its a small world after all!

Thursday night at midnight Swati, Kait, Lindsay and I decided to leave for Rome the next morning. So, the next morning Swati and I went running then hopped onto the train (after being delayed due to a slight obsession with falafel).

Kait and Lindsay arrived before we did, they waited. Swati and I arrived. We then commenced a very long and unintentional tour of Rome and its mass transit system (we seriously covered almost one entire line). Despite our “short cut” we were all in very good spirits.

We came across the Vatican at night. Wow.

Hostel. The first night we stayed at Bella Roma. By the time we arrived at the hostel the staff and I were quite intimate due to my frequent calls during our unintentional tour of Rome that evening. We were pooped so we stayed in for the night. Ty-manages the hostel, from California, met some girl, followed her to Italy, she found someone else, he is there now. BJ-British, hates London, took us to McDonalds (it was so late they were no longer making food, the ONLY vegtitarian option was french-fries). Matt and Greg-Americans studying in Copenhagen, very relaxed, very fun. Lindsay and I are trying to arrange a visit to see them and stay with their host families. From what I hear we had a very unusual hostel experience. By the end of the night we were all buddies. We just sat around joking and talking about why we were in Europe, what we wanted to do, playing games, trying to find cheap cake, etc.

In the middle of the night we woke up to two guys in our room fighting about smoking in bed. Probably not the safest but we were all smothering our faces in our pillows so that they would not hear us laughing.

Morning. Vatican Museum. Due to the fact that I was at the Vatican in August, I went straight to the modern section. Not the most impressive collection, duh, it’s the Vatican. I went around sketching works I liked, things I would like to apply to my own work etc. A security guard noticed me sketching and approached me. He was very fascinated with what I am doing in Italy, etc. By the end of our conversation (senza inglese) he took me out to a courtyard in the middle of the Vatican museum where tourists are not allowed to go. Pretty neat.

Met our friends Alexis, Patrice, Jeremiah and Craig at the Spanish steps. Had way too expensive pizza. Went to the Keats-Shelly Museum. I love romanticism. Being in the museum reminded me how much I appreciate what I learned in high school and that I should read that stuff more often. What a fascinating group of people they were. While I was in the museum I was looking out the window down at all of the people sitting on the Spanish steps. I told Swati that I wanted to just sit and draw everyone. Later the hostess of the museum told us that the Spanish steps where a prime venue for models to lounge around waiting to be picked by artists for subjects of the artists’ paintings.

Trevi fountain. No explanation needed. Tourists. I got back to Rome without going to the Trevi last year. I wonder what will happen now that I made a wish for it?

Piazza Novana. I am not a huge fan. Very touristy. It is pretty and historically it is interesting.

We all kind of split up, went back to our hostels (new hostel, not worth mentioning, boring). Later we all met up for dinner. Originally we were going to go to a nice dinner where there was a chocolate menu. Instead, the famished Americans SHAMELESSLY ventured to HARDROCK CAFÉ! During our hour-long wait for a table I noticed VEGGIE BURGER on the menu. At that moment I ran around and hugged all of my friends. My veggie burger was followed by a HUGE brownie Sunday.

Morning, just Swati and me. Grabbed a Cappuccino and Croissant then headed to the bus. As we were chatting on the bus we simultaneously saw the Mario Praz Museum, a museum we both wanted to visit but did not really have on our agenda. We pushed the little red button and hopped off the bus. So, Swati and I went into the museum at 1010. Apparently the tours were only by the hour, the receptionist was very stern about this (may I please remind you no one speaks English, my Italian language skills, thought still dull, are sharpening). She sort of brushed us away then sighed and spoke quickly on the phone. She told us to go up the top floor. We figured were rushing to meet the tour that began at 10. Nope, we had a tour all to ourselves. Swati, the guide and I walked around talking (me getting to translate) about what was in the museum, the history of Praz, his family, etc. AMAZING EXPERIENCE. Mario Praz was an Italian who taught English. His main love in life was collecting things—art works, furniture, miniatures, etcBeing an art historian I was surprised by the fact that he died in the 1980s. His taste was old; I would have dated him back to the later 1800s. The locals thought he was cursed, they spit at him and at his house when in passing. The Museum is his very well-done apartment. Apparently all of his things were sold and they had to be bought back in order for the museum for open. As we left Swati and I grabbed some books and took notes. When we left the little receptionist got up and embraced us while kissing our cheeks. I love Italians. She was so haughty then ended up treating us like her long lost daughters. I think they were enamored with our enthusiasm for their museum.

Bus. FABULOUS market. We landed in a very Italian area. The market was SO crowded. We had a blast touring around and deciding if/what to buy. I ended up getting 5 fabulously tacky necklaces for 10 euro. The bargaining was fun. I offer a price, he says no, I walk away, he says yes. I like it.

After the market we saw the word falafel. If you haven’t figured this out from the beginning of this entry Swati and I have a slight obsession. We marched across the street to the falafel joint. They loved us! As I previously stated this area of Rome did not have any tourists, so no one spoke English. They were so exited to see Americans. The man in charge of the restauraunt gave us a supli (I do not know how to spell this). It was basically a friend ball of rice (Spanish-esque) breaded on the outside—scrumptious. They were just so happy and so kind, so hospitable and so excited to share their favorite parts of their culture—food.

Mass Transit to the Coliseum. Yup, ultimate tourist thing to do. It was cold but you have to go in once in your life. While we were there we saw a man we met on the train on Friday. We were all excited to see each other and recount what we had done while in Rome. I had a small history with this man. On the train I asked him (in Italian) at which station we were. He replied, “I speak English.” We chatted and he asked where I lived. I told him I was from the United States, he dryly answered, “I know.” Despite his seemingly crass manner he ended up using the word “colorful” to explain something he had seen while t the coliseum. He now has a special place in my heart.

Train station. Ate Brie Crockers at McDonalds. Took the train back. Saw a ton of Umbra kids on the train. Took a cab home from the station. POOPED.

Going out to some friend’s apartment tonight. Tomorrow there is tango class. Thursday Bettylou is having Australians (high schoolers) over. Friday we are having a dessert party. Swati and I have drawn a few more grab bag bars but haven’t gone yet—oh, no worries, we will.

I bought an Italian dictionary, like all Italian.

Overall I am starting to actually not think about using Italian and it is just coming out. I still feel so rusty and uncomfortable but I guess I am growing. I am still trying to branch out socially and meet more and more people. This is very hard to do because I really like everyone I have met. We still have over three months. No one is going anywhere. Actually, my Erasmus friends are going next week. Bummer.

I might go back to Rome to look at their art schools (for grad school). I do not want to loose the language.

I am looking forward to painting. Very much. I miss it. I think I am really ready to get back into it. Reflex those little muscles. Remind me of this when I am learning a ton and not producing a product I like. Process. Process. Process. PRODUCT! Process.

Momma, I am at a Japanese computer so i do not know how to email you. I LOVE the new designs. Tweedle numero due.

Ciao Tutti!!!!