I made it, I am here in Roma, and here is the story.
I said goodbye to my family and friend Taylor at the airport at 4:30am and walked into the unknown.
I was very nervous to get through all the airport security stops, baggage checks, and ticket takers alone, but i actually got through everything within minutes and i had an extra hour to wait before boarding my first flight to Washington D.C.. As i was about to board the plane i was one of the last to be allowed on board and so i was told that i had to gate check my carry on bag! luckily it was free so i was not upset because that just meant i would have way less to carry around the airport. the flight was 4 and a half hours to Washington D.C., but it felt like way longer because i am unable to sleep on airplanes for some stupid reason i am unaware of! i arrived at 2pm local time very exhausted, but luckily my next flight was 3 hours later so i could relax, use wifi, eat, and lay down for a little bit. I boarded the next plane, i sat down in my seat and this cute old lady next to me asked if i would switch seats with her husband so they could sit together! of course i said yes, and moved seats. unfortunately...the new neighbor i had was a 37 year old creepy guy... he talked and asked creepy, odd questions for the whole 8 hours flight.... and he saw my name on the ticket stub i was holding when i sat down and just today i saw he added me on Facebook! what a creep! ( don't worry, i blocked him)
So anyways, i didn't sleep again on that longer flight and finally we touched down in Roma, Italy! i had tears in my eyes i was so happy to finally be n Italy for the first time. i was nervous to get through customs and to find my baggage, but again it was so easy! i didn't lose any bags and as i walked into the meeting point of the airport i see my new papa standing there with a sign saying "Cassie" i am glad he had that because i wouldn't recognize him if not ha ha. He is amazing! he is so tall and very very friendly and funny! always joking around and making me feel very welcome! When i talk about him I will call him Papa Michele. only he was at the airport because Mama Betta had to work and my two host brothers were at the family's beach house on Isloa De Elba. But it was perfect because Michele had nothing to do so he gave me a tour of the city!
We live in the E.U.R Zone Roma which is south east of the centre of Rome, but still within the inner circle of Rome.
This is the main building in the centre of EUR Zone. it is called the "New Colosseum" and i bet you can guess why!
This is a Church built in 1942. Basically most of E.U.R was built in 1942 so it is the newest part of Roma.
Michele then took me to this church section where there are three churches. they are so old and beautiful it was astounding. monks still lived there in solitude so you had to be very quiet. one of the churches was built according to the bible story of a man who saved Jesus and instead was beheaded. as his head rolled down the steps of a church, it bounced three times. in each spot was built a beautiful fountain made of marble and other beautiful stones. i wish i had a picture but they wont allow it inside but here is a picture of one of the three churches in that garden area.
Beautiful, yes?
Then he told me about the 4 major churches in Roma. he took me to see one that day! it was amazing.... here are some pictures.
This is the main inside part. look how small the people are! this place is huge! there are three corridors like this one, so just imagine!
This is the back place with statues of St Paulo and stairs leading down to a glass wall showing a small part of the catacombs he is buried in.
Another look at the Chapel part! the ceiling is all wood carved flowers painted in gold. and the detailing is incredible!
After this Church we headed home to make a Pasta Fresco for Mama Betta when she arrived home from work. She is so sweet and nice and they are both so welcoming towards me i already feel like a real part of there family! After we ate they told me they would take me to an old roman street with the original cobbled roads! i was very excited so i grabbed my camera and off we went. the roads are so old its amazing and you look to your left, and oh...there's a vacation castle for one of Romes emperors!
The castle part and the field where he kept and ran his horses.
The main part of the "house".
The Church across the road built in the 1300s!
So that was an amazing sight to see, and i am lucky i don't have any sort of jet lag, i don't know why but I'm not complaining! So as we are getting in the car they tell me that we are going to see the inside of ancient Rome and the Colosseum! ahh! as we are abut to leave, 3 Spanish girls run up to ask directions to the Colosseum, and that's were we are going so now there are four girls all squished into the back of a tiny Italian car! very exciting!
Then we arrive through the ancient walls to enter the city. it was astounding. I actually got to see and take pictures of the Colosseum!
Incredible!
Magnificent!
Here is me in front of an old water fountain!
Then we go to a garden where you can see all of Rome. it was getting dark so it is hard to see but here is a picture!
Then i came home, had amazing home-made pizza, and then to bed!
Buone notte!
