They aren't as bad at the million dollar stairs, but it's close.
Tuesday night I made myself my first dinner, a chicken sandwich. Very creative and Italian. That night my four roommates and I decided to explore the Trastevere night life. Tuesday nights are apparently very big in Italy, and the area was pretty packed. We went back to the winding streets of Trastevere where Emma and I had gotten lost the night before, to check out the bars and the area in general. By the end of the night we had met lots of people, drank delicious Prosecco and mojitos, and gotten to know some of the other AUR people we'd met earlier. Everyone is from all around America, and all around the world, and it is really interesting hearing about everyone's experiences. There are many AUR transfer students, most of the ones I've met started college in the US then decided to transfer to Rome. The fact that so many people do that is incredible and so brave. Who knows, maybe I'll just fall in love with AUR and Rome over the next four months and never leave!
On Wednesday, Emma, Bea and I shopped (mostly window-shopped) down via del Corso, which is the main shopping area in all of Rome. It leads right from Piazza Venezia, so really conveniently located by our apartment. Before we went there, though, we passed a cat sanctuary that sits on some ruins (which happens to be the place where Ceasar was killed thousands of years ago). There are over 200 cats, most previously strays, that are fed, vaccinated, and taken care of here. Though I was with two cat people, I am most definitely not a cat person, but it was still a really interesting thing to see.
Some of the cats inside the area down in the ruins where they are fed and sheltered.
One of the many delicious cappucinos I've had so far. Most are just 1 euro if you drink at the bar.
After the cats and walking along via del Corso, we slightly stumbled upon the Pantheon. It's just a really impressive, massive building, and one of the oldest in Rome (built around 1 AD).
After looking at that for a bit and the very outskirts of Piazza Novona, we went back to get ready for dinner. The five of us decided to go to the Vatican at night to explore and go to dinner down there. We got to Saint Peter's Basillica as the sun was setting and it was a really incredible view.
The beginning of the Vatican...
Saint Peter's at night! So so pretty.
This was the entryway to a hotel right by the Basilica where I asked for directions. The woman at the desk said "this is a hotel not an information center" but she gave me a great map so it was worth it.
San Pietro
We went to a great little nearby restaurant and spent the traditional 2+ hours at dinner, ordering multiple courses and drinks, sitting outside laughing and getting to know each other. About four or five times at dinner men came up to us with roses, lighters, and other cheap little things trying to sell to us. They do this EVERYWHERE. Here we are sitting outside at a restaurant and constantly being bombarded by sellers. It's so frustrating and at this point I just say "No" or ignore them. It's the most annoying thing, and they do it everywhere! Besides that, dinner was great, but by the time we walked back to the Vatican entrance, it was after 11 and closed. I took some pictures from far away, and I will definitely get back there to tour around and explore more.
At dinner I had delicious gnocchi gorganzola. It was my first pasta in Italy and just so, so good! Of course I paired it perfectly with some Prosecco.
The columns in front of Saint Peter's.
Thursday was another free day, and I spent this day walking (as usual) and sightseeing (more and more!). Emma, Bea and I decided to walk out to the Trevi Fountain and Spanish steps, then the Villa Bourghese right behind that area. We were really excited for the Villa Borghese, which is really just a massive park. It's kind of like Central Park but less crowded. Families can rent 4+ person bike carts or segways to ride around, or take a horse ride through the park. There is a zoo, multiple cafes, an outdoor cinema, and more. It's such a cool place. Before we got there though, we were faced with massive disappointment in the form of construction.
Shockingly, this is La Fontana di Trevi.
They want you to throw your coin at a pool in front of a PICTURE of a statue.
So, so much construction.
The Trevi Fountain was completely unrecognizable. We'd heard from friends that had gone to it already that there was construction going on, but we didn't expect it to be this bad. There was a line to just walk over a little bridge in front of the statues, over the hole that was the fountain. The three of us had gotten there ready to throw our coins and make a wish, and were completely disappointed. We moved on to walk a short way to the Spanish steps, hoping that would be better.
Walked through a pretty piazza on the way to the Spanish steps.
The Spanish steps.
Yes, that is a PICTURE of the Trinità dei Monti church behind the steps. More unsightly scaffolding and construction! Though the steps themselves were walkable, the beautiful view of the church that makes these particularly steps so famous was not there. Also the fountain/pool in front of the steps (which I somehow vividly remember from when I went to Rome almost ten years ago) was also under construction.
Surrounded by a clear box, are they excavating?
We didn't expect that there would be massive construction over here too, so seeing the construction on these two big sites right after one another was disappointing. We headed over (by climbing the steps) to Villa Borghese, hoping it would be better. After we got a little confused a nice man told us the way to the entrance of the massive park. We walked around for a bit and stopped at one of the cafes for a drink.
Really cool Dr. Seuss-esque trees that are all throughout the park and at the entrance.
Beautiful day
Peroni break and literature discussion at the cafe!
Laghette della Villa Borghese
We knew we had to take out a rowboat... 3 euro per person for 20 minutes!
I became a champion rower
One of the little ponies that people could ride! It was probably no more than four feet tall.
We loved Villa Borghese and could have spent more time there, if not for the heat and the fact that we had a scheduled walk to go to at seven. Every day has been ridiculously hot, and though I tried to be Italian and not wear shorts the first two days, I had to eventually cave in. I don't know how they do it, so many women walking around in jeans and long sleeves! When the weather cools down just a bit, we will definitely head back to Villa Borghese for a closer look at the massive park.
After a long wait for multiple busses, we made it back to the apartment and had about five minutes to eat a quick snack and head back out for the Rome walk. The student life center at AUR brought us around for a two hour tour to a few sites. Though we had seen all or most of them already, it was nice to hear some history and a different experience seeing the sites at night.
Piazza Venezia
Coliseum at night!
Archway by the Coliseum
After the tour ended at the Coliseum, a group decided to head down to Piazza Novana for dinner. Leyla had found a great restaurant nearby and we were determined to find it. It took a while to get to Piazza Novona, and about a half hour of searching to finally find the street and restaurant. Though it was 10:30pm and I hadn't eaten since breakfast, it was definitely worth it. I decided to try a secondi piatti, which consists of meat or fish rather than primi piatti which are usually pasta or risotto. I got taglietta con l'aceto balsamico, which was beef with a balsamic vinegar reduction over some greens and tomatos. It was so delicious, and everyone really enjoyed their meals. We definitely hope to go back there. It was a really cool area with tons of little shops, restaurants, gelaterias, and music outside.
The center of Piazza Novona
So, so good.
After dinner, we walked back towards home but stopped at the white tents along the Tiber river for a drink. We stopped at the "Malibu Bar" which had sand and palm trees among the tables and tents. I had a delicious strawberry daquiri.
The white tents that go on for about half a mile down the side of the river.
View of Ponte Garibaldi from the Malibu Bar.
Thursday was our last fully free day, as Friday has a security talk by the American Embassy at AUR, there is a welcome BBQ on Saturday, and a trip to the beach put together by student life on Sunday. After that classes start, which is a little hard to believe. I'm really grateful that I've had this full week to enjoy and explore my new city, but I am definitely not ready to get back into school mode in the coming week!
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