Ci Vediamo, Roma

I AM BACK IN THE USA!  It really does feel good to be home.... but I have to admit I miss Roma an incredible amount.


I did not travel for my last three weeks in Rome which was a wonderful decision (mainly because I was broke, but hey, Rome is not a bad place to be stuck!) During those last three weeks I truly appreciated all the Eternal City had to offer.

Once I got back from Barcelona, the weather was INCREDIBLE! 70's and sunny... it did not rain until my last day (Rome was definitely sad that I was leaving). Since the weather was gorgeous I spent most of my time outdoors in the Italian sun.  My days consisted of laying or doing my homework in the flower covered grass of Villa Borghese, Villa Torlonia, and Villa Ada or walking around the city soaking in all of the beauty.

On two of the weekends, we headed over to the beach in Ostia Antica with my friends to prendere il sole  (to sunbathe, literally "to take the sun").  The sea was too chilly, but the soft white sand beach and blazing sun were all we needed.

One day I was doing my homework in Villa Borghese and I decided to wander a bit and get myself "lost" in the city.  I had never seen so many people! You could tell the warm weather brought the beginning of tourist season.  That didn't stop me.  I found the most delicious make-your-own sandwich shop (La Sandwicheria al Nazareno) and people watched a bit... I was walking around the Spanish Steps and all of a sudden I turned around and ran into two of my friends studying in Dublin, Meg and Dodie!  I never run into people in Rome so this was a shock to me, especially on one of the most crowded days! I knew they were coming but I did not plan on meeting them until later! So I tagged along on their tour of Rome before I had to go to class.

I had a blast having them here and we had such a fun time reuniting on the streets of Rome! I definitely made sure they were never hungry... we went to Eataly and got the best sandwiches ever... and had at least two Gelati a day.  We made pizza one of the nights as well.  Their last day I went to mass with Dodie at Santa Maria Maggiore and then met up with Christine and Meg and sunbathed at Villa Borghese.

During the last few weeks my roommates and I made a pact to be on a gelato binge... this meant that we needed to have gelato at least once a day! I definitely kept that promise... actually I was a bit of an overachiever with this pact....  I still have to say even though Della Palma has 150 flavors, Vice is still my number one! Grom was a close first as well but my loyalty stays with the coconut gelato at Vice in Largo Argentina.  My goal was to also spend as much time as possible outside so I alternated between parks and one night Danielle, Anna, and I rented a three person bike and explored all of Villa Borghese.  I did not realized how massive the park was until this ride! I also did not realize how difficult/scary it is to navigate a three person bike.... the girls kept calling me "mom" because I kept pulling the break as we zoomed past traffic and pedestrians and flew down busy hills.  I have to admit it was so much fun though and a perfect night.  We enjoyed a beautiful sunset from the top of the city as well.

In our theology class, we visited the Catacombs of Domitilla which were so cool/creepy.  We even got to start the visit with a much needed cappuccino.  Pictures were not allowed underground but I straggled at the end of the line to make sure I could sneak some good shots (not going to lie.... I was a bit scared being the last in line exploring the mazes below the ground... at one point I thought I heard voices... hahha just kidding! I had to make sacrifices for the pics though).  This was our official last site visit, which was pretty sad... and It made it seem like the beginning of the end for me.





That weekend Danielle's friend fromTexas came to visit so we went around and shopped in the city.  We went to aperitivo at Momart (best place ever!!!!) and were very sad we did not go there more throughout the semester! Also, one of my best friends, Nicole, came back with her two brothers and I was lucky enough to celebrate her 21st birthday with her!  That Sunday, I went to the Vatican for my last encounter with Pope Francis for the Regina Caeli.

My last week was busy with final exams, but that did not stop us from having a great last week in Rome.  We had a farewell dinner with our program on the Wednesday and afterwards got drinks with my Italian teacher and the Dean of our program in Monti.... I never thought I would have a rum and coke with one of my professors! It was definitely one of our favorite nights especially since we all had secret crushes on our dean, Marcello......

