Sightseeing in Rome

One of the things I love about Rome is all the rich history that's just about everywhere you turn. I love walking around the city (it's pretty much all I've been doing) and just getting lost in it because no matter how lost I think I am, I always somehow stumble upon a famous monument and am able to find my way again. And while I'm "lost," I find obscure piazzas, shops, eateries, and monuments that are well off the beaten path and these are the places that enable me to experience authentic Italian life and culture. Throughout the semester, I'll write posts on my experiences wandering through the streets of Rome and seeing places that are both on and off the beaten path. With that being said, the following are pictures and thoughts from my first major sightseeing excursion in Rome:

Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona

Pantheon

Trevi Fountain

Spanish Steps in Piazza di Spagna

Fountain in Piazza di Spagna

Although I had already been to/seen all of the monuments and places on my previous two trips to Rome, they never cease to amaze me. It just amazes me how grand and detailed they all are and it is astounding how they are all still pretty much intact thousands of years later. I cannot wait until it gets warmer out so I can spend more time and truly enjoy each of the above places. 

Ciao for now!

Tis' the Season

When I arrived in Rome on January 9th, the last thing I expected to see was christmas trees, nativity scenes, and holiday lights throughout the city. From growing up in an Italian family, I know that the Epiphany on January 6th is an extremely important Italian tradition. Even though my family leaves up our Christmas decorations until after the Epiphany, I'm used to everyone else taking them down the day after Christmas. Since I arrived 3 days after the Epiphany, I certainly was not expecting to see any Christmas trees, let alone holiday lights strung throughout the city. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I got here!

Trastevere

Campo dei Fiori

Piazza di Spagna

Christmas Tree and Nativity Scene in front of Saint Peter's Basilica

Bethlehem in front of Saint Peter's Basilica

The Nativity Scene to the right of Bethlehem

Saint Peter's Square in the Evening

I love the holiday season and getting the chance to see what Rome is like during it has been a special treat! And surprisingly, the lights, nativity scenes, and christmas trees are still all up throughout the city. I wonder when they're going to take them down...but hey, I'm definitely not complaining!

Ciao for now!

My Roommates

I have to admit that I was a little nervous about who my roommates were going to be before coming to Rome. I had never had completely random roommates before and I was going to be living with random people (at the time I didn't even know how many) for 4 months and in a foreign country! However, after we all arrived, settled in, and got to know each other a bit, I realized just how lucky I was! My roommates are fantastic and we've already had some great times together! I can't wait to have even more over the next few months as we travel together and try to make the most out of our time in Rome  :)

Me, Alex, Rachel, & Paula

My direct roommate, Rachel!

Ciao for now!

My Flat

John Cabot University has different housing options and when I was placed in their external apartments and told that I would not know where the apartment was going to be until I got here, I must admit I was a little apprehensive. However, upon seeing my flat for the first time, all my apprehensions disappeared immediately. Not only is my flat spacious and charming; it also has two bathrooms, two balconies, and some great views:

This is the view from the window next to my bed!

My favorite view, however, is from one of our balconies because it's a view of the dome of Saint Peter's Basilica:

I do not think I will ever get sick of standing out on my balcony and looking at it.

The flat has two bedrooms, a spacious living room, and a rather small kitchen (which is unfortunate) but I absolutely love it! It already feels like home. This is my side of my bedroom:

And this is my limited wardrobe for the next 5 months:

Although...I can always go shopping! ;)

Ciao for now!

Ciao from Roma!

Just 7 short days ago, I arrived in Rome where I will be spending the next 5 months. After struggling to pack everything into one suitcase and saying goodbye to all my family and friends, I was off to the airport filled with a mixture of enthusiasm, anticipation, and apprehension. I have wanted to study abroad for an entire semester for years and it felt so surreal that it was finally happening. Now that I have been here for a week, it still feels surreal. Over the past 7 days, I have walked a total of about 15 miles all around Rome, gone to mass at St. Peter's Basilica, eaten never-ending amounts of delicious food, and spoken quite a bit of Italian. I have always felt so at home in Italy and it feels so good to be back. There's nothing like going to the local caffetteria for my morning cappuccino, walking along the Tiber to get to class, and passing by some of the most famous and beautiful monuments and ruins on a casual afternoon stroll. This past week has felt like a dream and I can not wait to see what the next 5 months have in store for me!