So I'm writing a blog post to distract myself from studying for my midterm tomorrow. At least I'm not watching a movie like usual. Baby steps.
I just realized it's been 2 weekends since I've blogged. The photos I take save my memory.
I just realized it's been 2 weekends since I've blogged. The photos I take save my memory.
Two weeks ago we went to a Papal Audience. Once I saw the Pope I was ready to leave but it's another thing checked of the to-do list. 
The Pope
The line to get into the auditorium was absolute mayhem. What happened to good, patient, God-fearing Christians? I was being man handled by pilgrims and being pushed up against priests (which I'm sure made every party involved a little uncomfortable). Inside it was like a high school state convention. All the groups had chants and flags and kept clapping and cheering for themselves. I was glad to get out of there.
Line into the Papal Audience
That weekend we relaxed with another picnic (a proper one, complete with bread, cheese, salami, and wine). On Sunday, Beth and I visited San Clementine, a very unique church. You walk into a 12th century church. You walk down a couple steps and you're in a church built in the 4th century. Venture down again and you're in a pagan temple built in the 2nd century, a temple dedicated to the cult of Mithras.
This last Thursday night a bunch of us went out for dinner Italian style, meaning we didn't start until around 10. After a two hour leisurely dinner we topped it off with some Old Bridge gelato, finally getting back around 2 (partially thanks to relying on Rome's public transportation).
Friday, Anne, Beth, and I desperately wanted to get out to the catacombs located outside the ancient city walls. Sometimes I really cannot stand Roman public transit. The plan was to leave by 10, take the 913 bus as usual to the metro and then catch the 218 bus outside the metro to Ancient Appia way. It's never that simple. First, the metro was delayed due to a strike and then the 218 stop was nowhere to be found. We literally had to tail a passing 218 down about 4 blocks to find the stop. Then when we finally get to the catacombs at 12:10. After a grueling 3 hour day, the catacombs have to siesta for 2 hours. This is when Italy gets annoying. Do you really need a 2 hour lunch after only working from 9-12?? Me and my Western efficiency.
On a side note, this is an interesting occurance that can be attributed to Catholic and Protestant roots in different countries. The primarily Catholic associated countries, Italy and Spain, and known for their lazy work ethic and long siestas. This is because work was seen as a punishment for Adam and Eve for disobeying God. Protestants view on everlasting life is to work their way to heaven so historically Protestant countries, like Germany, England, and the US, have a very regimented and efficient work ethic.
After wandering back to a dingy little snack bar with a slot machine decorating the back, we dinned on potato chips and then made our way back. The catacombs is 3 levels and it gets older as it gets farther down. The word "cemetery" literally means "dormitory" so bodies were sleeping (and placed that way) until they reached heaven. It was creepy walking deep 30 feet below ground surrounded by huge walls with rectangular slots dug into them where bodies were put to rest. 10 percent of the bodies have still yet to be excavated. I think it was almost creepier than the bone church and the bone church was pretty damn creepy with its still decomposing bodies (no pictures because I thought I forgot my camera even though it was in my purse the whole time...no photos allowed anyway). That night we initiated a couple of my friends into the cult of The Godfather. Conversions successful.
Saturday was cooking day! I went on a day trip to Tivoli to take a cooking class. We learned how to make fettucini, farfalle (bow tie pasta), and gnocchi (potatoe pasta) and coordinating sauces. It was so much fun and I wrote down all the recipes to make at home. It was also a lot easier than I thought it would be. We got to eat all the pasta we made, which was good and bad. It all tasted great but some fettucini which was so thick that some of it wasn't even cooked all the way (some people were too lazy to roll it out flat enough) and the farfalle sizes ranged from "butterflies to eagles" as our cooking mentor put it.
This last Thursday night a bunch of us went out for dinner Italian style, meaning we didn't start until around 10. After a two hour leisurely dinner we topped it off with some Old Bridge gelato, finally getting back around 2 (partially thanks to relying on Rome's public transportation).
