The Eternal City

I spent Easter weekend in Rome, and it was amazing!

I knew that I would love Italy but I didn't realize just how much. Coming to Rome felt like coming home - I just fit in. France also corresponds to part of my personality, but it's the hard outer shell, the refinement and street face. Italy is my soul!

The weather is balmy and sunny, palm trees and gardens abound, and the sound of running water is always present, thanks to the thousands of fountains, large and small, that fill the city. Little alleyways, covered in flowers, lead off of bright and crowded piazzas.

And of course, the food. Gelato, gelato, and more gelato! It is so cheap, and so delicious, creamy and bursting with flavor. I had upwards of seven helpings over the weekend... and I'm not ashamed! We usually went to Old Bridge, near Vatican City, and my favorite flavor was definitely coconut, though hazelnut, caramel, and chocolate were all wonderful.

Romans are very friendly, I found. Multiple people warned me about the harassment, and they were right. For the most part though, it was all in good fun, and hey, it doesn't hurt to be told "You are so beautiful! Bellisima!" a few times a day.

One of the greatest parts of the trip was our big PLS reunion. We went to dinner in Trastavere at Dar Poeta, a hole in the wall pizzeria, and wandered through the neighborhoods, drinking wine straight from the bottle and talking talking talking.

I had salmon pizza with cheese and salad, and have been craving it ever since:

We had a bit of excitement when a drunk man came up to our group and pushed one of the girls. Our lone male companion immediately jumped up and pushed him back, bottle opener in hand, while all the girls screamed "No, don't!" Luckily the guy backed off and we ran away to a different piazza. Scary at the time, but it makes a great story and added to the hilarity of the night.

The many Easter festivities were interesting, but not as moving as I had expected. Seeing the Pope was great, but standing in line and then sitting in the rain for five hours was not. Honestly, the most religious experience I had was climbing the Scala Sancta, the steps from Pontius Pilate's house that Jesus climbed at His trial, and that I climbed on my knees.

Other notable events:

• Buying potato and rosemary pizza by the kilogram. 
• Seeing all the Roman cats, who hang out in the ruins and sun themselves on ancient columns in the middle of the busy city.
• Cooking a delicious pasta dinner in the hostel, rounding it off with red wine and hazelnut wafers.
• Seeing a baroque Church and the Sistine Chapel on the same day. Beauty overload, very emotional.

• Getting to know the receptionist at our hostel, who was always drunk and always hilarious. 
• Nearly getting arrested by the Italian police for standing near the Trevi Fountain. I was terrified.
• Experiencing homelessness in Paris. We stayed in McDonald's and Gare Montparnasse. Horrible horrible horrible.

Viva il Papa! That's the Pope!

I have been dreaming of Rome since I left, and I dream of golden columns and cobblestoned streets, the sound of the fountains and the fresh smell in the air, like a cool summer morning, flowers and bright light.

I'm so excited to be returning to Italy in just a couple days. Spring break starts Friday, and I'm heading to Venice, Cinque Terre, and the Amalfi Coast before boarding a ferry to Athens and Santorini. What a life!