Ciao GC!!!

On one of my last nights Danielle and I had a date night at one of the top restaurants in Rome..... this was only because we won our International Marketing project marketing our Program, CEA.  They gave us 85 euros toward a fancy dinner with a bottle of wine..... MY DREAM. We researched an incredible restaurant in a good location. We ended up at the Circus Garden at the Hotel Forty Seven by the Circus Maximus and the Bocca della Verita.  We got all dressed up and walked in.... they had a private table set up for us in their courtyard..... it would've been the perfect romantic date spot. Danielle and I wondered if they thought we were a couple hahaha....  We ordered a bottle of Rose from Puglia since it was a warm night.  I had my most favorite meal in Rome that night.  A perfect last night!

My last day I went with Anna to the Bocca della Verita.  Then I got falafel in the Jewish Ghetto and then we walked to Santa Maria Sopra Minerva.  It was the most surprising church that I have walked into! The outside was so plain but the inside was incredibly decorated! This church held the tomb of St. Catherine of Siena and of Fra Angelico.  It was also the church where Galileo gave his testimony to the Catholic Church.  Afterwards, we met our friends in Camp di Fiori and sat outside for a lunch and some drinks and people watched.  Then, because of our binge, we had to get gelato, so we went to Grom.

We had to have our last meal with our Italian family at Gran Sasso. I, or course, got teary..... We had the whole works since it was our last night: bruschetta, caprese salad, pizza, pasta, vino, dessert, and the usual limoncello and cantuccini.  Our family was so sad to see us leave!!! We got a little speech from "the dad" Quinto, all in Italian, and said he can't wait to see us with our little children....  That's when I couldn't hold back the tears any longer.

 

Here is a link to my photography final presentation with some of the photos I took on my journeys around Europe:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptjqAZGYuTU

 It is so hard to actually say Arrivederci to Roma..... but I threw a few coins into the Trevi Fountain, so I know I will be back many times.  Rome has a hold of a big part of my heart and is one of my many "homes".   There is so much to say about the past four months of my life... I do not even know where to begin.... they were the best 4 months of my life and were just the beginning of my journeys! Being able to live abroad has opened up so many opportunities for me and has made me very excited for all of the possibilities ahead!

So I am not saying goodbye to Rome, but only Ci Vediamo.


Bacioni xxxx

BARCELONA: The Last Melon

The next weekend we were off to Barcelona! We were so excited for the sun and the beach after a rainy week in Rome, but we got to Barcelona and it was raining…. 

We stayed in an apartment right next to the Cathedral of Barcelona in the Born area.  It was such a charming area.  It was kind of like a mix between Paris, Rome, and New York CIty but with more COLOR.  Our first day we got our Starbucks and headed to Bo De B which is this famous sandwich shop in Barcelona.  We got there before it opened and there was already the longest line.  We waited for about 45 mins but it was soooo worth it.  The smell of the fresh bread baking filled the air and the colorful fresh ingredients lined the window.  You could pick chicken or steak and they cooked it fresh for you, then you picked from some of their famous sauces like a tzatziki, cilantro vinaigrette, hot sauce, balsamic reduction etc… I picked all of them.  Then they filled your sandwich with whatever you wanted.  I picked everything again because it all looked so good : avocado, tomatoes, rice, corn, lentils, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce…. it was beyond delicious! No wonder the line was way out the door!  

Then we jumped on the metro and went to La Sacrada Familia the famous church designed by Gaudi.  It looked like melting wax.  I have never seen something quite like it! You had to pay 12 euros to go inside, so being broke college students, we passed on that.  Its alright we still got some cool pictures though! 

