ROMA

So the next day in Rome we explored some of the other main sites such as the Trevi fountain, the pantheon, Spanish steps and some other churches. It was fun yet tiring seeing all the sites. When we were on the hunt for the trevi fountain we met a group of Italian boys who were fun at first, but then they got annoying. They couldn’t speak English so it was funny trying to translate everything using the Italian translator, but then they started following us (because they said they knew where the trevi fountain was)..well we started to get tired of them so I looked up how to say shut up and leave in Italian and said it to them halfway joking, but halfway serious, they didn’t get the hint though until we started to go to every store we passed and they finally left. One of the guys was totally in love with Arlan, but Arlan wasn’t having any of it and was like leave me alone, and tried to learn how to say “I have a boyfriend in Italian”.

We finally made it to the trevi fountain and did the typical throw the coin in the fountain, and it is supposed to ensure your trip back to Rome…not sure if that will happen because I have already seen everything there haha. But site seeing is so exhausting, we intended to go out but we were just so wiped and Rome isn’t really a part city so we stayed in to prepare for our travels to see Gina’s family the next day.

The next day we take a train to Cassino, to get to Alvito were Gina’s fam lives. Gina had to make a sign since she had never met her family before. We get picked up in a white truck and drive to the town of Alvito. It was a very small town (kinda like Cullowhee) with not too much there, but it was such a pretty town, very mountainious. We get to Gina’s family’s house and they have prepared the typical ten course Italian meal! The food was great there was pasta, pizza, mozzarella, bread, chicken, vegetables, salad, dessert, and fruit….the list goes on and were all so full! It was nice to have a true Italian meal! Well after lunch we start the marathon of meeting Gina’s fam and friends, it was fun yet overwhelming meeting everyone, because some of them didn’t speak English and they would just feed us more food everywhere we went, and we went to atleast 10 houses.

On the train ride back it was lots of fun, arlan and I reminisced about fun times with WCU soccer, Gina and I told stories from high school, my sister and I talked about what I would do to push her buttons and make her made growing up ( I still do hahah) and we just chatted about random things, so the trip to Alvito was definitely one of the highlights of the trip, I got to see true Italian culture!

When in Rome

So our travels to Rome can pretty much be summed up with “Go!GO!GO!” it was like we were running a marathon to get to the airport and make our flight. First we have our luggage and have to lug it up and down stairs at the train station. Luckily people were very helpful with carrying our bags so that made life so much easier. We were fine time wise until we had to wait for our train to the airport for a good amount of time. Our flight was at 8:25 and we got to the airport at 7:35 had to book it to the north terminal (seriously we were running) and check our bags in! Luckily the people at the kiosk were really nice and took my aunt’s and my overweight bags (luckily Keji and Gina’s bags are light so we can stuff all the things I buy in theirs hehe). We finally get to the gate at 8:00 (we were supposed to be there at 8:05) and phew we made our flight (BARELY)!

The flight was so bumpy, and it would have totally been justified if I threw up on this flight this time, but I was actually fine!

We arrive in Rome at 11:55pm. Going through the border they were pretty chill and didn’t even ask the reason for the visit. He just said chao and graci! So we get to the arrival area and are immediately greeted by shuttle service and taxi companies. We ended up getting a shuttle for an ok deal to the apt we rented for the four days.

So a week after I get back to the UK from graduation, Arlan alerts me that she might be coming over to Europe! Well she is in Rome with me RIGHT NOW. I am so PROUD of her. She flew all the way over here by herself and found the apartment we are staying in by herself and she doesn’t even speak Italian. I felt so bad because she arrived early in the morning since she was flying from Atlanta, but me, my aunt, gina and my sister (all flying from London) didn’t get to the apartment until after 1am, so she rode solo all day. I was so relieved to find Arlan waiting at the apt for us otherwise I don’t know what I would have done! We stayed up pretty late alerting families we have made it over, and skyping (if you don’t have skype, you should) (add me haha).

Rome is probably one of the most beautiful and ancient cities I have ever seen! The detail, history, and architecture is so beautiful. We took a tour of the Colisseum, Roman Forum, Palentine Hill, Arch of Constantine, and saw the Imperial forums. I was just in awe that I am actually in Rome seeing everything! It is amazing, and I am having so much fun! I am glad that I have been able to experience this trip with two of my best friends Arlan and Gina, and my sister and aunt.

I can’t wait to see the rest of Rome and eat some more gelato. I had caffe (coffee) flavored today and it was soooo Good! I think I will try strawberry tomorrow! Well Ciao for now!