Spencer's Semester Abroad: Rome Part 1 (April 2nd-April 4th)

So after a rough week at work, Chris and I headed to Rome, Florence and Pisa for our 'Spring Break'. In Rome, we were staying with two of my really good camp friend, Jason and Ben. Our flight left London really early, so Chris and I pretty much pulled an all-nighter before heading to the airport. We landed in Rome around 9:10AM and took the bus from the airport to Travestere (the area where Ben and Jason lived). We were so hungry when we landed, that as soon as we got into the general vicinity of their place, we stopped to grab our first Italian food.

We then dropped our stuff off at my friends' place. Ben was getting back in town a little later that day, but Jason took us around Rome. He has been there about three months and still doesn't really know his way around. But even just walking around the city was so cool. We were searching for the Vatican, and stumbled upon the Castel Sant'Angelo (Castle of the Holy Angel), which is an ancient castle overlooking the river. From there, we spotted the Dome of the Vatican and headed towards Vatican City. When we walked down the street towards the Vatican, I realized that I was entering a new country! I know, it's kind of a joke, but even so it's actually an independent country (and my 9th so far in Europe)!

At the Vatican, we snapped a few pictures and then walked back near Jason's apartment to grab some food. On our way, I ran into a ton of my friends from home. We stopped at this Italian place called Bafetto's, which was absolutely delicious. I had a margarita pizza. In Rome, the pizza's were really thin but extremely tasty! After eating, we searched for the Pantheon. Since Jason didn't know where he was going, we went in the complete wrong direction but luckily wandered to the Piazza Navona, which had some cool statues and fountains. After that, we continued to walk through the famous shopping districts of Rome, which are full of Italian designers. At the end of the street, we visited the Spanish Steps. At the Spanish Steps, hundreds of people sit and soak up the sun. Since Chris and I have barely seen any sun in Europe, we were loving the steps. But to be honest, I don't really know why they are so famous, it's just a freaking staircase!

After that, we were exhausted from waking up so early and walking around all day. We strolled back to Travestere to nap and meet up with Ben. When Chris and I got back, we both crashed on their couch (I know what you're thinking, and it was a big couch...I swear). When I woke up, Ben was back and we caught up for a little. His parents were in town, so he went to one last dinner with them. Chris, Jason, and I went to a late dinner. I had some pasta, and we all split a few bottles of wine. The food was superb again. When we got back, Jason hung out, but Ben, Chris and I went to a few bars. After stopping into a few, we walked by a panini place that Ben frequents and they were having their one year anniversary party. They had an enormous cake and gave us a few slices. But after a little, this girl started chucking the cake at everyone and shooting whip cream all over. We got covered in whip cream, and left wearing nothing but a whip cream bikini....just kidding. It was a pretty early night since it was a Sunday and we all woke up so early.

The next day, Chris and I woke up and while Ben and Jason went to class, we walked across the city in search of the Colosseum. On the way, we passed a tremendous building, called the Victor Emanuel Monument. This is a gigantic set of white stairs that leads to a beautiful museum. In the middle of the stairs is the Italian Tomb of the Unknown Solder. After snapping a few pictures, we continued on our way and ended up near the Ancient Roman Forum. Essentially, these are ruins that are scattered across the city. However, most of the ruins are clustered near the Colosseum. We stopped and marveled at the sights for a little, but with the Colosseum so near, we were drawn like moths to a flame. Except this flame had bloody gladiator fights.

When we got to the Colosseum, I was simply in awe. I love Roman history and being at such an amazing sight was something I had imagined my whole life. We bought some audio guides in order to skip the long lines. We toured through the Colosseum imagining the crowds cheering and the bloodshed in the arena centuries ago. Definitely one of, if not my favorite things in all of Europe. That being said, it's still not Wrigley Field!

After the Colosseum, the two of us trekked through the rest of the Ancient Roman Forum. While it was really cool to walk through such a piece of human history, it was one of the more anti-climatic sites. After all, it's pretty much just rubble. But it was still an experience that everyone needs to try when they go to Rome. After that, we hiked up the Palatine Hill to view some more ruins and get a great view of the city. By the time we finished walking around the hill, Ben and Jason were done with class and we headed back towards their apartment.

Castel Sant'Angelo (Castle of the Holy Angel)

The Vatican

Chris, Jason and I

Castel Sant'Angelo (Castle of the Holy Angel)

The Vatican, in Vatican City

Ancient Roman Wall surrounding the Vatican

The Vatican (St. Peter's Basilica)

Chris, Jason, and I in front of the Vatican

I love the detail in every arch, door, etc.

The whole time I was in the Vatican, I wanted to steal something or go sack tap this guy, just to see if he could move in these ridiculous clothes

The spear is probably the best weaponry to guard such a historical place

Rome sidewalks have trees in the middle of them

One of the many piazzas

Chris and Jason

The French Embassy, that soldier is about to surrender

Open air market

Unreal pizza and pasta at Baffetto's. Time to break out the Lactaid pills!

Piazza Navona

Fountain of Four Rivers (Bernini)

I mean, I had to...

Piazza Navona

Fountain of Four Rivers (Bernini)

Ancient Roman Arch

Jason and I

And we complain about the gas pumps in the states..

Palm trees in Europe! Far from the shitty weather in London

Famous shopping district (the equivalent of Michigan Ave, 5th Ave, etc.)

Spanish Steps

I really wanted to go push this guy in

Spanish Steps

Chris and I in front of the Spanish Steps

From the top of the Spanish Steps

Spanish Steps

Imagine riding a bike or rollerblading on this sidewalk

Rocky Balboa in his native land

Ancient Ruins in the middle of the city. This place was full of stray cats

Victor Emmanuel Monument

Chris and I at the Victor Emmanuel Monument

The Italian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Trajan's Column. These columns are all over. They have stories that are carved into the sides of them. The stories are usually war stories that start at the bottom and continuously spiral up to the top. Each level is a new scene, but if you keep walking around it reading the story, there are no breaks!

The War Horse

Ancient Roman Forum

Stray cats all over!

Ancient Roman Forum

Colosseum (I had to look up how to spell this by the way)

Ancient Roman Forum

Chris, soaking it all in

Ancient Roman Forum

Colosseum

Okay, so I asked this guy if he would take a picture of us. We were standing in front of the Colosseum so I figured he would understand that we wanted it in the background. Apparently, he just took a picture of the bus behind us. I had to keep this thought because we couldn't stop laughing at this moron