Rome was by far one of the biggest highlights of my trip abroad. The city is so amazing, the people are wonderful, and there was pizza for days. Basically it was heaven. Being back in America, my time there feels like a dream now, but I wanted to share some of my experiences while it is still fresh in my mind.
There is so much to see in Rome that it would take a lifetime to fully experience it, but during my week there I did manage to see the highlights. On my first night, after a long train ride, I immediately met some amazing people in my hostel and had the chance to see some of the city's sights at night. It was museum night in Rome, so many of the monuments and exhibits were open until 2am with no entry fees, so we took in a show, ate gelato at the Trevi Fountain, and saw the Pantheon at midnight- I cannot tell you how magical the city is at night. It was an amazing start to an incredible week, but unfortunately my camera battery died so there are no pictures to show for it- those memories are just for me.
On my first full day I went with two girls from my hostel to try and see the Pope lead Mass at the Vatican, which was a wild experience to say the least. We went to the metro and realized very quickly that everyone else in Rome had the exact same idea for their Sunday. The platform going in the direction of the Vatican was completely packed, as was very single subway car. After missing the first train because it was too full, my friends managed to make it onto the next train, and I was left with the masses still waiting on the platform. Crowds are something I try and avoid at all costs, so after that I decided to take my chances walking to the Vatican instead- not my greatest idea, it was insanely far away from my hostel and I got lost more than once. I got to the Vatican just as Mass was ending, so I didn't get to see the Pope, but walking into St. Peter's square and seeing the basilica for the first time was absolutely amazing.
I got in line to go into the basilica, which was completely worth the wait because it is one of the most spectacular churches you will ever see. The attention to detail and all of the amazing art are so beautiful it is hard to imagine it is a real place. One thing you have to appreciate about churches in Rome is that so often you can see amazing pieces by incredibly famous artists for free- the altar in St. Peter's is one of the most impressive.
I also climbed up the dome at St. Peter's and enjoyed the amazing view of Rome before walking (again, not my best choice) back to my hostel for the night.
The next day I decided to see the Coliseum and some of the other ruins in the center of Rome. It was interesting because many of the ruins you pay to see, like the Coliseum and the Forum, are actually less impressive than the ones lining the streets in different parts of the city. Regardless of grandeur, the amount of history scatter all around Rome is truly awe-inspiring and beautiful. To sit and try and imagine what life was like for people living there throughout history is such a great way to spend an afternoon.
There is so much more to share about my time in Rome, but for now I will leave you with a few more pictures from my first few days.
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