When in Rome...

Welcome back to my travel blog! My first week in Rome is complete, meaning we only have five blog posts left together… but there is no time for tears because I have so much to share with you!

Monday started off with a frantic race to the airport, as both Bri and I missed our alarms. No worries though, we made it through security and all with 30 minutes to spare! We arrived safely to sunny Italy, sat through yet another orientation, moved into our (very nice) apartment, and enjoyed a welcome dinner with the program. I am living in the Prati neighborhood, a nice residential part of town, with a mere 15 minute walk to the Vatican!

Tuesday, after more orientation, we had a walking tour of the Prati neighborhood to begin the adjustment process. Then me and some new friends explored the city… which ended up including a visit to St. Peter’s Square, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain. Quite an exciting little walk, if you ask me. Wednesday we had a proper tour of some of the city’s big tourist sites, complete with a break for the “best cappuccino in Rome”. So far, it’s definitely the one to beat.

On Wednesday night, I had the privilege of going on a food tour with a family friend who happened to be in town for business. Allison and I toured around the Trastevere neighborhood and ate traditional Italian dishes, including: supplì (a fried rice ball with cheese), a cheese and prosciutto platter, pasta (mine was with octopus!), pizza, wine (so much wine), and of course gelato. It was a great way to catch up and learn more about Italian’s sustainable agriculture and amazing cuisine.

Thursday and Friday I began my third block classes: A City within a City: The Vatican and Rome and Music and Society. I am very excited to be taking these classes as they directly relate to Rome and Italian culture. With my Vatican class, I will be visiting once a week and learning more about its history, architecture, influence in the world, etc. With my music class, I will be learning more about Italian music, instruments, and its role within Italian culture.

And Saturday was spent getting lost in Rome. Don’t worry, we got lost on purpose trying to explore the city. Aside from the sunburn I got, we found many tourist sites, gorgeous piazzas (plazas), toured several churches, and even ended up running into the Colosseum… cause when in Rome, am I right?

There are several things that this week has made me excited about. I am excited for my classes, which happen to be held in a real-life nunnery. With saint statues and pictures of Jesus lining the hallways, I have had several flashbacks to my Catholic middle school days… but nonetheless, I am still excited. I am excited to be in a city with so much history, and ancient history at that. While exploring the city, you can turn the corner and see ancient ruins in the middle of the piazza…. it’s wild. I am excited for the warm weather. It has been 70 degrees and sunny almost all week, and even though my closet may not be ready for it, I am! I am excited for Italian food, Italian culture. I am excited for my last five weeks abroad.

That’s all for now, ciao!

Olivia

Pictures: Olivia at the Trevi Fountain, Vatican City, Allison and I after our AMAZING food tour, The Pantheon, The Supreme Court building (featuring my favorite palm tree), The Colosseum, Rome from the river, and some gorgeous churches.