Next we made our way to Parc Guell, also designed by Gaudi.  The park was a lot bigger than I imagined! We climbed to the top of this hill where there was some sort of cross mound, that had the most beautiful view from the top.  Then we went to the more famous area with the colorful mosaic benches and sculptures.  The place was so colorful and lively and was so beautiful even on an overcast day! There was a choir performing at the top and it just made for a wonderful experience.  Then we explored the cavern walkway (Emma, Julia, and Maria: Americas next top model finale runway….). So of course, we had to do a little posing. 

We were pretty tired after our long day of walking so we headed back to the apartment and some of the girls took a nap, but Danielle, Christine's sister, and I still wanted to explore our charming area.  We window shopped and got a couple of presents for my sisters ( I have a lot of goodies for you girls) :) 

Then we found a Tapas place for dinner called Taller de Tapas.  We ordered a pitcher of Sangria and got so many different little plates to try because they were all so cheap around 5 euros per dish!  We started with this tomato bread, Patatas Bravas (they have these everywhere in Barcelona, they are like steak fries with a spicy chili sauce and chipotle mayo), fried artichokes,  steamed mussels, garlic and chili shrimp, and chicken skewers.  My friend Alli came over to our apartment after dinner and we went to this place that reminded me of the Rainforest Cafe called El Bosc de les Fades. It was like an indoor forest that was famous for its pastries and Sangria.   

The next morning we got our Starbucks once again and headed right back to Bo de B…. It was just so good we had to do it again!!! Then we walked in the harbor and down the boardwalk where there were street vendors and performers and made it to the beach.  But then it started to rain on us :( So we rushed back to our apartment to take cover and look for a place for dinner.  Katherine and I really wanted to have Paella (a seafood rice dish) while we were in Spain so we found a place with Tapas and Paella called Lonja de Tapas.  We ordered artichokes with sun dried tomatoes, parmesan, and pine nuts, Patatas Bravas, and Paella.  So delicious, and of course the owners and waiters wouldn't leave our table alone because we were a bunch of American girls so we got a couple of pictures with them… 

Afterwards we went to L'Ovella Negra to watch the Barcelona soccer game.  It was this huge place with the a huge screen that showed the game live. This place was also "famous" for its sangria so of course we had to try it! We all agreed in the end our favorite one was at El Bosc de les Fades.  It was such a fun experience to be a part of Barcelona soccer which is such a big deal to them.  I just pretended I knew what was going on… all I knew was the guy Messi.  I have to admit it was a lot of fun though and all of the Barcelona soccer players were so attractive which always makes it easier to watch ;)  

Really in to the game..

We had to go home and get to bed because our flight left at 6 AM. This was the first trip we booked when we got to Rome and we didn't quite understand the 24hr time yet so initially we though we booked a 6 pm flight…. Oh well i was tired and ready to get back to Rome! 

That was actually my last trip abroad! It is so crazy to me how everything flew by so fast…. But I am excited to spend these last three weeks back in Rome so I can soak up every little last drop this city has to offer :) 

Bacioni xxxx 

Slowly but Surely: SPRING BREAK

Ciao!

Still making an effort to catch up... not complaining at all but traveling makes you so exhausted! And these weeks seem to be going by faster and faster...

SPRING BREAK: 

My roommates and headed down to Greece.  We took a flight into Athens and just spent the next morning there.  I was not too impressed with Athens.. actually, I really did not like it.  Because of its economic situation it is really run down and kind of sketchy so we did not want to spend too much time there.  We woke up at 7:30 and headed right to the Acropolis.  This was the part of Athens that was incredible.  The sun was shining and when you climbed to the top you could see the entire city, thousands of white buildings packed tightly in between the surrounding mountains and the aqua sea.  The Parthenon was very impressive as well, but I would have to say my favorite part was the view. We climbed down and hopped right into a cab to the bus station.  It was the perfect amount of time spent in Athens. We took an 8 hour bus to the island of Corfu.  Let me just say, Greece is the most beautiful country I have ever been in.  That bus ride was spectacular, and I could have never imagined saying that about an 8 hour cramped bus ride.  The entire trip consisted of beautiful views of turquoise water, snow capped mountains, herds of sheep in rolling fields, and little white stucco homes.  We went up and down cliffs and mountains on winding roads and so close to the sea that waves splashed on the bus.  

