incredible. We flew in on Thursday morning, and then had 4 full days of sightseeing.
I was nervous about flying RyanAir, because they are really strict about the size of your carry-on and other things, but it worked out fine. Instead of using my duffel bag, I packed everything into my huge backpack (and was very proud of myself)! I only wore one pair of shoes the entire weekend- my black Ugg-imitation boots that I bought at Sears for $25 right before I left! Side note: Being from Las Vegas, I've never in my life worn/owned boots. And have maybe worn a scarf a few times for practical purposes (not a fashion statement). But I am quickly getting into both because they are practical here and part of the cool European fashion! I'm still on a hunt for new cute boots here, but I was so thankful I picked those ones up at Sears. They came in handy on this trip since it rained a lot. So Thursday... we got in to the city around noonish, and our hostel was really close to where the bus from the airport dropped us off. I booked it only like a week prior for us, and we got a 5-person private for a good deal. It was actually really cool- more like a "Bed and Breakfast." It was called Termini B&B. The lady who owns it spoke very little English.. but we were able to understand each other. Something I noticed about Italians during this trip was that they just keep speaking Italian at you even if you clearly don't understand what they're saying. Our room was like a two-story studio room. When you walk in the door there are two beds, and then a few stairs on a windy staircase that takes you up to the other three beds and bathroom. We felt really safe because it was only the 5 of us in that room, and there were also two other doors you had to use a key to enter, before coming to our individual room. And every morning 
she brought us breakfast- coffee or tea, and a pastry. We decided to have our breakfast at 8am every morning (which I was also proud of) to get an early start on sightseeing. So after checking in, we just went exploring. We walked by the Santa Maria Maggiore building, the Colosseum, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, etc. Then we decided to try our first gelato in Italy at this place called Dartigiano del Gelato. They had an amazing presentation of gelato and cones! Obviously the food in Italy was very important to me, so I will give you details and include some pictures. My first combination of Italian gelato flavors was vanilla and chocolate. It was pretty good... but there will be better later on in the trip. 
she brought us breakfast- coffee or tea, and a pastry. We decided to have our breakfast at 8am every morning (which I was also proud of) to get an early start on sightseeing. So after checking in, we just went exploring. We walked by the Santa Maria Maggiore building, the Colosseum, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, etc. Then we decided to try our first gelato in Italy at this place called Dartigiano del Gelato. They had an amazing presentation of gelato and cones! Obviously the food in Italy was very important to me, so I will give you details and include some pictures. My first combination of Italian gelato flavors was vanilla and chocolate. It was pretty good... but there will be better later on in the trip. 
After gelato we went through some souvenir shops (the first few of probably at least 20 that we went to throughout the weekend. There are a billion touristy/souvenir shops in Rome!! But they're not all exactly the same or anything...). We walked back toward the area of our hostel and passed lots of shopping stores/boutiques. (It was really easy to walk everywhere in Rome.. and it seemed like they had good shopping! I just stuck to souvenir shopping since I had to fit everything back in that single backpack, and wanted to spend my money on food moreso than other things.) We ate dinner at a cute restaurant near our hostel. We all got bruschetta to start, I had amazing lasagna, and the girls all got spaghetti bolognese. The first real Italian food experience was a success. We all went to bed pretty early that night so we could be up and ready by 8am to go tour the Vatican!
