Jenn and I started off the day with the Colosseum but after finally finding among the crowd of people found out that it was closing early due to the Pope's Via Crucis that he does every Good Friday.
After realizing we didn't have enough time to go in both the Colosseum and the Forum we decided to aimlessly walk around Rome and take in the sights along the way. We ended up at the Trevi Fountain where we somehow battled the crowd long enough to make a wish and toss a coin in the fountain.
Rome was probably the craziest place to be the weekend of Easter but we somehow managed to battle the crowds. After making our wish and hanging out at Trevi Fountain we continued to the Pantheon. Unfortunately there was restoration projects taking place on the outside of the Pantheon and an Easter Mass taking place in the inside so we weren't fully able to experience the Pantheon but it was still just as old- looking and cool.
From the Pantheon we walked through a bunch of shopping districts in Rome where we drooled over the window shopping once again. Our trek through the shopping streets finally led us to the Spanish Steps where you could only actually make out one or two stairs due to the amount of tourists sitting on them!
Jenn and I thought it was pretty neat that Spain had its own plaza in Rome and especially that it was complete with 3 perfect palm trees and fountains in the middle! Since we had spent the whole day walking aimlessly around Rome we were worn out and returned to our hotel to shower and get ready for dinner. We are spoiled with the million metro lines in Madrid because we were very disappointed with the 2 lines Rome had running around the perimeter of the city that forced us to walk more than we preferred to walk! Needless to say we got some exercise!
After showering and resting for a little the four of us ate dinner outside at a side street cafe in which we all satiated our craving for Italian pasta!
We then decided to go hang out around the Trevi Fountain by night and eat gelato. The street vendors decided to take a liking to me as they offered me roses, tried to give me kisses, and begged to take pictures with me.
Tossing my penny in the Trevi Fountain to make my wish come true!
After I had had enough of that we finally returned to our hotel knowing we had a BUSY day ahead of us.
Jenn and I decided to wake up early and head back to the Colosseum to do the full tour inside on a beautiful day. We were beyond amazed by the size and the history of the Colosseum... we could almost picture Russell Crowe fighting!
Reenacting The Gladiator...I chose for the gladiator to live, and Jenn did not!
The four of us had reservations for the Vatican Tour at 1:30 so we hurried over to Vatican City to start one of the longest tours I have ever been a part of. In my head we would walk in to the Vatican to find the Sistine Chapel and then leave. Let me just say that after about 180 rooms, filled with the Easter weekend tourists, I was ready to see the Sistine Chapel. It was different than I had pictured but still amazing and beautiful. Along with the Sistine Chapel we saw ancient Egyptian ruins and mummies, statues, tapestries, and beautiful artwork.
My illegal picture of the Sistine Chapel
The famous part of the Sistine Chapel!
The tour wore us all out as it took us almost 4 hours (by the end we were running through rooms trying to get to the Sistine Chapel finally). We decided to get gelato and then go sit and hang out in St. Peter's Square. St. Peter's square was crowded yet still stunning with the sun setting on the basilica.
After gaining our energy back we returned to our hotel to get ready for dinner and my 21st birthday night. We went to dinner near our hotel and once again got our fill of wonderful pasta, bruschetta, and bread.
Some other guys from our program who were also in Rome for the weekend came and joined us and then we all headed down to Piazza Spagna after dinner to find a bar to celebrate my 21st! Unfortunately since it was the night before Easter Sunday, not many bars or anything were open. We eventually found a restaurant to get a late night snack and some drinks and with a waiter willing to check my id. It was fun to sit around and listen to their music while eating and drinking but it made me a little homesick on my birthday. I missed being with my family and friends on my birthday!
The next morning we woke up EARLY to eat breakfast before heading to St. Peter's Square for Easter Mass. I was in a bad mood since I had to stand in line with a million other people with umbrellas in the rain but I soon realized my mood needed to disappear because I was about to take part in something rare for a lot of people. After 3 hours we finally entered the square to find the Pope on the big screen delivering something in Italian. Once I stopped and took in the scenery and the beautiful hymns in the background I felt connected to God at one of the most wonderful religious sites in the world! It was a really neat experience that not many people are able to do in a lifetime and I know am very lucky to have taken part in the mass!
We sat in the square for a little while listening to the Italian service and the beautiful songs and then went to get Italian paninis and a street-corner cafe near the Vatican. The rest of the group decided to go see the Palatino and the Forum but unfortunately my sinuses had other plans for me. I was feeling very under the weather and the rain and cold were not helping so I decided to head back to our hotel for a nap.
Unfortunately being sick and alone in a hotel room on a cold and rainy day with nothing but Italian on the t.v does not lead to the most optimistic attitude. I also could not get in touch with my family and friends making me feel very alone on what was supposed to be a BIG birthday! Jenn finally returned back to the hotel and could tell I was feeling a little off. Knowing me well, she decided to make me feel better she would try to give me a little piece of home...the Hard Rock Cafe! Without missing a beat she found the Hard Rock in Rome and took me for my birthday dinner. We got enormous hamburgers and fun drinks and listened to music that reminded us of home.
Jenn about to chow down...don't worry mine looked just as good!
It was the perfect solution and I finally felt great about my birthday. It was the perfect ending to a perfect spring break and 10 of the most action packed, fun, and culture rich days of my life. I am so lucky to have gotten the opportunity to travel throughout four very different regions of Italy and experience parts of the world many people have never seen. I will never forget this Spring Break and all the things I fit into the last 10 days because I truly learned so much while having the best time in what turned out to be my favorite place I have ever traveled to in the world. Ciao Bella!
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