when in rome...

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So, Rome. A tourist trap for sure. Today Nate paid 7 Euros for a slice of pizza. Ridiculous.

We’ve spent the last two days doing all of the touristy things. Yesterday was the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and Campo de’Fiori which awesomely enough was a place of execution during the Inquisition and Caravaggio went on the run after killing a man who beat him at tennis on the piazza. It rained in the afternoon so we made a quick trip back to our hostel to grab jackets and umbrellas and then headed to the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum and Spanish Steps. All very touristy and very over priced, but undeniably beautiful.

Today we headed to the Vatican, where we both got in for the student price. I showed my expired student ID and Nate brought a copy of his letter of offer from Macquarie...and both of them worked! We saw all of the museums filled with frescos, paintings, tapestries and sculptures. The crown of the Vatican, at least for us, was the Sistine Chapel where we looked at Michelangelo’s work until our necks hurt. Pictures weren’t allowed but of course I snuck one...you can’t charge me that much and not let me take pictures! I was surprised at how colorful it was...I don’t know why, but I expected it to be much more demur.

We’ve had our fair share of gelato and pizza in the last two days...last night we enjoyed our first Italian pasta, which was delicious of course. We’ve also logged at least 10 miles in walking...probably more.

I don’t know why I’m not more excited by this place. Maybe it’s because I’ve been traveling for nearly six months now. Maybe it’s because I knew exactly what to expect here and I’ve studied the art and architecture in school. Or maybe it’s due to the fact that we’ve come across several really rude people (I got yelled at today for unfolding a shirt in a shop and Nate got yelled at for apparently sitting in the wrong section of a restaurant in the train station). We’re sick of being hassled on the street, we’re sick of everything being overpriced and mostly we’re sick of being treated like tourists. I think we got spoiled in Asia where people would bend over backwards to show you a good time or help you out...here we’re just treated like an obnoxious fact of life.

Nate and I have been doing a lot of reading lately. I’ve devoured everything in English, which is pretty typical, but Nate says it’s more unusual for him to enjoy reading. He’s gone through 2 books in 3 days and last night we bought 3 English magazines, which is all we could find. (Actually, there is an English bookstore, but neither of us can part with 17 Euros for a 150 page book). Nate’s browsing this month’s National Geographic as I write...

I think we’re both ready to be home. Nate flies home this Monday and I’ll be back in France, which feels close to home. We’re both stressed about money, or the lack thereof, and finding jobs to replenish our wallets and bank accounts (and massive amounts of debt). I’m trying to sort out an interview for school in the Fall, which is proving itself more difficult than I ever expected. Hopefully by the time I’m home in June I’ll know what I’m doing come September and I’ll be less stressed!

We’re heading out of here tomorrow morning. We plan to make a quick stop in Pisa mainly for a picture of the leaning tower, and then we’ll fast track it back to Chatelavy to relax and spend a few days at Will’s. Nate’s mom has offered to pay for us to stay in Paris for the weekend because she really wants Nate to see it (thank you, thank you thank you), so we’ll leave Saturday morning for the city, all of Nate’s crap in tow. Paris is one of my favorite cities in the world and I’m more than happy to play tour guide for a couple of days! We have a friend from TSS that lives in Paris as well, so we will probably meet up with her and get the insider’s scoop on where to eat and have a glass of wine or two. Ahh, Paris...I’m looking forward to it!

That’s it from here. Sorry again for a post with no pictures...when we are at Will’s I’ll have time to upload many of them and post them! xo

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Comments

[Mom]

chocolate pots
Make sure to take Nate to that little restaurant near Hotel Tim where we got the chocolate pots! Love you! Mom xo