My roommate Max and I began our journey Thursday night, planning on reaching our hostel by 11:30pm. Even though we knew we had an early morning the next day, we thought we could get some sleep at the hostel. Of course we missed the train we were planning on taking ( it sat in the station behind our backs for 10 minutes while we neglected it). After some panicking and a friendly train conductor helping us, we finally reached Rome and our hostel at around 1am.
The next day started at 6:15am! I got no sleep in a room with 10 other people (it was hot and humid like you wouldn't believe!). We left the hostel and met Max's sister and her friend in the Rome train station. From there we got on a subway and found our way to the Vatican. Upon arriving we met up with a family friend of Max and his sister Lexi (by the way, not only are Max and Lexi fellow SCU Bronco's but they are also former CCHS Dons!). Their friend, Brother Andrew, is a seminarian learning to be a priest in the Vatican. He had invited Max and Lexi to bring some friends and receive a personal tour of the Vatican.
The day began with a very special Mass. Brother Andrew escorted us beneath the floor of St. Peter's Basilica to the the area where most popes are buried. There was small central chapel down there, one that is apparently on the other side of a marble wall from the remains of Peter. We had Mass in that chapel, just the 5 of us. It was a very special and spiritual experience, even coming from a non-Catholic background.
After Mass and a small breakfast we entered the Vatican Museum and were given a personal and very historical tour by Brother Andrew and his fellow seminarian Brother Zamir. They were very knowledgeable and showed us all the important artifacts (we were in the Sistine Chapel talking about all the imagery for at least 30 minutes). I snapped just the worst sneaky photo of the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
After walking through the museum we walked through St. Peter's Basilica and were told about all the amazing symbolism and artwork within the massive church. One thing I have to mention. There is a reddish-purple stone used in ancient Roman sculpting called Red Porphyry. Only one vein of this rock was ever found, making it one of the most rare and expensive types of rock. As you might be able to tell, it was reserved for royalty, only being used in very important pieces. As you will see in my photos a Pope decided to take a large circle of it and place it in the ground at the beginning of the Basilica, symbolizing how we are all worth the same amount in God's eyes.
It was lunch time. After asking if we enjoyed seafood, Brother Andrew guided us to a restaurant a few blocks from the Vatican. We sat down and he explained to us that this was the type of restaurant where you didn't order anything, they just brought out the food to you. Right away, I knew this would be an experience. I will now list off things I ate that I never thought I would eat in my life: Mussels, sea snails, anchovies, fried baby squid, clams, smoked salmon, these mini lobsters, and giant prawns. And holy crap was it delicious! We had an amazing meal and basically waddled out of the restaurant.
Max and I split ways with the rest of the group and got back to the hostel. We changed and headed back out into the town, ready to get some more sights in, We followed a map provided by the hostel that brought us to most of the famous Roman sights like the Trevi fountain and the Spanish steps. After a few more hours of walking and a small late night dinner with Max's sister and her friend, we retreated to the hostel to get some rest.
Here's another short story I wanted to include. I walked into the room at the hostel, ready for a shower and a good night's rest. As I walk in I see the beautiful, quiet, dark haired girl that had the bunk below mine feverishly speaking Spanish to this fair-skin, fair-haired guy sitting in a chair in front of her. I went about my business getting ready for bed basically eavesdropping on their conversation. I thought to myself, "I can do this, I can communicate with these people." So I got up out of bed, and I started speaking Spanish to them. We started having a discussion in Spanish about the language's inherent relationship to the Italian language. I learned that she was in fact a Spaniard and she didn't know any English but a little Italian. The guy however knew 5 languages! he was such a nice guy, filled with stories about his travels through the North America on a motorcycle. I was so surprised by my ability to interact with people, having a full conversation in a language other than English. It was rather surreal.
The next morning Max and I headed out to see the sights in the ancient city of Rome. The Colosseum was much bigger than I expected! We walked through the Roman Forum as well as the Pallatine Hill (the hill on which all the Roman emperors, with the exception of Nero, built their palaces). After that we walked to the Pantheon. I enjoyed that building way more that I thought I would. It was such a sight to see. We got back to the hostel, grabbed out stuff, and got the the train station. Our journey ended with one more train hiccup but we made it back to Perugia late Saturday night.
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