When in Rome

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Ciao from Roma! We arrived in Rome four days ago and have since been enjoying the sights, sounds, and tastes of our first big Italian city! Our hotel is located near Vatican City, just a 15 minute walk across the Tiber River to the heart of the capitol city! Our motto for this leg of travel has been: “When in Rome!”

We began our Roman adventures with a bus tour to acquaint ourselves with the main sights of the city. Before lunch we stopped by the Trevi Fountain to toss in a few coins in hopes of returning to Rome someday. A select few of us actually fulfilled this prediction from previous trips to Italy! The combination of fond memories and new experiences within our group was exciting to see.

As a group we have toured the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the famous Ara Pacis altar, to name a few. But beyond the tours, many of us have explored the city on our own to experience the shopping, urbanization, and nightlife typical of Rome. We have mastered navigation of the city by public transportation and on foot. And so far no one has been hit by the crazy Italian drivers who “sporadically follow traffic laws,” according to our guide book. At this point we’ve all had more than our share of cappuccinos and gelato too!

Long story short, we’re not homesick quite yet. But I think it’s safe to say we are all glad to be in one place for a while! Getting comfortable in Rome hasn’t been difficult, and the whole group is getting to know each other better as well! We are all learning a lot about the history and traditions of Italy, but there are lessons to learn about ourselves in the mix too! A general consensus has been to experience as much of the city as possible while we’re here. This is a once in a life time chance, and we all plan to spend it well. You know what they say, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do!”

~Rachel
Blog Team
Italy 2012

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