Rome

So my Dad has been in Europe for about a week now, we're heading off for our second weekend together in Greece tomorrow. I'm really excited, just looking at all the Grecian history has given me goosebumps. Last weekend wasn't too shabby either...

Rome, last weekend, was so much more than I had expected. After visiting Paris and seeing how amazing I had built it up in my mind versus the reality of the dirty, spread-out city, I guess my expectations for Rome were really diminished. Well, pleasant of all pleasant surprises...I love Rome! I think it was one of the best weekends I've had in a city since Jerry and I went to London überlast summer.

Where to even start? My dad started off on a shaky foot when he got here; he hadn't slept well and I think was overwhelmed a little by the language barrier and the time difference. Things evened out eventually, we eventually stopped fighting and things are going well now. Anyway, after a tense first couple days we got ourselves to Rome. After a late arrival, we opted to stay in the hotel for dinner (which turned out to be kind of a mistake, but there's no arguing with my dad...) The next morning, however, we woke up bright and early and headed out to explore Rome. It was raining. No, not raining, downpouring. It was so bad that it was soaking through my dad's waterproof raincoat and my umbrella broke! Despite the weather, I still had an amazing time seeing all of Rome, enjoying the ancient history and seeing all the ruins of old Rome. It was really incredible, we literally saw where Gladiators fought (the Coliseum, naturally), where the emperors of Rome had guests and "did as the Romans did" and walked on marble that had been walked on since 753 BC. It blows my mind. We also did all those other touristy things: threw 3 coins into the Fountain of Trevi (amazing, also, by the way), saw the Pantheon, ate Pizza and Pasta, etc.

Sunday we split ways, I wanted to go see the Pope and my dad just isn't into that kind of stuff. I headed out from our hotel in plenty of time to walk to Vatican City...and did it! (Yes, my legs were sore the next day). Anyway, the Pope came out and spoke to the whole crowd in a bunch of different languages, people went crazy, and then he retreated. It was really interesting to me...after that I just wandered down the Tiber river to a really cute area that seemed less touristy and ate a proper Italian lunch (lasagne, bruschetta, wine!!) and then wandered back into the touristy area. I shopped around a bit, caught some espresso and then met up with the 'ole Papa for a nice dinner at a wood fire oven place.
Monday was dedicated to the world famous Vatican museums. We saw the Sistine Chapel (in all of it's completely awe-inspiring glory) and Raphael's Papal rooms, and so many other wonderful historic pieces of art. I learned so much about that period in history (early Renaissance) and so much about how Michelangelo defied the Pope and did things his own way. It was extremely interesting and so absolutely stunning. Also, little known fact (?) all of those white statues you associate with ancient Rome? They all used to be painted vibrantly, and there were lifelike glass eyes on them too! They're actually really lifelike when you see them as they once were...
We had to leave pretty abruptly, though, to catch our flight back to Bonn.

Well, at this point in our little Roman Holiday, things went sour. We flew to Paris to be stranded for 14 or so hours, overnight. No, we did not get a hotel. We attempted to sleep on the hard, cold, marble floors of Charles DeGaulle Airport, with little to no success. The sleeping success was especially hindered by the awful case of food poisoning that I contracted at some point (I blame the airplane/port food). Good news is that we made it home safe and sound, learned our lesson, and will never, ever do that again. Also, bums totally hang out in airports after dark. It's unsettling.

This week as far as school goes has been alright...I feel strange because I'm in Bonn for less time than I'm away these days. I'm looking forward to next weekend when I spend the whole weekend here with my friends. I hope not everyone has too much work to at least party a little bit :)

My classes are all really interesting, I'm learning so much about Germany and Europe in general, I feel like I want to keep it all in my head but it's leaking out like a sieve, despite my best efforts to keep it in. In my Geography class, we learn so much about German culture and how politics here work, I really hope I don't just forget everything...Not to mention the language. I mean, my German is nowhere near perfect, but I can definitely tell I'm getting better. I no longer have to look up so many words when I write, my working vocabulary is definitely growing.


Those moments when I realize my life is awesome? Way more frequent. Those moments when I have to remind myself that I have to go home? Less frequent. I need to keep that in mind. Also, news on the homefront: I can't believe Dick Clark died! Mitt Romney is an actual candidate for president! Who knows what else I missed...(also, two extremely famous people have died since I've been here...weird.)