Concluding this adventure

Well, by the time it came, I was ready and I suppose that is good in a lot of ways. I spent my last few days in Citta Alta and honestly, when it comes down to it, Bergamo had to be one of my favorite places in all of my exploring.

I met so many people and i've learned so much and i'm mostly the same person but, i've changed a ton. I understand the world a lot better and i'm in absolute awe of it. Italy never sank in. I got used to it being reality but, i never lost my awe and excitement for what it was. I'm kind of happy that i didn't stay longer because I don't want to ever lose my awe for it.

I feel like my faith has been tested more than ever before. I've actually realized that I've gained more of an understanding of Faith, Hope and Charity in these last few months than i ever have. I've never been able to understand hope and i wish i could explain it now.

One thing i've learned as i've studied Italian is that if you only ever speak in English, you'll never be able to fully express yourself. I don't know everything in Italian but, what I do know now seems to have opened up a whole world of communication. I think the same goes with music and art. There are so many better ways to explain things than through words and so many more words to say things if you know more languages and I think that I came to know more about Hope through more feelings, and actions than i did through talking about it. i'm not trying to make excuses for why i'm not explaining things but, I've tried to explain it to some friends and it just never comes out as strongly as i feel about it. English needs to be expanded first. or my communication does.

Scott and Finlay bought me a ring with 2 dangly hearts on it for my birthday. One day while I was walking Raffaella's dog with the babies, he yanked really hard and one of them came off in the street. We stopped and looked for it for a while but, thinking poetically, I gave it up. Some part of me is staying in those streets and almost even belongs in those streets.

London

This blog is concerning events that took place 3/26/11-3/27/11

I was so excited to go to London and be able to understand everyone. It turns out that I usually had a harder time understanding than Bianca did. As soon as we got off the plane we took a train to the underground. That’s how I got around London. Trains.

I did actually go to King’s Cross but, I don’t think it was the station. Anyway it didn’t look anything like Harry Potter and there was no platform 9 ¾.

The first day I was really nervous about getting all the souvenirs I could because I didn’t want to spend money on it on Sunday. We did the major sightseeing this first day.

As we were walking towards Big Ben and all of that, we realized that there was a huge protest going on. We asked a guard if it would be safe to go and he said yeah. The problem was the protesters were taking up all the area by the things we wanted to see so we had to go through them. We ended up getting a poster and shouting with them, just so we looked authentic. I might add that this trip I was the youngest. It was Bianca and her dance students, a co-worker (Eliana who I actually hung out with before) and me.  So, it’s not like we were putting kids in danger of the crowd. And if anyone heard about it, I assure you that when we were there, it was safe.

We took pictures of Big Ben while marching. Once we got out we walked to Westminster Church/Cathedral. We couldn’t go inside but, this is where the William and Kate are getting married. So, everyone had decided that we all had to get a cup with William and Kate on it, to remember our trip to London. I was like ‘okay, whatever.’ I had to get it as soon as I could though because I didn’t want to be badgered about it on Sunday. So I got one in that church, and I’m pretty sure I ended up being the only one to get it but, that’s okay. I’ll never forget that church now and otherwise it would have been a pretty fleeting memory.

I don’t remember as much about London as I do about Rome because there is so much less to see. We only stayed Saturday-Sunday and we pretty much ran ourselves ragged on Saturday. We went to Harrods. This store, is not like any other store. There was a woman singing on the inside balcony. There were security men all over and people dressed up in formals to check you out and direct you through the several levels of the place. It was amazing.

After Harrods we went to eat at a pub and discovered that there was a big Soccer match, Scotland vs. Brazil to be played on Sunday. Scotsmen were beginning to appear everywhere. From what I understand, the Scotts would be awesome to play for because they are basically the coolest fans ever. They take over cities when there is a match. Usually they take over the bars, which was why they were in the pub.

They were pretty hilarious but, I won’t go into the graphic details. After eating we went back to the hotel to freshen up and then go see “The Most Incredible Thing.” The reason we went to London is because one of Bianca’s friends danced in this act. We were so tired by the time it came around though.

I loved the dance. It was “the Most incredible thing” I’ve ever seen. It made me crave to see all the other performances London has going on. Next time. We were invited to a cast party but, we could barely keep our eyes open so we went home and went to bed

Sunday we saw the changing of the guard at Buckinham palace. That was the highlight of that day. The rest was shopping and as it was Sunday I couldn’t be to enthralled with anything. Bianca bought me a nutella spreader in honor of my love for nutella.

We went to a big department store kind of like Harrods but, not as intense or as rich. We saw a crowd of Scotsment with kilts and bagpipes singing "Do-Re-Mi" at the top of their lungs.

Bianca was really sweet all Sunday. I didn’t realize at first but, she was paying for everything so that I wouldn’t have to. She never said anything about it but, when I realized what she was doing I was really touched because with our previous conversations I would have never thought she would do that for me.

