Rome-ing Around

Hey y'all -

Wednesday evening, I went out to dinner with Adam, Paolo, and Meagan. We tried a new pasta place closer to the Pantheon, and it was delicious!! (And relatively inexpensive.)

After dinner, we took a walk around Roma, visiting some sites that Rick Steves recommends. Paolo absolutely adores RS and carries the 2004 edition of his Roma book around like it's the Bible. It's hilarious.

Anyway, we visited the Spanish Steps and watched the most beautiful sunset from the top of the steps. It was incredible. After the Spanish Steps, we all headed toward Piazza de Popolo, which I had never seen before. It was really pretty - in fact, Alex and I might be heading there tonight for some fireworks! After sitting around there for a bit taking in the beauty, we walked past the Pantheon to get gelato at Frigidarium, the best ice cream place in Roma. While eating our ice cream, we noticed a UT baseball game playing in a bar across the street. So, we decided to go watch the game (which ended up being a game from a few days ago) and have a few pitchers of Italian beer. We met some seminarians next to us, and they were so nice. They were watching soccer, but one guy was from Tennessee (he thought we were from the less cool UT) and he was really nice to talk to. After seeing the game (we won! big surprise...), we headed back to the apartments. Adam and Paolo dropped off Meagan and I, and then I went to go see Alex, who was really, really bored. (Poor baby, Alex.)

She and I talked for a bit before heading to bed. Everyone is starting to get really tired since we have such busy, exciting days. We can't believe our program is almost OVER! It's so crazy.

Anyway, on Friday, we woke up for a full day. We met at the AIRC after morning cappuccinos and walked to the Forum of Augustus, where we actually got to go down into the excavation pit. So cool! (Thanks for getting us special permission, KG! It was awesome.)

After the Forum of Augustus, we walked to the museum where the Ara Pacis is located. It was really beautiful, and I'm going to write one of my last papers on the famous altar. After seeing the museum, some of us went to KG's apartment to each our lunches. His apartment was so beautiful!

After lunch, we met up with Albert and went to go see the Palace of Saint Angelo. It was really beautiful, and at the top, we had a GREAT view of all of Roma and St. Peter's Square.

It took us a long time to figure out the buses to get back to our apartments, but we finally managed to find home. I took a shower, and went to daily Mass at the Paulist church a few blocks away.

Then, I went home and worked on my papers and talked to my roommates for a bit. Then, Adam and Paolo came over and came to dinner with a big group of students from my program. Dinner was so delicious - the place we went to had over 100 sauces!! Mine was yummy.

After dinner, a few of us walked to get gelato from Frigidarium and then sat and ate it in Piazza Venezia. It was a really fun night.

Then, we walked back to our apartments and said goodbye to Adam and Paolo.

This morning, Alex, Adam, Paolo, and I went to St. Peter's. We walked around the basilica for a while, and then Alex and I left to go home while the boys climbed up the dome. (I just realized that they have my American cell phone because I gave it to them to use as an alarm... I need to get that before they leave.) Alex and I caught a bus back to our apartments. Then, I worked on my papers for a bit and cleaned up my room a bit.

Now, I'm at the AIRC uploading pictures and catching up on my blog.

I really can't wait to see Mom, Kim, and Chris in a week - we're going to have such a great time in Roma and Venezia!

It's been super hot the past few days, but it should rain this weekend and get a little cooler (thank goodness). On Monday, we're going digging in an excavation pit somewhere around Roma. It should be a blast - I'm hoping to find something really important and get famous. We'll see what happens. :) Look for me on the new, though.

I hope to see you all soon!

Ciao,
Ashley