pictures, you can see a wooden stage looking thing in some of them. This is not a replacement floor, it is just to show where the original floor would have been. The animals used to be kept in the small tunnels underneath the floor. Although it looks like the structure endured some bombing, most of its damage is from an earth quake in 1349.
Right next to the Colosseum is the Roman Forum. What looks like a bunch of ancient ruins is actually the ruins of the ancient Roman city. For centuries, these ruins were the center of public life in Rome. This area used to be a marshy area, so much of the ruins had to be uncovered.
In the pictures, you can see a wooden stage looking thing in some of them. This is not a replacement floor, it is just to show where the original floor would have been. The animals used to be kept in the small tunnels underneath the floor. Although it looks like the structure endured some bombing, most of its damage is from an earth quake in 1349.
Right next to the Colosseum is the Roman Forum. What looks like a bunch of ancient ruins is actually the ruins of the ancient Roman city. For centuries, these ruins were the center of public life in Rome. This area used to be a marshy area, so much of the ruins had to be uncovered.
Culture & Some other things
One of the best parts of being in Italy is obviously the food. We walk around so much that if ate salads everywhere we would always be hungry. The next best option is pasta. This may be just how I rationalize eating so much pasta, because I typically don't at home, but the ingredients are fresher. There is less grease and more olive oil. The tomatoes, cheeses and spices are all locally grown so there aren't as many preservatives. This always makes me feel a little bit better, but even if it was awful for you- you have to eat pasta in Italy! One of our first nights in Rome, we met up with our good friend from school Carly Walker. She had learned to cook real Italian prior to studying in Italy, but her cooking class in Rome has taught her some new recipes. She made us the best Carbonera pasta we had tasted in Italy- better than the restaurants! It was so delicious. It was also nice to get out of the restaurant scene and just sit at an apartment, have some fresh appetizers she made us, and catch up on each other's stories! One thing about Italy, and probably everywhere, is that it is really easy to get caught in the touristy restaurants. They usually offer you some sort of discount to get you in the door, but then the food isn't that good. If someone is recruiting you to come into their restaurant- maybe stay out of it. Later in the week she took us on a food crawl of the best Italian food. REAL Gelato can't be beat! You know it is fake gelato if it is mounded super high with tons of decorations on it. Real gelato is too creamy to be molded into any shape. She also had us try "rice balls". The kind we had were a mozzarella and tomato sauce inside, rolled in rice, then baked in the oven. SO unbelievably delicious! She definitely knows what she is talking about with the Italian food.
If I'm being honest, the Romans are among my least favorite Europeans. I love Italy, but there was such a clear difference in the demeanor of the locals in Rome versus Florence or Venice! I don't know if I can actually pinpoint what it is, but all of us agreed that we felt the most uneasy in Rome. We always had our guard up, NEVER interacted with locals outside of waitresses or bartenders, and made it a point to bring nothing too valuable out with us. My friends that are studying in Rome told me that it has been so crazy in Rome since the old Pope resigned, so this is their new normal. They have adjusted to this lifestyle pretty easily. However, after visiting small towns like Granada and Florence and even Germany, you really feel a distinct difference. This is obviously just my opinion, but we also found it a little ironic that one of the holiest cities in the world was also one ridden with petty theft!
If I'm being honest, the Romans are among my least favorite Europeans. I love Italy, but there was such a clear difference in the demeanor of the locals in Rome versus Florence or Venice! I don't know if I can actually pinpoint what it is, but all of us agreed that we felt the most uneasy in Rome. We always had our guard up, NEVER interacted with locals outside of waitresses or bartenders, and made it a point to bring nothing too valuable out with us. My friends that are studying in Rome told me that it has been so crazy in Rome since the old Pope resigned, so this is their new normal. They have adjusted to this lifestyle pretty easily. However, after visiting small towns like Granada and Florence and even Germany, you really feel a distinct difference. This is obviously just my opinion, but we also found it a little ironic that one of the holiest cities in the world was also one ridden with petty theft!