Corfu 

View from our Hotel Room

We had to take a ferry to get to the island which was also a beautiful trip.  We watched the sun set on the Ionian Sea.  We made it to the island around 8:00 and checked into the hotel.  We were quite exhausted from our day of travel but excited to lay out in the sun the next day.  We woke up at a decent hour both days and headed right to the beach and spent the entire two days relaxing.  It was perfect! Our two guy friends met us there as well which was really fun! 

I could only spend two days there because Mom was coming to visit me for the week! I met her at the airport because we both landed at the same time! It was so exciting to see her! Ive missed my family so much and even though they all couldn't make it here to Italy it was so nice to be with my mom for Easter :) I was so lucky! 

Right from the airport we got onto the train to Spoleto, which is a medieval town in Umbria.  It was a bit of a struggle finding where we were staying... medieval alley ways and pouring rain is not a good combination! But we finally made it and by 7:29 when the check in closed at 7:30..

Tired and soaking we dropped our bags off and then quickly searched for a place for dinner.  We stumbled on the most wonderful little restaurant, Il Tempio del Gusto. Umbria is famous for their truffles so we of course had to order anything that included them.  The chef even brought out some special dishes for us to try! The food was delicious and the atmosphere was so quaint and cozy.  They even made their own chocolates and gave us some to try! (Rosemary and sea salt).  Mom and I thought there was a hint of orange in them as well, but we proved ourselves wrong when we figured out the orange flavor was from the left over Emergence-e in our water bottles....

The next morning we got up early and went on the train to Assisi.  We got off the train and were wandering around the station when someone tapped me on the shoulder.... I turned around and saw it was my Theology professor, Dr. Gondreau and his family! We were lucky to run into him because we did not know how to get to the first church which was the one that St. Francis built.  We split up afterwards because I needed to go to a pharmacy since I had a bad cold but we ran into him many more times that day.  

We got to see the Basilica of St. Francis and his tomb inside.  We also saw the home he grew up in and St. Claire who in incorrupt.  Assisi was a beautiful town.  One of the most beautiful I have been to in Italy.  We headed back to Spoleto and had a nice dinner there but were absolutely exhausted from all of our walking up and down the hills and cobblestone streets of Assisi.  I passed out the second my head hit the pillow.

The next day we went to Cascia which was another near by medieval town.  This was the home to St. Rita.  It was a quaint little town tucked into the side of a mountain.  We saw the main Basilica and St. Rita, who was incorrupt as well.  We got a lunch and then headed back to Rome! (I was so excited to go back since I had been travelling for so long!) We made it back that evening and I decided to stay with Mom one night in Trastevere.  We had an incredible meal at Da Enzo, a restaurant that my photography professor recommended. The door was covered with awards so we knew that was a good sign.  It was adorable and the entire family was working there.  The little boy even brought us our check.  We had fried Artichokes, Chicken alla Romana, and I told mom she needed to try the Cacio e Pepe.  So delicious.  Then we had the best tiramisu ever.  There was a Nutella center.....

The next day we met up with the Gottwalts at St. John Lateran.  Then we went across the street and climbed Santa Scala which were the stairs Pontius Pilate condemned Jesus on.  There were blood spots from Christ still on them.  The line was incredibly long because it was good Friday and everyone climbs them on their knees.  It is a lot harder and a lot more painful than you would think... but it was such an incredible experience.



Afterwards I had a meeting with Brandy Melville so I had mom come along and check out the store and get some presents for my little sisters :) We went to Santa Maria del Popolo and Santa Croce afterwards where the relics from the passion and true cross were.  Perfect place to spend Good Friday at.  MOM WORE ME OUT we were exhausted after this day... I had never walked so much...... and there were still places Mom wanted to go but we didn't make it to! But thats what you have to do when you only have a little time in Rome, try to fit as much as you can in a day because there is just so much to see in this city.

