The Many Disasters leading up to Firenze Day Trip!

It was another rainy day in Roma...luckily the locals knew how to react with rain compared to the recent snowfalls. However, rain didn't stop owners from closing their bars and small shops. Libby and I were stuck inside like kittens scared of the rain. It was a little boring and since all our friends and housemates left for the weekend, we decided to book train tickets to Florence, Italy for the next day. Unsure of what we were doing, we ventured into the rain to find an 'internet cafe' or 'internet laundromat' to print our tickets (rumor has it you are able to show your ticket via phone if it is a smartphone/android but we didn't want to take the chance). Getting lost (it tends to be a recurring theme), Libby wanted to give up and instead meet our friends downtown for dinner. Knowing we were within a few blocks away, we kept searching. I called the place but someone isn't too helpful when you have no idea what they are saying and vis-versa, "Ok, the man said the street and it was Via San-something. Lets look for that. He also said by the police station I think." We knew nothing about a police station or headquarters near by but we took the chance at a Via San Francesco and we arrived at Il Massello where we paid for internet and printing. 
We went back to our apartment and decided to chef up some homemade pizza, then went out to an AUR 'Welcome (back) Party' at On The Rox, which is a restaurant/bar in Tescaccio. We thought it would be worth it to call a cab, but Google informed us it was in Trestevere, only a ten minute walk away! By this time, the rain turned into sticky snow and it was a beautiful night walk. The party special was that On The Rox was only housing in AUR students with a door special of €5 shot at the door and a free drink of your choice. Arriving with a few nerves, we realized that it was not going to be an excluded night. Libby and I planned on staying for an hour or two because we had to get up at 5AM for the bus to catch the train...however, we met some new friends and ended up walking back around 2:30AM.
"No time to sleep, lets just research Florence for sights," and that we did. At 5:05AM we left our apartment to walk to the bus stop that was supposed to take us to the termini after 15 stops. Waiting with an Italian man who was also going there (He didn't know ANY English), we were all getting antsy. 5:30AM, our bus never showed. 5:43 no bus. 5:48 no bus. "Taxi rip you off, no bene." The man did not want us to get a taxi because it would be overpriced since we're Americans but without another choice, we flagged one down. Watching the seconds go by, we had 13 minutes before our train took off. The taxi driver was driving soooo slow due to the weather (It wasn't bad-but here in Italy, a leaf falling from a tree will stop traffic for hours). With 3 minutes to spare, we ran out of the taxi (He asked for a ridiculous amount of €30 but we gave him €20), asked a policeman where our train was....and we watched it take off along with €17.40 (My ticket price). 
We could have either given up, got a taxi to bring us back home, or buy one for the next hour. Purchasing another ticket, Libby bought a horrible blueberry muffin (that she thought was chocolate-chip for a long time) an a coke that was only filled up half way. In conclusion, the workers were either not good/nice morning people, or didn't like Americans.

Finally, we jumped on the train at 6:35AM, and waited for it to leave at 7:12. 

Continuation of Trip- next blog)

Capitoline Museum & Trevi Fountain

My Art class was onsight this morning at the Capitoline Museum. My art teacher knows his stuff so it was awesome to have a guide walking through. Sometimes people in art museums walk through rooms that have the paintings on the wall and ceilings; maybe they think it's nothing important...it was crazy to think that I was in one room- just like that for nearly 40minutes.

First photo reflects the Beginning of Rome, Aeneas and Trojan War. Goes on with the Story of Romulus and Remus story- this painting shows the twins being breast-fed by the she-wolf. 

Romulus and Remus fight, Romulus defeating his brother, and becoming the first king of Rome. Soon, the Roman men realize they need women, and the Rape of the Sabines come into play, expanding Rome's population.

Because this is an art class, we learned how to identify salient details in paintings and on sculptures. Marcus Aurelius on a horse. People might look at him and think 'just another roman on a horse.' But I learned to study the entire statue- His entire body dominates the horse, he is wearing a toga- no armor, and his right hand is out to (the people), while his left hand seems like it once held something. Also, he is made out of bronze- and in the 2nd century, they easily would have used bronze for tools to fight- why did they keep this, and in such good shape?

THE TREVI FOUNTAIN

That night I went to Fontana di Trevi for the first time. It was a beautiful night- not too chilly...and apparently every tourist within Rome's perimeter thought the same thing. Turning the corner, the lights were shining through the many water fountains and under the rocks above the pool of water. Yes, indeed, I thought of the Lizzie McGuire movie and the crazy guide in the movie (Miss Ungermeyer).

It was so crowded but we were lucky to snag a few shots where no one besides us or the fountain itself was in it. Since I know where the Trevi is located now, I will be making frequent trips to it. I
hear it's beautiful in the middle of the night when the lights are on, and no one is around. My intial goal was to get Gelato (just like the movie) but it was chilly and we had dinner plans in an hour. However, I did pay €5 to take a picture with a man. 

Via Del Corso

Went shopping today. Bought green pants. Two shirts that are the same but different colors. And boots. Been looking for black leather ones for everyday use...still no luck. However, I was captured by the gray (I guess I should spell it 'grey' since I'm in Europe..[fun fact of the day]) suede with wooden thick heel. YAY for school outfits! 