Friday, November 6th, we left early like we wanted to and had a very intense metro ride. There were sooo many people trying to get on at our stop; it was crazy. In Rome th
ey have guards that stand between the people and the metro to avoid fighting/stampeding. When we got to the Vatican area, we bought a tour with Centurion Tours, which turned out to be amazing. We went from Bernini's Square to the Picture Gallery, to the Vatican Museums, to the Sistine Chapel, and then St. Peter's Basilica. The tour guide was very nice and even though it turned into a big group of about 30 people, it was fine because we used these high-tech ear phones and the tour guide had a connected mike. He gave us a lot of interesting background about the significance of certain paintings and sculptures in the Vatican Museum. The first big room we walked into was unbelievable. One side of the wall had tapestries hanging in a class case. There was a huge one of the Last Supper scene. The wall across from it held 3 paintings by Raphael; the middle one was the Transfiguration. Between these two huge works, I started tearing up. Seeing all of the amazing artwork depicting Jesus' life story, Biblical references, saints, etc. that I've heard about all my life was overwhelming. I also thought about how blessed I was to be able to see all of this. I couldn't believe how grand everything was and I walked quietly in awe through the next through rooms of the museum. Another piece that really touched me was the copy 
of "The Pity" sculpture by MichaelAngelo on the way out of a section of the museum. After our tour ended we were free to go into the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica for as long as we wanted. The Sistine Chapel was incredible as well! No pictures are allowed inside, and there was a certain peaceful quietness among the people who were inside observing it. I could have sat there for a half an hour just looking at all the different scenes. St. Peter's Basilica was also incredible!! I spent a lot of time looking at each little section/chapel inside. It is huge. Our tour guide told us about how we can pay to go to the top of the dome and see how huge it really is. It was built in a way to make the person inside not feel so inferior, so you can only get a true idea if you go to the top and look down. We decided to do that on Saturday. We had lunch at a restaurant nearby the Vatican area which was pretty good and cheap. I got four-cheese pizza and wine. Then we went into a lot more shops and did more walking. Later at night we saw the famous Trevi Fountain (so pretty!) and the Spanish Steps. We got gelato at a place nearby. I got strawberry and banana. It was pretty good, but the customer service was not. They kept getting mad that we were asking to sample to different flavors (I guess they don't really do that there?). Delia and I were going to go out later that night, but we couldn't really find a cool bar/club. (I guess no one ca
n really beat Madrid on nightlife). We decided to just go have dinner and wine together.
ey have guards that stand between the people and the metro to avoid fighting/stampeding. When we got to the Vatican area, we bought a tour with Centurion Tours, which turned out to be amazing. We went from Bernini's Square to the Picture Gallery, to the Vatican Museums, to the Sistine Chapel, and then St. Peter's Basilica. The tour guide was very nice and even though it turned into a big group of about 30 people, it was fine because we used these high-tech ear phones and the tour guide had a connected mike. He gave us a lot of interesting background about the significance of certain paintings and sculptures in the Vatican Museum. The first big room we walked into was unbelievable. One side of the wall had tapestries hanging in a class case. There was a huge one of the Last Supper scene. The wall across from it held 3 paintings by Raphael; the middle one was the Transfiguration. Between these two huge works, I started tearing up. Seeing all of the amazing artwork depicting Jesus' life story, Biblical references, saints, etc. that I've heard about all my life was overwhelming. I also thought about how blessed I was to be able to see all of this. I couldn't believe how grand everything was and I walked quietly in awe through the next through rooms of the museum. Another piece that really touched me was the copy 
of "The Pity" sculpture by MichaelAngelo on the way out of a section of the museum. After our tour ended we were free to go into the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica for as long as we wanted. The Sistine Chapel was incredible as well! No pictures are allowed inside, and there was a certain peaceful quietness among the people who were inside observing it. I could have sat there for a half an hour just looking at all the different scenes. St. Peter's Basilica was also incredible!! I spent a lot of time looking at each little section/chapel inside. It is huge. Our tour guide told us about how we can pay to go to the top of the dome and see how huge it really is. It was built in a way to make the person inside not feel so inferior, so you can only get a true idea if you go to the top and look down. We decided to do that on Saturday. We had lunch at a restaurant nearby the Vatican area which was pretty good and cheap. I got four-cheese pizza and wine. Then we went into a lot more shops and did more walking. Later at night we saw the famous Trevi Fountain (so pretty!) and the Spanish Steps. We got gelato at a place nearby. I got strawberry and banana. It was pretty good, but the customer service was not. They kept getting mad that we were asking to sample to different flavors (I guess they don't really do that there?). Delia and I were going to go out later that night, but we couldn't really find a cool bar/club. (I guess no one ca
n really beat Madrid on nightlife). We decided to just go have dinner and wine together. Saturday, November 7th: I didn't think anything would really top how amazing the previous day was for me, but it got even better. We paid the 7 Euro to get an elevator halfway up to the top of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica and walk the rest of the way, and it was the best 7 Euro I have ever spent. It was great to be inside the Basilica at the top like that beacuse it was true; you really do 
get to perceive how big it really is from up there. We were right next to the mosaics on top that have a pattern of an angels, keys, dolls, etc. After leaving that area, we still had a ways to climb to get to the top outside. The view from up here was the most beautiful view I have seen in my life. I am not exaggerating. You could see the whole city of Rome, and walk all around the outside of the dome if you wanted to, to get every view. We were above the main Vatican square!
