A Rainy Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum....

Rome has been spectacular thus far, and here's a quick recap of what I've been up to so far:

Friday:

Today was a day to go around the city to explore. In the morning, we dropped by the institute (AIRC) to check my email and post that last blog. Following that, we searched for a pizzeria. We'd done pasta the night before and the next thing on our list was pizza.They pizza that we found was pretty good--because I'm a vegetarian my options are sometimes limited, but I figure that's a good thing. Unfortunately (and luckily) we didn't make it to the Vatican like we thought we were going to. By the time our day started it was already noon, and the Vatican (which we did the next day) took about a grand total of 7 hours (!!) So instead, we planned out a walking route that would highlight some awesome views around the city. (you'll see the pics below) We started from the apartments that we stay at and made our way out to the bridge that crosses the Tiber River. Eric wanted a view of the river so we decided to find the shortest way there. We ended up at Ponte Umberto I (the bridge) where we first had our glimpse of St. Peter's. After this, we wanted to stop by Piazza del Popolo. On the way to the piazza, we ended up getting a phone call from our reinforcements--Christopher, Vicki, and Apoorva had arrived--and we decided to meet at the Spanish Steps at 5 for Gelato (I've been dying to say "Let's meet at the Spanish Steps?" for ages now) Up till now, Piazza Navona had always been my favorite Piazza, Piazza del Popolo took the cake. The view was amazing! After we enjoyed the view, we began the trek back towards home and made our way to the Spanish Steps. We met up with Christopher, Apu, and Vicki and had some Gelato from Rome's famous San Crispino--which had flavors ranging from pistachio to whiskey. After the refreshing treat we made one last piazza stop--Barberini. This one wasn't too exciting, other than the fact that this is the metro stop closest to our apartments. For dinner we went to Rome's best value for money pizzeria: Pizzeria da Baffetto. The pizza was excellent. However a lesson to be learned: never eat Itallian red peppers. Italian crushed red pepper's potency is not at all comparable to the stuff back home. It was HOT. That night we turned in early so we could enjoy the Vatican in the morning.

Thursday night in Front of the Trevi!
The view of the Imperial Forum from the AIRC seminar room--yes we get to see this almost everyday!
PIZZA
Ponte Umberto I, with St. Peter's Dome in the background
Piazza del Popolo

SPHINX--it reminded me of Pluto
The view from the lookout above Piazza del Popolo
Roma in the background
The happy fountain we found on our walk
Santa Maria del Popolo--the first church we went to for this trip. It houses Bernini's Chiggi Chapel--featured in Angels and Demons--but it was mysteriously curtained today, maybe because of the movie's release?!
Piazza Barberini with VC
Let's see how many people we can fit into our tiny apartment elevator
PIZZA (again)--before the red pepper fiasco, haha

Saturday:

This morning we woke up really early and left the apartment by 8 and walked all the way to the Vatican. We didn't have to wait in that long a line for either the basilica or the cupola (dome). It was a bit different from the last I went. The entire nave was blocked off and you couldn't rub (or kiss) St. Peter's foot (a statue). The crypt was also laid our differently since the last time I came because at that point Pope John Paul II has not yet died. The line for the crypt was really long and it wasn't nearly as exciting as the last time I went. The dome was excellent as usual and yes, it's 551 steps up and 551 steps down. We were so exhausted after the climb that we stopped for lunch before making our way to the Vatican Museum. The Vatican Museum gave us more chances to take some spectacular pictures of St Peter's dome. I think i've shot almost every possible vantage point of this dome. We took the metro home after seeing the Raphael Rooms, the strange death star thing in middle of the plaza, the Sistine Chapel, the Egyptian collection and Rapahel's Transfiguration (!!!!!!). We went back and rested up a bit before our AIRC welcome dinner. We had a four course meal including bruschetta and tiramisu and met our other professors: Darius and Albert. We capped off the night with a round of taboo (boys vs. girls)--guess who won?

About to wait in line--in St. Peter's Colonnade
Climbing up the dome
VOILA!
SPQR papal fountain right outside the Vatican Walls
doesn' t this remind you of the death star?
I should totally be a part of this painting.

Sunday:

I woke up, officially unpacked, and then Dr. Galinksky took us on a tour across town. Today was the day of the Italian equivalent of the Tour de France and the roads were all blocked off. But the walk was still pleasant. We ended the walk at San Carcere where the underground is the remains of 3 old pagan temples. We stood on a piece of ground that people in the 3rd century BC stood on. (I KNOW!) Rome is actually a city built on top of a city. The Rome street level that we see today was not the street level of the ancients. We're about 10-15 feet higher today. The pantheon, and even our Institute are both built on top of old Roman forums or temples. We were so exhausted that we all stayed in and cooked dinner! We made some bowtie pasta and ???? pasta with sauteed asparagus and a mixture of vegetable and olive pomodoro sauces. It was fabulous. We also went to my favorite gelato place (which is right down the road--I remember it from the last time I was here) They have NUTELLA gelato! It is magnificent. And the owner and I are going to become good friends--I have a secret desire to call him Uncle Valentino. He always gives me a bigger size for a lesser prize and everyone gets what they ask for. He's going to be my new Ken Aunty.

On 3rd century BC roads!

our cooking expertise

Monday:

We took our first walk to the institute as a group together, and the fastest way there takes us past the Trevi fountain. The only bad part about today has been the weather. It's been rather molto unspectacular. The forum should have been more enjoying, but unfortunately it was not.

The fab 15 at the FORUM!!

Things I like about Rome:

THE SPQR water fountains everywhere--free refreshingly cold water all over the city

The fact that I pass the Trevi fountain everyday on the way to class

Piazzas (not to be confused with pizza)