This weekend in Rome marks the last one that all of our roommates would be home for. Starting next week, everyone (myself included) will be traveling basically every to every other weekend, so we wanted to fit in a few of the things that we still hadn't taken the time to do in Rome. It didn't sound like such a long list when we started.. but by the end of the weekend we had done so many things that it's hard to believe I considered the weekend relaxing.
During the week we had another Marquette dinner- wine and cheese themed. James introduced us to pecorino and honey- possibly one of my new favorite things. Best picture ever, right James?
Thursday was Valentine's Day and so five of us roommates and a few extra friends from the surrounding apartments decided that we were going to cook dinner and just drink in the apartment. I've mentioned before my roommates are practically professional chefs- and this definitely showed that night. Katelyn made roast chicken for all of us with all these little chickens that were like her little babies for the night. The rest of us pitched in for mashed potatoes, broccoli, gelato, and the grocery store's best deal- massive jugs of wine.
That's Katelyn in the back making sure she had tons of pictures of her baby chickens. So good. We all ended up staying in and just spending time together- everyone had traveled the weekend before and we had still gone out a few nights during the week so it was really just nice to relax for a while.
Earlier in the week Meghan and I had decided we definitely wanted to check the Colusseum and the rest of the Forum (I had been already for class to different parts) off of our list. We were able to convince Briana and Hunter into coming with us, so we ended up spending Friday afternoon at the Colusseum marveling over its size. One of the museum walls discussed the fact that so much of viewing Rome is impacted by the stories that one hears prior to coming- which is especially true for the Colusseum. Between Hunter quoting Gladiator and all of us talking about the different events that took place there that we had been taught every year of our grade school lives, it was definitely hard to see it how it is actually there rather than just how I had imagined it.
Later that night Kelly, Briana, Meghan and I decided to try a wine bar in Trastevere. We went over to this little place to find out that it was dessert hour- a real killer for Briana who bravely gave up chocolate for Lent. It also ended up being the first time that I tried dessert wine.. which was honestly not something I could ever see myself drinking again- but nonetheless we were excited to find a really cute, small place that was cheap and felt like ours.
Saturday we spent at the Forum. It was a beautiful day- we didn't end up wearing coats for the greater majority of it- and we really loved looking around. I was fortunate enough to have been there another time with my art history teacher who had developed all the narratives that take place within the Forum. So much interesting information. We accidentally too wandered into an amazing view of the Colosseum thinking we were entering into some kind of garden. Also found a great tree at the top of the Palatine- ones they do not cut that way but actually grow that way. That one's for you Uncle Greg! We also went out for an all-you-can-eat sushi lunch. I had never tried sushi before and could not be happier that Meghan and Briana insisted on it. Not only now can I tell Mother Mur that I love sushi without lying (hahaha) but also because now I have a new date spot for Dad and I since he loves it so much!
That night Chelsea's dad was in to see her- so he took all of us who were home out for Elephant beers at this bar in Trastevere. It ended up being such a hilarious night between Bri deciding if we were caught without tram tickets that she would just tell the police officers, "My name is Julius Caesar and I live at the cat sanctuary" and all of us doing pushups at about 4 a.m. to make up for some of our Lent promises gone wrong.
So many pictures of us laughing like this over how bad our pushups are. Just love my roommates.
The next morning we were up early and headed out to see the first Papal blessing since the announcement of his retirement. So many people were in the square to hear it - and Briana being the incredible genius that she is (my age with a company of her own and an extreme talent for photography and graphic design and about a hundred other things that we haven't probably figured out yet) pretended to be a journalist and got into the media pit. Which is how she ended up with amazing pictures of the Pope, one of which I stole because my iPhone just really doesn't come anywhere near capturing it like she did. The blessing was beautiful- even if it was not understandable by me. The people in the crowd seemed very moved and happy with it. He also repeated a shorter prayer after in six different languages- so we did get to hear him speak in English. It was an amazing experience!
This is the picture that Bri had took of the Pope during the blessing from his window. She, of course, in the media pit with a ton of professional photographers, journalists and news teams.
This was how crowded the square was as we were entering. And St. Peters just looking absolutely beautiful. Per usual.
Spent the rest of the week trying to get ready for midterms next week and London this weekend! Kelly, Meghan and I went for a picnic on this sort-of rooftop near our apartment building. And also here's a taste of just how delicious every window is in Rome right about now - and we're still about a montha way from Easter. It's practically unfair.
Kelly and I are leaving for London Thursday night! Could not be more excited- except for the whole coming home to midterms thing in a lot of classes that I'm yet to do much for.
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