After, we met up with the Gottwalt's for dinner at another place in Trastevere called Le Mani in Pasta.  Also very delicious and recommended by my professor! We ordered Antipasti and the special which was a seafood pasta (it had an entire lobster on top....). Incredible. It was so fun to be able to be with Alli and her family in Rome!



The next day we had more of a relaxing day, but we definitely still did a lot.  First mom and I went to the church of Santa Francesa Romana in the Forum, then we went to San Andrea delle Valle which is a church I have passed so many times but have never gone into.  It was spectacular! We went to San Eustacchio which is a favorite coffee shop of the Italians and is famous for being in Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn.  We headed over to Campo dei Fiori after for the markets. Mom was in heaven as I expected :) I also had to show her Roscioli and since we didn't have time for a wine tasting we went to the restaurant for lunch.  We both died. We asked the waiter for a wine recommendation which was not even on the menu... He picked it specially for us :) Then we ordered an Artichoke salad and a prosciutto, mozzarella and arugula dish with a balsamic reduction and semi sun-dried tomatoes.  They also brought us a special appetizer from the kitchen which was ricotta with walnuts and pine nuts with sun-dried tomatoes and a pesto sauce.  Then we both ordered the Caccio e Pepe which was to die for.  The amount of shredded parmesan on top was ridiculous.  For dessert (which the waiter insisted on) he brought us cantuccini with a dark chocolate dipping sauce.  We were stuffed but we couldn't resist!

We needed a nap but we needed to get ready for the Easter Vigil at the Vatican.  So we got ready fast and rushed to St. Peter's.  People had been standing in line since 2 pm and the doors opened at 7.  We got there around 6:30 and cut the long line... you need to do what the Romans do to get anywhere! The Gottwalts met up but we got split up for the mass. We only waited in line for about 45 mins in the pouring rain.... but of course we made some friends in line. We ended up getting pretty close to the front and a good view of the Pope! It was probably the most beautiful mass I have ever been to.  Pope Francis had the sweetest voice and was so reverent.










The next morning I said goodbye to Alli and then showed my mom my area and where I go to school.  Then we had to go back towards the Vatican for an Easter luncheon we were invited to at the North American College.  It was such a beautiful day and finally sunny so we strolled around Trastevere and got some gelato and wandered through the markets.  We went into Santa Maria in Trastevere and the Church where St. Benedict's cell was.  We were so tired from all the walking so we took a nap before dinner.  We decided to go to dinner in the Jewish quarter to get Carciofi alla  Guida (artichokes cooked in the jewish style which is fried).  We went to Nonna Betta which was featured on Anthony Bourdain.  As we imagined, it was delicious. Everything on the menu had something with artichokes in it (my kind of restaurant).  I ordered artichoke ravioli and Mom had another artichoke pasta dish.  They gave us an assortment of Jewish pastries for dessert which were perfect.  It was a great last night with Mom :)  I was really sad to say goodbye to her but we will be reuniting so soon!

of course mom and I matched 

The next day my friends and I went on a Tuscany tour.  We were supposed to go to Siena first but our train was late.....




So we met up with the group and headed to San Giminiano and we got a food and wine tasting at a local farm.  Then we got a tour of their vineyard and farm.  We went up into the town afterwards and got a chance to explore.  The world's best gelato is from this town so our tour guide told us where the place was and to just look for a long line.  We saw a long line so we joined it and waited our turn.  We got such delicious gelato.... but then we looked across the street and realized the world famous gelato was there... so naturally we had to get another :)  Then we shopped a bit and I got a present for my Gma :)

The next stop on the tour was Pisa.  So we spent an hour taking every type of leaning tower picture possible.... I don't know why but we were all dying laughing.  I was so ready to get home by the end of that day trip because Spring Break wasn't really a break I just came out more tired!  But that was because I had so much fun and was able to fit so much into those 10 days.

Bacioni xxxx