La Roma

Written about events that took place 3/18/11-3/20/11

Rome was definitely very high up on my list of favorite places. I spent a weekend there and only haven’t written about it because I’ve been so busy. But, I have to mention it before I forget it forever. I was used to flying by this point so there was nothing really exciting about the flight except that I got to sit behind Scott and we were playing for a little while. It was a really short flight. Only an hour and I slept through part of it. When I woke up I looked out my window and saw brown water and The Colloseum.

We touched down. I love Ryanair. Trumpets herald the landings and everyone cheers. I think that should be something that is done everywhere but, alas. Anyway, then we waited for and eventually got in the 8 person taxis and headed for the hotel.

Bianca and Douglas spent most of Rome in the hotel so that Scott and Finlay could sleep. The rest of Bianca’s family (5 other adults and 5 other kids) went exploring and I joined them. We walked past the American Embassy and a couple of other government buildings.

We were really making our way towards the fountain. Trevi fountain. The most famous and arguably the most beautiful Fountain in Rome. You have to toss in a coin and then you’ll be sure to come back. In order to get down to it, we had to hop over 3 rows of people. It was crazy but, I tossed in a coin and anticipate a return visit.

Then we walked away from the crowd, and it’s really amazing how in Rome you can be in a place that is completely packed and an empty road within minutes. We walked towards another Government building. It was up several –like 100 stairs. We watched a changing of a guard but, didn’t go in.

We then walked towards the famous shopping area. It’s the kind of designer places that you wouldn’t even go into because they’re so expensive and I’ve known people in Italy to buy shirts for 300+ euros. So, when I say these shops are expensive, I do mean, you wouldn’t even take your credit card in.

We waited for Bianca and Douglas to join us. I entertained the kids by teaching them English and Hi-Five. I couldn’t believe they’d never played before but, everyone but, Andrea (Andre-uh) joined in, in the end. We walked down the street and I was so shocked by how many people there were.

We didn’t go in the shops, just looked at the cool things. Then we saw guys breakdancing in the streets. That was sweet. Douglas wasn’t impressed but, everyone else, including me, thought it was cool. The weather was fantastic for most of this time but, then it started to rain. Because it had been so warm, I hadn’ttaken a jacket which proved to be a mistake.

We waited, trying to stay out of the rain. Of course I love the rain so I had an urge to dance in it. unfortunately Valentina had an urge to do everything I did so, that couldn’t last long. At last we got walking again. We walked to Piazza del Popolo. It was really beautiful. The kids entertained themselves with chasing plastic bags.

Then we went to dinner at Jiminy Cricket restaurant. I don’t know the real name but, this is what everyone calls it. I had some really good pasta and a chocolate desert. Scott and Finlay were jealous of all the attention I was giving their cousins, so they came and sat by me J

The next day was a long day too. We all waited forever to get on a double decker tour bus. We eventually got on and I guess it was worth it because I was on a double decker bus. Sweet. It took us around to important sites. Everywhere you look in Rome, there is something to look at. I mean, a common balcony could have so much history behind it. I was staring at one and Paolo told me that was where Mussolini gave his speeches. So, there is way way too much to remember everything but, I was drinking it in.

The bus dropped us off by the colloseum. We didn’t go in because apparently there is a 2hr line and with kids… But, I was close to it. We actually went to a hill above it and overlooked an area that you can tell used to be used for Chariot Races.

We then walked down to Bocca della Verita. You put your hand inside the mouth of a sun statue and if you tell a lie it bites off your hand. While waiting in this line I taught the girls heads and tails.

After this we went to lunch and then Bianca and Douglas once again took the boys home. We went to the Pantheon and the Vatican. Both were really cool but, I like the Pantheon best. The pillars were larger than life and it was so cool going inside. That’s one building I remember from 6^th grade. Which was great because I dind’t know the significance of most things. The Vatican was really cool. I love the clown-dressed guards and the perfection of the columns. Inside St. Peters Basilica I saw famous statues and appreciated that even though the ceiling was too high to really see, Michelangelo painted them. It’s the richest church in the world and while part of me was thinking ‘this is it?’ most of me really enjoyed it. I just couldn’t help wondering why Michelangelo would put so much effort into something we aren’t even going to really see.

After Vatican we went to dinner. The kids were completely ‘nackered’ as Douglas would say. I had delicious food again but, it was a long long day and my bed was welcoming.

Sunday all we did was go see the Pope. We walked back to the Vatican but, we didn’t even get to see him. We saw him on a screen, which we can do anywhere in Italy. Oh well, I can say I was within 200yrds of the pope.

After the pope we packed up and went home.

Top 3 favorite places in Rome

Pantheon

Colloseum

Trevi Fountain.

Top 3 favorite memories of Rome

Walking down the streets talking and eating Gelato. Maybe it sounds lame but, it was so much fun just to be there

Riding on the Dbl decker

Walking through and around the Pantheon