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Published: September 9th 2006
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Wow, so Rome is sweltering! Actually, well, OK today is bearable. But still it's unusually hot here-about 85-90 degrees farenheit which is 27 celcius. Wowza!
Ok, so here's my latest updates:
Live, from Rome, it's Mary Margaret! Ok, enough cheese. Wednesday, Davide took us to the Forum. Although I had been there last year, it is still just as breathtaking. It's very hard to be non-plussed by Rome's grandeur and longevity as a society. Their architecture is amazing and so astounding. I was able to take some amazing scenic photos, by my laptop's on the fritz right now and I'm having trouble loading them. 😞 After the forum, us Papitas walked back to the center and had a meeting with Samia on obtaining our visa stuff to take to the police so we can legally stay in Italy (it's just a formality, no worries, I'm in good standing with the authorities). We went out to dinner with Dr. Fionna Davidson to Il Portico in the ghetto. It was absolutely amazing food. The ghetto here is so amazing because the Jewish community has been here for 2,000 years plus. Absolutely incredible cultural experience. I am very pleased with my experience in
Rome. I feel that it's helping me to learn a lot about life and myself. I can honestly say that I am happy with who I am and how I'm leading my life. I think it's a very difficult love to learn, to love yourself, because without that, how can you love others? But it's a great realization, and the most important.
Thursday we met Emilio under the Arch of Constantine next to the Colloseum and toured Palatine Hill. Palataine Hill is where the emperors lived, and it's mostly ruins, but nothing short of amazing. A lot of greenery, and there is a small section of the most ancient huts in Rome. It's rumored to be the legendary home of twins Romulus and Remus--the founders of Rome. It's just legend, but still fun and venerable.
That night we went to a dinner party at the other humanities students' apt. It is very modernized and large, and they really out did themselves on the food. It was great food and fellowship and we were all very full. They live so close to the heart of the city--right across from where Julius Caeser was killed, which has now become "Cat
Sanctuary". The Romans treat cats really well and always welcome strays, which is very pleasing to the ears of an animal-activist, as well as a die-hard cat-lover. 😊
We walked to Campo di Fiori afterwards which is a big Piazza of bars, clubs, and ristorantes. So much fun. After a drink, the other humanities kids headed back home, and we met Clint and Tyler, our new architecture friends, and took the tram back to our neighborhood. We stopped at a pub on our block, and I was so relived to find whiskey. 😊 Always drink responsibly of course. Erin is our non-drinker of the Papitas, but I think that doubles her amazing-ness. She's very cool about it and not condeming of others who do, and I have so much respect for her. I love the Papitas! We introduced ourselves to all of the waiters and owners, and they were so nice! We want to be regulars there. We headed back to the apartment and enjoyed a night of talking and wine. It was so enjoyable and it makes me even more angry that we can be responsible enough to have fun, yet the American government can't differentiate the responsibility of
owning a gun at age 18 and being able to kill someone, from being able to have a glass of wine with friends, which you must wait till you're 21. Food for thought, or rather, drink for thought.
Friday, the Papitas and Zach went shopping! It was great. We took the tram, metro, and bus to Via del Corso. It's an amazing street filled with shops by the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. We found this store called Zara which was HUGE and had amazing clothes, very cheap, and a variety of fashions. It's a cultural experience to go shopping, to see the different depictions of beauty, and to also see how they set up their shops. The stores here are rather narrow, but deep and usually two stories. Very fun. We had such a good time, enjoying eachother's company, and then we headed back to our neck of the woods and ate at a sushi restaurant. I had a cucumber roll and vegetable soup, and it was delissimo. We're making a lot of friends in our neighborhood and I love it! We like to talk to people we meet at shops and on the streets, and Rome is
Water Fountains
These water fountains are throughout the city and very clean, good water. I love them! so friendly! They'll always remember you, and say, "Ciao!". It's really fun and pleasant.
We walked home and got ready to go out, because it was Friday of course! We all headed back to our beloved pub. I was the silly American and gave in when I saw they had fries on the menu. *embarrased giggle, insert here* We sat, talked, bonded, and then Zach had to depart to catch his bus--they stop running at midnight. The Papitas sat and poured our hearts out--I love these girls. Soul sisters! 😊 Then, Carlos, the bus-boy we met the night before, was such a sweetheart! He surprised us and presented us with a Nutella crepe he made. He even took the effort and decorated it with powdered sugar hearts and smiley faces. We were beside ourselves with delight, and it was so delicious. A very nice gesture, and a good sign that we are on our way to building great relationships and breaking a culture barrior in our neighborhood.
Tonight is La Bianca Notte and it's a Roman festival where all of the shops, bars, etc. stay open from 8 at night, till 8 in the morning. I can't wait!
Navin, Katie's friend from high school who is studying here also, is taking us out with his Italian friends. Yea! Also, we're meeting up with Matteo, who studied last spring as an exchange student from Rome at the UofA. He's so funny--a big goofball, and I can't wait to see him again! Please comment and e-mail me--I love them! It's so great to hear from ya'll. I miss ya'll and love ya'll so much. Take care, because before you know it, I'll be back!
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Cassie
non-member comment
un bacio!
Wow Mary! It's so good to hear that you are making friends, appreciating the food and history, discovering yourself, getting free food (ha!) etc. How amazing!!! I'm just going to quit school and come live in Rome, it's such an amazing place.