History right under our noses...

I'll get to explaining that title at the end.

But first:

I had the best pasta ever on Wednesday. If you are ever in Rome you simply must go to the Grotto di Teatro Pompey and have the fettucine gorganzola for your first dish. The truffles are also delicious, and not too expensive. For bread, water, pasta, chicken and potatoes, and a truffle it was only 18 Euro. It's just off of the Campo dei Fiori.

Thursday we went to the Forum, Palatine Hill, and the Colosseum. It was a long day but really cool stuff. Beautiful clear sky for a change.

Friday we met the bus at 7 am and drove to Pompeii. The trip down was beautiful. We passed the monastery where St. Benedict wrote his regulae. It was, extroardinarily, another beautiful clear day. We also watched Roman Holiday with Korean subtitles.

Pompeii was incredible. It felt like being in an old western ghost town. Davide led the tour and told us all about what it would have looked like and what different areas were used for. There were adorable dogs all over the place. They just live there and follow tourists around for food.

There was a gorgeous view of the mountains and down on the city and out to the sea.

When we first got there we encountered restrooms that looked like they belonged in the Jettsons and no one was really sure what to do.

Some of the tiles were bright pastels and looked very 1950's. Quite ahead of their time.

We took the bus back and I studies Italian along the way.

Saturday I got up early and bought a Rome guide book. I had a great apple from a vedor at Campo dei Fiori and then strolled that area a while. Then I set out for the zoo. It's much smaller than Tulsas with older, mostly concrete exhibits. They are trying to modernize and make the habitats better.

The elephants were adorable and seemed to pose for the camera. It was lunch time so I have lots of photos of animals eating.

The zoo is in the Villa Borghese which is a big park. It was really nice and I hope to spend more time relaxing up there.

I came home and rested up a bit and while reading my book I discovered why I see tourist groups tickle through our little square: there is a church on the side of our building with a mosaic inside and the best preserved mideival bell tower in Rome on the outside. Also, the building across the square is a mideival palace. I had noticed the really nice place across from the window, but I never even noticed the church. I was looking out the window trying to find it.

I always approach from the other direction where the rest of the apartment building juts out and blocks it. It really is a beautiful bell tower. Also, the old family fortress tower on the way to class and about a half block away has some sort of Dante study center in it. There is so much history here you can literally trip on it without realizing it.

Saturday night was the Notte Bianca, or white night, when all kinds of things stay open late and there are concerts and such. Unfortunately we paid for those 2 sunny days and possibly put a down payment for several more. It poured and poured and poured. Wash wash repeat.

I did get to hear a little bit of cool jazz/blues music that had managed to move inside into a mall, but the place was way to packed to stay long.

The white night started in Paris and I think Rome may be jinxed. The first one they had there was a massive black out.

This week will probably fly by. Dr. Fredrick is visiting which should be hysterical and then Thursday I leave for Oktoberfest. I got a confirmation on the tent so Samantha, Billy, Ryan and I have a place to sleep while we're there.

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