This past week has been so unbelievably busy and hectic, but at the end of it I've realized that not only did I have a fantastic time, but I can also check off two major things off my life's to-do list.
1. Watching a play in the Globe Theater.
2. Going to Rome.
It's hard to believe I fit both of those things in one week, but I started going non-stop on Tuesday and didn't stop to breathe until today! On Tuesday, I was lucky enough to see a "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Globe Theater. While it isn't the EXACT theater that Shakespeare's plays were performed in while he was alive, it is a re-creation and it looks straight out of Shakespearian times! The theater is open on top, which made for a chilly show, and the seats we had were so far on the side that we couldn't see the actors for a lot of the show...BUT just being there was enough for me. And the show itself was actually hilarious! I had never seen it before, but of course I knew it was one of Shakespeare's classics. The actors did a modern version with modern-day costumes and props, but used all of the poetry from the original. It was very impressive, and VERY entertaining.
Here is a picture from inside the Globe...
Then, my maniac week continued with a weekend in Rome, Italy! It was an absolutely amazing experience, and I fell in love with Italy, their culture, and their people! I was traveling with two other girls, one of which who has distant cousins that live in Rome. This ended up being the best part of the trip...we met up with her cousins family and friends and ended up hanging out with real Italians for most of the weekend!
The first day we got there, of course we went and saw the Colosseum and Roman Forum. These are staple Roman things to do, and they were absolutely mind-blowing! It was amazing to stand in the midst of such history. Here is a picture of me in the Colosseum...
Roman Forum ruins!
After that, we ended up meeting up with Jayme's cousin and were able to experience the craziness that driving is in Rome! Her cousin was an excellent driver, but people in Rome don't exactly follow traffic rules. There really isn't such a thing as lanes or speed limits! I can't imagine learning how to drive there. Her cousin's name was Beatrice (pronounced Bay-a-tree-chay) and her friend Lucilla (pronounced Loo-chee-la) and they took us over to Beatrice's dad's house where Jayme was able to connect with her relatives. We also were served REAL Italian food which was to die for. Fettucini, chicken, parmesan bread, and super rich chocolate for dessert. I was in heaven. Beatrice and her family were so welcoming and some of the nicest people I have ever met. After dinner, we went out to a restaurant right next to the Colosseum where we had drinks and just sat and talked. We met Beatrice's boyfriend, Francesco, who was very interested in all things American. We had a blast answering all of his questions!
Having drinks next to the Colosseum!!
Saturday started off with a visit to Vatican City, where we walked through St. Peters, and then walked through the Vatican museums and saw the Sistine Chapel! It was all incredible. We actually saw where Pope John Paul II was laid to rest in the tombs. It was emotional for me, even though I'm not Catholic. Just seeing all the people surrounding the tomb, some on their knees, made me realize how much he meant to some people. The Sistine Chapel was also impressive, although darker and smaller than I imagined. Just thinking of Michael Angelo painting all the ceilings though, made it worth it. After Vatican City, we were picked up by Beatrice and Francesco again, and we went and got real Italian Gelato at a cute place hidden in the more residential area of Rome. Of course, it was delicious. From there, we were taken on a tour of the non-touristy areas and we visited a bridge that overlooked the Tiber where couples will leave locks attached to the bridge and then throw the key in the river! It's a popular spot for the locals, as well as the mountain we drove to next where we could see the entire city from above. It was breathtaking. After that we went to another real Italian restaurant and spent the night laughing and talking with our new friends. It was a surreal experience, and we were so sad to say goodbye to them!
Here are some pictures of Saturday:
Me in front of St. Peters!
View of Rome from the mountain we went to!
Sunday we woke up early to go see Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Both where obviously impressive, but we were a little preoccupied with getting to the airport, due to airspace being closed all morning to the Iceland volcanic ash cloud. Unfortunately, the wind blew it right over Italy Sunday morning, so we were forced to get to the airport super early to keep track of our flight. Luckily, they re-opened airspace at 2 pm, so we were able to make our flight that night.
Trevi Fountain!
It was an amazing weekend in Italy, and we have our new friends to thank. It was great to be able to see the city outside of the touristy sites, and I feel so lucky to have been able to do so.
Next weekend: Paris!
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