Testing testing 1,2…..can you hear me?

So today we went to church and it was so fun! It was a really small ward but everyone was especially friendly. There were a couple missionaries there who had some headsets that we could listen to as they translated the meeting for us. The only problem is that they kept shorting out and they didn't know when they shorted out so the one missionary would keep talking for like five minutes until someone got his attention to tell him we didn't have a clue what was going on. After that they would usually figure it out and we were able to hear them again for about ten minutes then they would short out again. However, even with not being able to understand what was going on it was an excellent set of meetings!

I look like such a giant here because the ground was sloped but this was the outside of the building

A Cardinal, a crypt, and a sister missionary

So on Saturday we went to St. Peter's basilica and let me tell you it was quite an experience. The pictures that are going to follow will never do St. Peter's justice and it really is just something you have to experience for yourself but I will tell you one thing it is so big and I just can't get over the fact that it took nearly 100 years to build and that people were willing to take on that large of a project. It truly is incredible and every inch of it is like a piece of art. Seeing the Pieta was one of the coolest experiences ever and seeing the expression on Mary's face as she held the body of Christ really seemed like an expression that a real mother would have when going through something like that. I don't know it's hard to describe and it's something you have to see. Stefani and I also snuck down into the grotto where many of the past pope's tombs are held, we didn't really sneak we followed a group down but it was pretty awesome. Probably the highlight of the experience however was when we were walking towards the Pieta and an Australian man came up behind us and asked if we were sister missionaries. Everyone in St. Peters has to be dressed modestly so who knows why he asked but he was there with his family because his daughter had served in Rome and they were back visiting. Seriously the best part of the day.

See the three little white heads, yeah those are the nuns that cut us in line….ironic isn't it?

Pieta

One of the fifty billion ceiling paintings

The Dome

Sorry I didn't feel like flipping it, this is the Cardinal that was sitting behind the roped area

Then he decided to walk around and was shaking peoples hands and such

Over the river and through the woods…and more woods….and another river…and some fields…and a bus station….oh another bus station….ah the ocean!

So can I just say this has been one of the sketchiest journeys I've ever taken. Our little group that enthusiastically decided we were going to go to the ocean was never in any real trouble but we really didn't have any idea where we were going and it seemed like we just kept getting on random ways of transportation to try and find our way to a little town called Sabaudia. We had done some research on line the night before to find a beach first off and this one seemed to have the reputation of a really nice place to go where mostly only locals went and where the water was clean and warm. Well after our metro, train, two buses, and a twenty minute walk journey we finally found the beautiful beach in Sabaudia. It really was incredible and we were able to just enjoy the warm soft sand, and wonderfully clear water. I am not a huge fan of the beach but I absolutely loved this little excursion. Going home was once again a little stressful but we made it there and back without any incident and with Lucy making friends with a nice Italian lady who gave us some candy. It was for sure a worthwhile day.

When the group finally made it

I'm so excited to finally be here!

You have to do a jumping picture when you're at the beach

Look at these two lovely bathing beauties

Strike a pose!

Gotta love the beach

Gladiators, naps, and San Giovanni

So after the long day in Ostia we woke up nice and early to head to the Colosseum and Forum since there was a strike on the original day we were supposed to go. We got off the metro and BAM there's the Colosseum right out the doorway. With every other sight we've been to you have to walk a little ways before you get there but that is most certainly not how the Colosseum is. Not only is the Colosseum right there but there's the triumphal arch of Titus and Constantine and then you get this amazing view of a billion other ancient buildings! It really is incredible. The Colosseum is way bigger than I thought it was going to be and I'm not sure why I had the idea that it was a lot smaller but I will never think that again. Can I just say that Gladiators are crazy? Originally slaves would fight to the death when their master died so their master would have a companion to the underworld but then they decided to make it a sporting event which just seems barbaric to me. For those with weak stomaches don't read this next part but I also learned that they would mop up the blood from the arena and sell it to drink because they believed it would give you extra strength. One that guy just lost so how would that give you strength and two I just can't see how a people who can build such beautiful and amazing structures could be so violent! Blows my mind! The Forum was also crazy with just the size of the area but we weren't able to stay for long.

After the Forum Stefani and I headed home to take a much needed nap to try and shake some left over jet lag that was hanging on. I slept like a rock and woke up totally ready to go out on another adventure. We decided to head to San Giovanni which is the actual Cathedral of Rome. It is a common misconception that St. Peter's is the Cathedral in Rome but it doesn't have the Cathedra or the Bishop's seat. San Giovanni is incredible it is huge and beautiful and glorious and confusingly uncrowded. I thought that because it was the actual Cathedral it would be a big deal for tourists and such but there was hardly anyone there and we got to enjoy the peace and quiet of it undisturbed. It really was a wonderful day and it was nice to have some time where we could go out and explore a little bit on our own. For a girl who has never lived in a big city and who for many years was under the impression that public transportation meant carpooling with a friend I think I'm really getting the hang of traveling around the city in a very efficient way. It helps that Rome's transportation systems are pretty straight forward but when you throw in that everything is written in Italian I think I'm fairing quite nicely!

view from inside the metro station

lower level of the Colosseum

Diedra, Stefani and me in the Colosseum

A small dome in a side chapel in San Giovanni

I am afraid I don't remember exactly who or what this is but the woman on the left is Saint Helena and I know the man in the middle was a Pope if that helps at all.

