Saturday, July 9, 2011: “We are survivors. We’re not going to give up. We’re going to push harder.”

Day 2: Roma

Today Europe did better in our little competition, not because we are dominating any less, but because we altered the game rules slightly so Europe didn’t feel so bad about itself. We decided that Rome is a pretty impressive city and therefore can earn points for simply being awesome. The hotel manager working today gained a point for Europe for being amazingly helpful. He pointed us in the direction of an awesome night walk we will describe later in the blog, got our internet working, and taught us a cool new phrase: “Ni” it means “yes and no” or “Si and No” together. The people of Rome also earned one point for Europe for being so incredibly kind, happy, generous, cute on their mopeds, and all around good people. Even when we were not supporting their business or they were not directly benefitting from our presence they were, simply put, sweet, respectful, and incredibly helpful. They are also amazingly patient with me when I ask them how to say things in Italian and then practice my Italian with them. The buildings, statues, artwork, and monuments of Rome will also earn Europe two points because they are everywhere. You can’t turn a corner without being smacked in the face with history or breathtaking scenery.

We began our day with a bus trip (1 point for dominating bus route across city) to the Vatican. Thankfully, my Mom-Dale, recommended buying our Vatican tickets online and we avoided a pretty nasty line (1 pt). We skipped ahead and took on the 1,600+ rooms of the Vatican. We weren’t allowed in all of them but did manage to see the Sistine Chapel. The Sistine Chapel, like the Alamo, is smaller than expected, but very impressive. It is not really fair that one man could have so much talent. The fact that Michelangelo painted the ceiling and walls of the Sistine Chapel (painting a ceiling? Really? Feat in itself!) and also sculpted the Pieta (which we saw in St. Peter’s later in the day) is amazing to both of us. If you have yet to travel to Rome these two pieces of art are worth your time—that is saying something as the whole city of Rome is a piece or art. In addition to the Sistine Chapel we both enjoyed the courtyards, and views of the interior gardens—something you can’t see from outside the high walls surrounding Vatican City. We included a picture of a modern piece of art in one of the many courtyards. We were eaves dropping on a tour guide’s description and she said it is the artist’s interpretation of the earth and the Vatican City. In our picture you can see a smaller sphere, which represents the Vatican in the larger sphere (the rest of the earth). All of the chinks and cracks represent the problems of the world. It was interesting that the artist also included chinks and cracks in the Vatican sphere as well. Admitting faults? We were both impressed that the church allowed such a piece inside the city’s walls. Beth’s comment as we were standing in line to enter St. Peter’s was a good one: “It’s is kind of cool to be in a place where so many people from all over the world have congregated.” It is nice to see all these different people getting along so well.

After the Vatican we strolled over to St. Peter’s, waited in what looked like a terrible line, but proved to be short. While waiting we met fun British people who then couldn’t get in because they were wearing short shorts—a lesson to be learned: Romans take their dress code seriously; cover your shoulders and legs in the church (clearly this lesson does not apply to nighttime activities). St. Peter’s is massive! We are both struggling to come up with a comparison to give you an idea of its size. In addition to its shear magnitude the artwork and details of the inside are mind-boggling. Every nook and cranny is carved, painted, or contains something to make it more elaborate. Bernini, an artist who created several statues and the multi-story alter inside the chapel, is also a talented man (why wasn’t one of the Ninja Turtles named Bernini? I think he deserved that recognition.). How does one create flowing drapes of fabric out of marble?

As we exited St. Peter’s we walked past a fountain that everyone was using to fill up their water bottle and splash some water on their hot faces. I was out of water and Beth said, “Just do it.” I have been avoiding tap water like the plague since we arrived. Beth drank water when she lived in Romania, so her stomach is already messed up and she has nothing to lose. I on the other hand have a fairly normal digestive track (was that too much information to post on the internet? Oopsies). Beth is so brave she would practically drink the water right out of the river if I let her (gross, no she wouldn’t, I kid—but she will drink tap water and fountain water without any hesitation; they should name a Ninja Turtle after her for her bravery). I was so thirsty and am too cheap to pay 2 Euros for a small bottle of water. The fountain looked so nice and refreshing. Beth said it would be fine so I conquered my fears and DRANK THE FOUNTAIN WATER! IT WAS AMAZING. DELICIOUS. NON-TOXIC (1 pt). Europe could have gained quite a few points on that one but my digestive track is still dominating. Boo yah.*

In addition to these major tourist sites we also strolled through severa

l of Rome’s quaint (and still somewhat touristy) neighborhoods and piazzas. Piazza del Popolo and Campo di Fiori were quite charming and made Beth and I wish that Americans 1) used more shutters in their architecture; not so much for the function, but the beauty they add to a building, 2) have more outdoor eateries with seats ideal for people watching, and 3) had a better, more laid back attitude similar to that or Europeans. Hanging out after work, socializing, and drinking a bottle of wine with your good friends is not such a bad thing. Yes, we do this in America, but not enough. We get back the 25^th—call us if you want to get some wine!

Our evening ended with a stroll down the Tevere River. We ate gelato (of course!) and meandered through cute shops, bars, restaurants, and carnival games set up

temporarily for the summer. Again, Romans were kind, fun loving, an

d sweet people. As we walked home we passed the Victor Emmanuel Monument. As a history major I hate to admit that I don’t really know much about him—he united Italy and was their first king; that is about all I got. Judging from the monument he was kind of a big deal. I should probably read up on that guy (glad I’m teaching World Geography these days and not World History—the children of America are safe from my ignorance).

We are about to crash and so we will bid you so long, farewell (a taste for

what is to come!) tonight. Thanks for reading, thanks for the comments (it makes us feel not so far away from loved ones and closer to home) and we’ll be back tomorrow.

Amore,

Beth and Jesse

*Once we arrived back at the hotel tonight I received an email from my mother (Dale; whom I love dearly and she is well aware of the sarcastic tone I t

ake). She said she could not get the posting thing to work, but her comment that she wanted to post was “You can drink the water right out of the fountains in Rome!” One would think that a woman (my mother) who so freely points out all of the dangers in life would reveal this secret of Rome to me before I left. But no, she o

nly told me of the thieves that would rob me blind.