Last Few Days in Roma

I've had a lot going on this week and haven't had a chance until now to post anything. Tonight is my last night in Roma. I am excited about the next part of my trip but sad to leave. Before launching into my parting feelings I'll fill you in on what I have been up to this week. Wednesday I saw the Pope! I got to St. Peters very early, at nine, and read "Murder on the Orient Express" for an hour and a half. In retrospect there are probably more appropriate things I could have been reading, but oh well. At 10:30 he appeared and everyone got very excited. I had a seat near the front but everyone stood up on their chairs to see him pass by in the pope-mobile. It was pretty incredible, I could actually see his facial features, he was right there. He circled the crowd then went up to the steps of the basilica. Then, in seven languages, the passage 'Love is patient, love is kind' was read to the crowds. Those languages were: italian, german, english, french, spanish, polish, and portuguese. Then the Pope read in italian and I understood some. He spoke about visiting some very impoverished people and then seeing lots of volunteers helping them. That was the gist anyway. After that all of the pilgrim groups visiting that day were announced again in each of the seven languages. The groups would cheer when called, and the Pope would give a wave in their direction. The Pope then spoke briefly to each language group. Finally, we said the Lord's Prayer in latin, led by the Pope, and closed with a blessing from him. Just so you know, the blessing extends to all my family and loved ones. It was an incredible and unforgettable morning. I don't think words can really express how I felt being so close to the Pope and surrounded by other pilgrims. So, I won't try. Here are some of the pictures I managed to get of him.

Yesterday I went to Galleria Borghese which is located in the beautiful park I visited a week ago. This museum was incredible to say the very least. Unfortunately, no pictures are allowed anywhere in the museum. Also, you are only allowed to visit for two hours and must reserve a ticket for a specific two hour time slot. It was more than worth the hassle. It is a villa that belonged to a cardinal who wanted a place to show case art and culture. I bought a book from the museum that has pictures, please remind me to show you my favorites. There were some sculptures that are the most amazing and beautiful I have ever seen. They make other pieces look like hunks of marble with no definition. These seemed alive.

That brings us to today. I went to school for the last time. I really loved my class and especially my teacher. I can't say enough about both. Then afterwards, I went to lunch with my friend Sara and we lingered afterwards talking about our homes, italian, our own languages, and how we must visit each other someday. We finally left around 2:45 and I stolled over to the post office to send a package home.

This is were things got very typical Rome/Italian. Turns out, because tomorrow is a big holiday, the post office closed early today at 1pm. Oops. So I had to carry my box around some more, by the way it is full of books. I decided it would be good to go and buy my ticket for tomorrow at the other train station. I got on the metro and found the second train/bus station in Rome. I went to one ticket counter, then another, then another, then another. Finally, after running between four different ticket counters all over the place, I found the right one. It was hot, I was tired, and my box was really heavy. The great thing about Italy is that it seems totally unorganized but, just went you are swearing under your breath, it pulls through like a champ. At the correct counter the ticket guy told me I had a nice smile and to be calm, in a nice way. He then helped me in english buy the right ticket for tomorrow and even said he liked my accent. He said he learned italian with americans and loves the way we speak italian and english for the matter. See what I mean? There you are hot and annoyed and then like magic everything is ok. It is an amazing place. Here is a picture of the Termini.

On my way 'home' I bought some flowers for my donna as a thank you. She called me 'molto gentile' which is pretty much the highest complement you can get in italian. It sort of means, nice or polite, but it connotes gentleness, good manners, and a truly kind nature. Then sadly I started packing.

I have been keeping a running list of things I'll miss in Rome and things I won't miss. I think right now almost everything has been switched into the "will miss" column. Here is what I have so far:

My school

my teacher and classmates

the cooking (host family mom)

my bus (it is a love/hate relationship)

the metro

my snack bar by school

walking through the termini everyday

the fountains, the fountains, the fountains

the vespas (although they are throughout italy)

coffee break at school

passing by ruins on a daily basis

my host family

There is so much more that I love about this city. I probably won't realize everything until I leave. Finally, I want to post my itinerary before heading out! Internet will be harder to find in the next few days so everyone be patient with me while I try to find Wi-Fi.

Leave Roma Saturday for Sienna via bus

Two nights in Sienna

Onto Firenze via train, three nights

Onto Venezia via train, three nights

Onto Lago di Como, via train, two nights

Backtrack to Milano, spend one night and fly home Wednesday the 12th. Whew.

For now, Ciao Roma!