Hoping the euro will equivalent to the dollar soon..'

Help: Even the the shirts smell good, none of the clothes got clean when they through the washer. Is there some trick to these italian washers?

Italian Fun Fact of the Day: Italy holds the Guinness record for having the most elevators.

There are elevators in small grocery stores, shopping malls, AUR, markets, and obviously in bigger stores. Elevators are everywhere. 

Market. Superbowl. Snow Day

Market: You want new shoes for €8? Go to the Sunday market. You need a €1 juice squeezer, go to the market. If you need a scissors, gift for a friend, makeup, or a new jacket, you'll find it plus more at the big open-air market on Via Portuense. My purchases were a little lame for the first time going (due to my indecisive trait), but I came home with a much needed scissors(€1), fuzzy socks (€1), a snake bracelet(€5), black scarf(€2.50), and sunglasses(€2.50).

Weather updates: Its a bit chilly outside- definitely need a scarf, hat, and gloves to stay comfortable. There is ice on the sidewalks and streets, but nothing too bad- at least, that's what I thought. The school was advised to cancel all classes tomorrow (Monday) because of the weather conditions. It is supposed to snow again tomorrow but...really? A snow-day? Psh, I wish LAX was this scared of the cold, icy air.

With this being said, I went out for the Superbowl (Due to the time difference, the game didn't start until 1:30AM). A pint of beer and peanuts in a bar with 1:1 Italians:Americans worked for me! Halftime show=whoot. Hot eye candy of an Italian sitting a table able...double whoot.

Last but not least- Libby and I made a wonderful dinner of crusted chicken, potatoes, and green beans.

Reactions from the Romans about the Snow

Rome hasn't had a snowfall like it did the past two days since 1986, and it was obvious when I was shopping downtown at Vis Del Corso.

How the Romans reacted to snow:
Drove slow/normal or not at all (a lot fewer cars out)
Trams gave up
People didn't go to work (shops/bars were closed)
They acted like tourists in a sense that everyone was outside taking pictures of the statues/building and  each other. I saw a couple take a photo of a big puddle by itself and one with them leaning over it.
Covered head to toe with winter gear. The snow was melted on the streets..
Snow ball fights everywhere
People didn't know how to shovel off snow off of their cars.
Moon boots. 'nuff said
Guys wore sweatpants
umbrellas in hands (prepared for anouther snowfall with clear skies?)

Sleet and Snow is a Rome No-No

Woke up at 2pm.

Did a little bit of homework.

[Heard] the trams and buses are stopped/stopped working because of the weather. The italians HIDE when anything but sunshine arises.
-'Snowing for the first time in twenty years' yay....made history.......

Libby and I couldn't take being trapped in our room anymore so we ventured out to Le Fate. It's a wonderful small restaurant that includes a student special for €10, which includes your choice of vino; bianco o rosa, bruschetta, main course of a pasta dish, and dessert. Every night of the week is different.

Great Day- Doing it like the Romans, w/ The Romans

Waking up after only four hours of sleep came way too fast this morning. All my roommates (except Libby) had 9 AM class- and we were all late (don't worry mom and dad- only a few minutes...because of the bus). I went to my one and only class of the day: Art of Rome (3 hour class on Thursdays). The professor is a younger guy- just awesome. I wasn't even bored going through the syllabus (mad props to his humor and creativity). With an hour left of class, we took the Bus44 to 'downtown Rome' and walked to the 3 meeting points for on-sight days. Obviously Rome is known for its statues and buildings- with this class I will be able to learn about it's history more in depth...I love it and am so happy that I decided not to drop it (I dropped my [only tuesday class] Intro to International Business).

later on

One of the first nights we met three Italians, one named Gianluigi. He speaks enough English to have conversations with us about anything..we just have to speak slow. Tonight he showed us to a REAL Italian Restaurant called PAPPAMMI' (His friend and his friend's wife own the restaurant). They gave us a huge hallow bread ball that you snack on in between courses etc. We ate a antipasti capionatore (appetizer sampler), which had a bowl of breads (flat, buns, and sliced) with a bowl of different cut up meats soaked in olive oil. They also present the table with a basket of the meat and a knife if you're interested in more. A bowl of baked beans, a plate of sliced cheese with balsamic vinegar on it, and a (honey?) sweet soft cheese for dipping.
The second course was battered vegetables with a type of sweet/sour sauce....yumm. This course also included a type of cheesy potato.
In Italy, people top off their dinner with coffee or liquor. We had a tiny shot glass of Nocino (unrip walnuts steamed with liquor) for digesting.

We then went to a Wine Bar called Ferro E Ghisa (translated it means iron & cast ironing-why? I have no idea..) It was a griglieria(grill)/wine bar/pizzeria. It was very modern/high class looking. Blue lights, glass windows and entrance. Good looking Italians. Libby and I were most certainly the only Americans.

Got to talk to my computer tonight (mom/dad- please fix your computer or Skype so I can see your pretty faces and hear your voices)

Ciao bellas.