All roads lead to…more ruins

So on Wednesday we went to this old port town called Ostia. The city that's still there is so incredibly beautiful and quant you just can't keep from sighing about every thirty seconds. We went to the loveliest little church which actually used to be a big deal because the bishop of Ostia would consecrate the Pope so it was pretty neat to see it. The main sights in Ostia however are the castle in Ostia and the ruins of Ostia. We first went to the ruins which I was kind of disappointed with at first and then we just kept walking and then there was a big arena type thing that was still standing and I thought ok cool that's kind of neat but it's really just a smaller version of the Coloseum. However, we kept walking, and walking, and walking and we saw more and more ruins! We took time to just explore and the ruins extended on forever with some of them standing about three stories high! After exploring some we went back to see the castle which is crazy old and used to be a fortress in war time where the Pope would come and hide out. All in all it was a pretty long day but really cool to see everything and to get out of Rome and more into the country/smallish town type area. I promise that there will be more blog posts to come so I can catch you all up on my adventures but until then here are some pictures to tide you over.

There was really old flooring in many of the ruin buildings we saw. Many of them would tell you what the building was used for. This was the floor of one of the bath houses.

Some ruins with really awesome umbrella trees.

More bath flooring

At the bottom of the theater

A cute elephant

Ali and Stormie fell for this dashing young fellow

I myself have more mature tastes

Roma o Morte!

The ceiling of this church, it's all painted and gold leafed wood that was done after the following art

amazing art in Santa Maria in Trestevere 

More art, we're going to try to come back for mass sometime

More incredible art

 Looking up at the amazing ceiling

Cute doorway by a church

Ok so it's getting late and we have to make a super early start tomorrow so I'm not going to blog much but mostly post pictures. I'm having a fantastic time and things are going so well. It amazes me how every corner you turn there is some new amazing building or ruin, it's absolutely wonderful. We have seen some really incredible things, so many beautiful churches that I could never get sick of just sitting in and staring at the ceiling. Today we went to Ostio and old Roman town that was abandoned and left for ruin. It's really wonderful how things have been preserved and there was a very large theater and multiple story homes that were still up those pictures will be soon to come. We take a tour of the Colleseum and the Forum tomorrow so I will have much to write about that soon as well. The other day while walking down the street we saw a temple type structure along the top of it it said Roma o Morte which means Rome or Die haha I thought it was rather hilarious and it felt like even the old romans had a rock and roll edge to them. Rome is such an incredible city I absolutely love it!

I feel like I'm finally in Rome!

Well I've made it! Yesterday felt like one of the longest days of my life with all the traveling but it was so very worth it and I had it a lot better than some of the other people in our group. I had a little trouble in Chicago but nothing that couldn't be solved with a little patience and a long layover. There were several students in our group who never made it out of the Salt Lake airport although they should be on their way now and a few others who had to find there own way to the apartments we're staying at which I really feel couldn't have been that easy of a task if you hadn't been here before. But to make a long boring travel story short here I am in the Eternal City!


The first day we all got in at about twelve and they took us to our apartments. We had a nice lunch and then we went on an evening walk to St. Peter's. We still haven't been in yet but we were able to see the square and everything. It rained pretty much the whole time and none of us had umbrellas but I think we were ok with it because it is so stinking hot here! It probably wouldn't feel as bad if it wasn't so humid but it is incredibly sticky here. I feel like I'm constantly in that stage right after you put lotion on and it hasn't soaked in all the way yet. I'm really excited to actually get in to St. Peter's, the square itself is really beautiful but I think all of us didn't quite feel that we were really in Rome yet. The first few days I think will be a little surreal. I have moments where I get like a shock that I'm actually here and I'm feeling that way now after our second day.

After a good nights sleep with the help of a tylonel pm we woke up and made our way to the Trevi Fountain. We successfully managed the metro which surprisingly was a piece of cake. Once you got off the metro is when you have some problems because the have made all the metro lines around the major monuments and let me tell you something it feels like there's a major monument or building every two minutes you walk so while you can see tons of things as you walk to the main sightseeing areas it is quite a ways to actually reach them. The Trevi Fountain is so much larger than I expected and naturally we all threw our coins over our shoulders to make a wish. After the fountain we made our way to the Pantheon. All of the beauty that surrounds you in this city is so old! I am constantly asking myself why in the world our buildings are so ugly now? The Pantheon was originally a Pagan temple and the dome is the biggest and oldest in the entire world and it was all poured at once. AT ONCE! So that dome is entirely once piece! I feel so incredible blessed that I'm going to be seeing so many beautiful works or art in the next three months.

Rome is such a fun city as well as being incredibly beautiful. The people are very friendly it seems and I swear that anything can be romantic here. There was a man in the metro playing the accordion for money and it made even the metro seem like a romantic place haha. We have an amazing group of people here too. Everyone is different in their own way but we get along so extremely well which is good because there are about 18 girls in our group and it could get a little dramatic but i feel that everyone is very level headed and willing to get along with one another. This first post is going to be a little boring I'm afraid but here are some pictures so that should help :)

View of Rome from the top of the Spanish Steps, it really wasn't as long a climb as I thought it might be

In front of the Pantheon

In front of the Trevi Fountain

Make a wish and throw it really hard or else you'll hit the cement instead of the fountain

Trevi Fountain

Inside the art academy of St. Luke where Rafael studied

Running from the inside because we weren't sure we were supposed to be there and we got scared