get to perceive how big it really is from up there. We were right next to the mosaics on top that have a pattern of an angels, keys, dolls, etc. After leaving that area, we still had a ways to climb to get to the top outside. The view from up here was the most beautiful view I have seen in my life. I am not exaggerating. You could see the whole city of Rome, and walk all around the outside of the dome if you wanted to, to get every view. We were above the main Vatican square! I met these two American girls up there who are studying abroad in Rome. They gave 
us some recommendations for food and gelato near the Pantheon that we followed; and I am so thankful! We had lunch at Miscellanea, this cheap place that is known for hosting international students. I got a ham and mozerella panini (sandwich), Rachel and I shared this really good cheesy-bread appetizer thing, and they gave us all a free glass of "sexy wine" (strawberry wine). On the way to the Pantheon, we saw the Castle Saint Angelo, the Bridge of Angels, and the Plaza Navona. I didn't even know about these sites before, but the bridge ended up being one of my favorite places in all of Rome! I loved the atmosphere of this whole area in general. 
us some recommendations for food and gelato near the Pantheon that we followed; and I am so thankful! We had lunch at Miscellanea, this cheap place that is known for hosting international students. I got a ham and mozerella panini (sandwich), Rachel and I shared this really good cheesy-bread appetizer thing, and they gave us all a free glass of "sexy wine" (strawberry wine). On the way to the Pantheon, we saw the Castle Saint Angelo, the Bridge of Angels, and the Plaza Navona. I didn't even know about these sites before, but the bridge ended up being one of my favorite places in all of Rome! I loved the atmosphere of this whole area in general. 
After lunch, we went inside the Pantheon, and then got the most delicious gelato at "Giolitti," another place the girls recommended. It only cost like 2.20 Euro for a cone, and you get to choose 3 different flavors! So my third gelato mixture consisted of chocolate, white chocolate, and 'crema.' mmmm! Later we went to the Spanish Steps/Trevi fountain area at night again, and went back to the hostel, had pizza at a cafeteria nearby, and relaxed for the rest of the night.
Sunday, November 8th was a great day as well. Erinn, Delia, and I went to St. Peter's Basilica for 10am mass. We went in and were looking for available seats when a guard/usher told us to come sit in the front row pew! I couldn't believe it! I felt so blessed and this was also a very moving experience for me. Mass was really cool; it was a traditional Latin mass, but they provided guides with the English, Spanish, and Italian words so you can follow along. The procession was so long because there had to have been about 50 priests, 15 cardinals, and 7 altar servers!! There was also a tradional choir off to the left. It was great. After Mass, we waited for the Pope, who does a blessing every Sunday at noon, but he didn't come out. Instead they played an old service of his on the big screens out in Vatican Square. I think a lot of people were disappointed. I noticed how there were so many people waiting; some were holding signs and flags. I was a little disappointed, but happy that we got to go to Mass at the Vatican.
After this we met up with Rachel and Lexi for lunch & gelato in the same area near the Pantheon. We ate at a place the girls recommended called "Maccheroni." Lexi and I were brave and tried the pasta alla carbanara, which we were not crazy about. The ravioli De
lia and Erinn got was way better. We got gelato at Giolitti again, and this time I got chocolate, white chocolate, and stracciatella. After this, we were all pretty worn out. We walked back to the hostel and relaxed. We got food at the same little cafeteria for dinner (I got a ham & cheese calzone), and gelato again! I think I got chocolate and mint chocolate chip. The best gelato hands down was Giolitti, though. Delia and I went to do some last minute shopping in the metro station and then we had to go to bed early because on Monday, November 9th, we had to get up at 3:30 in the morning to catch a bus to take to the airport, to make our 6:25am flight. Everything went very smoothly and we got home to Madrid on time!
lia and Erinn got was way better. We got gelato at Giolitti again, and this time I got chocolate, white chocolate, and stracciatella. After this, we were all pretty worn out. We walked back to the hostel and relaxed. We got food at the same little cafeteria for dinner (I got a ham & cheese calzone), and gelato again! I think I got chocolate and mint chocolate chip. The best gelato hands down was Giolitti, though. Delia and I went to do some last minute shopping in the metro station and then we had to go to bed early because on Monday, November 9th, we had to get up at 3:30 in the morning to catch a bus to take to the airport, to make our 6:25am flight. Everything went very smoothly and we got home to Madrid on time! In conclusion, this trip to Rome was one of the best trips I have ever had. There is so much to see there and so much history. I thought the city (and many of the Italian guards) was beautiful. The food overall (other than the gelato) was honestly nothing to write home about, but we thought that maybe this was because we are on a college-student budget. I had an amazing experience and am so thankful. I want to take my family back someday!! :)
I took over 300 pictures that you can find here. 
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