Roma

So.
Rome.

I feel like I don't need to say anything else except:
1. The food was actually spectacular,
2. The men really are romantics,
3. The monuments are incredibly breathtaking, and
4. No, but seriously, the food.

Getting to Rome was impossible, and honestly, had it not been for Mr Bell, it probably wouldn't have happened. But, to avoid me getting all in a huff again in attempts to describe to you my new born hatred for the National Express bus system, you can always ask me about my Roman endeavors personally, so I can really embellish and justify the way I feel and how much I loathe bus stations.

ANYWAY, I made it, some eight hours later, and finally found Kate in Termini Station for the beginning of five wonderful days with one of my besties in Rome :)

I feel like no matter what, Rome will be best described in pictures (and I took over 100! Can you believe it?) Also, I apologize for how awful some of these pictures are, my camera is quite old and not of the greatest quality. 

We went to the Christmas Market, which was filled with crepes and candies and donut-y goodness, and lots of toys and jewelery and cute Merry-go-rounds.  We bought awesome little leather bracelets and sat by the fountain and ate gelato. Life's so hard sometimes, y'know?

After that, it was basically a big adventure of waiting/finding buses, more gelato and crepes, a lot of home cooked pasta, and pizza to go. Pizza here is just like, the ultimate snack. They sell it everywhere, by the square piece, and you get it and continue walking. SO MUCH WALKING.

Trevi Fountain! This was amazing, a stopping point for the aqueducts that are still running! A very romantic spot, as well, Kate and I got cozy ;)

We so cute.

Sorry I didn't turn this picture on the right side, but, 1. I don't know how, and 2. I just really wanted to show you the lights! How cool? This is on the most famous shopping street in Italy. We went for you mum! Although they wouldn't let us in Feragammo... there were chefs in there walking around serving tumblers of really cool coloured alcoholic beverages, and something tells me they didn't like the look of our fake leather jackets...

*sigh* so beautiful.

I think my favourite part, besides being with Kate (awwwwww :) ) was definitely the Vatican museum (I have now seen the School of Athens in person. How crazy is that? I have this poster in my dorm at the COW!) and St Peters Basilica. I'll post some pictures, but I'm really sorry at how bad the quality of my camera is, it's pretty old.

This is Laocoon. I have studied Latin and the Aeneid throughout my high school career, and this statue is so monumental in Roman history and I actually stood in front of it to take this picture. How fantastic is that?

This is Rafael's School of Athens. I guess back when he was commissioned to make this fresco, "philosophy was the hip thing" and so he painted all the philosopher's hanging out and philosophizin'. Pretty badass (excuse my language, but there's really no other word for it. Plato and Aristotle are arguing right in the middle of it!)

This is in St Peter's Bisillica. It was so cool to be standing in the building that I've watched the Pope deliver Midnight Mass to every Christmas Eve. Plus, there were people singing and praying in it while we walked around, so it even felt more alive.

Home in less than a week!

Ciao!