Friday, Anne, Beth, and I desperately wanted to get out to the catacombs located outside the ancient city walls. Sometimes I really cannot stand Roman public transit. The plan was to leave by 10, take the 913 bus as usual to the metro and then catch the 218 bus outside the metro to Ancient Appia way. It's never that simple. First, the metro was delayed due to a strike and then the 218 stop was nowhere to be found. We literally had to tail a passing 218 down about 4 blocks to find the stop. Then when we finally get to the catacombs at 12:10. After a grueling 3 hour day, the catacombs have to siesta for 2 hours. This is when Italy gets annoying. Do you really need a 2 hour lunch after only working from 9-12?? Me and my Western efficiency.
On a side note, this is an interesting occurance that can be attributed to Catholic and Protestant roots in different countries. The primarily Catholic associated countries, Italy and Spain, and known for their lazy work ethic and long siestas. This is because work was seen as a punishment for Adam and Eve for disobeying God. Protestants view on everlasting life is to work their way to heaven so historically Protestant countries, like Germany, England, and the US, have a very regimented and efficient work ethic.
After wandering back to a dingy little snack bar with a slot machine decorating the back, we dinned on potato chips and then made our way back. The catacombs is 3 levels and it gets older as it gets farther down. The word "cemetery" literally means "dormitory" so bodies were sleeping (and placed that way) until they reached heaven. It was creepy walking deep 30 feet below ground surrounded by huge walls with rectangular slots dug into them where bodies were put to rest. 10 percent of the bodies have still yet to be excavated. I think it was almost creepier than the bone church and the bone church was pretty damn creepy with its still decomposing bodies (no pictures because I thought I forgot my camera even though it was in my purse the whole time...no photos allowed anyway). That night we initiated a couple of my friends into the cult of The Godfather. Conversions successful.
Saturday was cooking day! I went on a day trip to Tivoli to take a cooking class. We learned how to make fettucini, farfalle (bow tie pasta), and gnocchi (potatoe pasta) and coordinating sauces. It was so much fun and I wrote down all the recipes to make at home. It was also a lot easier than I thought it would be. We got to eat all the pasta we made, which was good and bad. It all tasted great but some fettucini which was so thick that some of it wasn't even cooked all the way (some people were too lazy to roll it out flat enough) and the farfalle sizes ranged from "butterflies to eagles" as our cooking mentor put it.
Our Pasta: Farfalle with tomato, asparagus, and pancetta; Fettucini with porcini; Gnocchi with tomato, mozarella, and basil
Enjoying the fruits of my laborAfter our lunch we wandered around Tivoli for a while. It is so picturesque and holds absolutely gorgeous views since it's so high up. The views of Tuscany are always so lauded but it definitely has a rival in the Lazio region.
View from Tivoli
Group Shot: Anne, Beth, Me, Kerstin, Liz, Kylah
Sunday Beth and I left the Rome Center with the intention of following the almighty Rick Steve's walk through the Jewish Ghetto. With our heads dancing with images of Jewish bakeries and yarmulkes we were so distracted we ended up taking the wrong metro. Apparently there's a difference between the Vittorio Emmanuel monument and Vittorio Emmanuel piazza. How many civic gestures does this guy need? All he did was unite Italy (starting in 1861 and ending in 1870 with the annexation of the Papal States into the Kingdom of Italy...my midterm tomorrow is on modern Italian history). Anyway, we ended up wandering around and, ironically, finding our way into a couple of churches. So instead of challah bread we got the Eucharistic and instead of yarmulkes we got those priest collar things. An enjoyable afternoon just the same.
Today Beth and I had another of adventures to get out of the Rome Center and into the center of Rome. We headed forth to seek out the Bocca della Verita, or the Mouth of the Truth, most commonly recognized from Roman Holiday where Gregroy Peck pretends to have his hand cut off when he sticks it in the Mouth (eliciting unscripted screams from Audrey Hepburn). Legend goes that if you are prone to lying your hand will be bitten off when stuck in the Mouth of Truth, helped along by scorpions placed by priests.
Where's Gregory Peck when you need him?
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