Mi Piace Roma!

Buona sera!

I hate that I can’t update more, but I get so frustrated with the slow internet at the hotel! I have to force myself to even check my email. Anyway, I finally went to Rome! It is such an incredible place! We went on Friday and Sunday and just explored our hearts out. We saw the Pantheon, the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, and so many other cool things! We went to a café called Antico Caffé Greco and had coffee. It was one of the most meaningful things to me because it has been there since 1760 and some of the world’s most famous philosophers, poets, writers, and icons used to gather there to discuss things back in the day. We sat there and had a coffee in the same room that had seen Byron, Keats, Casanova, and Goethe. The coffee was not too bad, either!

This is me in the Roman Forum. That was a really neat place, too.

The Romans aren’t as nice as the people here in Ariccia, but the visitors to Rome are mostly very friendly. Most Romans speak English, so the experience doesn’t feel as authentic there. I’m used to trying to get by with my little bit of Italian. That’s the fun part. The concierge at the hotel teased me today when I tried to say “Quattro”. I ended up saying “quaCHro” like a real southern girl. It was pretty funny.

Behold, the Coliseum!

Tomorrow we’re going on a field trip to visit the ancient Etruscan ruins. They were the people who lived in Italy before Rome was founded. It should be pretty cool. We’re going to see their tombs and stuff. Hopefully it’s not too freaky. I don’t like dead people very much. :-) I’ll let you know how it goes! Buona Serrata! (have a good day!)