I was
fortunate enough to have my mom and her friend, Deb join me on my adventures
the last two weeks! After living two months in a different country then my
parents it was nice to have two “moms” around. Along with my mom came oatmeal
and 4 jars of peanut butter (1.5 are now empty..)
The bad luck
they experienced with traveling continued once arriving to Rome, after a 7 hour
layover in NJ. Just so happened to have a transportation strike last Thursday
the day they arrived (pretty common happens every couple weeks, were the
train/trams/busses stop running for a couple hours) Once the strike ended we
hoped on the first train to Naples..another downfall of the strike is that once
its over every train and bus is extremely crowded. To start off the 2.5 train
ride we were sitting in the middle section on the floor..not ideal. Once in
Naples we had to take another train to Sorenton, after getting on the wrong train
multiple times we finally ended up in the correct destination. The first day we
took a ferry to the island of Capri. We did a long two hour hike around the
coast, all the stairs we hiked up were worth the view. After the hike we took a
chairlift up the highest point on the island. Pictures don’t do justice for the
views we saw on top, was incredible! Saturday we took a long windy bus ride
along the coast down to Amalfi. For most of the bus ride I was on the edge of
my seat thinking the bus was going to fall over the side of the cliff. Once in
Amalfi we yet again engaged in another hike called “The hike of god.” The hike
started a town over in Agerola and we ended in Positano. The trail was amazing,
hiked through acres and acres of Lemon Trees and along a stream with multiple
waterfalls.
Even though
I’ve been in Rome for two months this last week was one of the best. Tuesday:
Went on a (VERY early) 5 mile run along the Tibber River with my roommate
Karlee, Deb and my mom. Then ventured to Vatican City for the day to explore.
Later that night we had to pleasure to be shown Rome “at night” with a Priest
that my moms friend knows from back home. He showed us every little niche and
secret that you would only know after living in Rome most of your life. He showed
us the famous “keyhole of Rome” which is a keyhole in a door through which the
dome of St. Pere’s Basilica can be seen perfectly centered (several miles
away). We were also able to see the “Mouth of Truth” legends say that it eats
the hands of liars. To end the night Father took us out to an amazing
restaurant and when I say amazing I mean I’ve been back three times now since
last week…eeek!
Wednesday: FINALLY went inside the
Coliseum, saw the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain! (Typical day in the
life of a tourist in rome)
Thursday:
Started the day off with Father Coffele giving us a private mass in the
basement of St. Peter’s Basilica where most of the past Popes caskets are
located. He showed us all the back rooms in the Basilica that is mainly only
open to Priest. After mass we had an exclusive tour of the Vatican Gardens, the
train station, the government building (was lucky enough talk to the secretary
of the Bishop), went to a convent even talked with a nun who told us about her
life before she decided to be a nun (a lot different than what I expected),
went into the Vatican Museum, inside the Sistine Chapel and climbed to the top
of St. Peter’s Basilica! Spent almost 12 incredible hours with Father in
Vatican city! That evening my mom took my friends and I out to dinner then
ending the night drinking wine at the top of the Gianicolo Hill that over looks
all of Rome!
For the last
days they were here we head up to Florence for the weekend. The last time I
went to Florence it was 0 degrees out and snowing, the city gave off a whole
different vibe this time around. We did an 18 mile bike ride through Tuscany to
a wine vineyard. We were able to see where and how they make the Wine and Olive
Oil. After we ate lunch and were able to taste what they make at the Vineyard.
Now only 50 days until I see my mom again! Seems like I’ve been on
Spring Break ever since fall semester ended last year but my actual spring
break started today!! Tomorrow I head to Seville, Spain then Morocco, AFRICA
and ending in Barcelona, Spain! Interested to see how living out of a backpack
for the next 10 days will be.
The more parts of the world I see the more I realize I still have
so much to learn.
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