Hey everyone, if there is anyone,
I profusely apologize for my lack of updating on my personal travel blog. Being an exchange student does absolutely crazy things to ones mind ( in a good way of course) but boy does it get hectic. Well let me start my update with a small story of a girl named Poppaea (Poppy), and her adventures in Rome with the best tour guide ever...Me!
Facebook = The start of most relationships, when you are an exchange student... and the greeting usually begin with "Hey, I'm foreign, you're foreign, were in the same host country, lets hangout!" So after a bit of talking i found out that a lovely New Zealander was coming to Rome! Of course i jumped at the chance to meet new friends and we made a plan to meet up at 9:00 at St. Peters Church... Here is our story in pictures and words.
Since i live a little bit out of the main center i had to get up quite early and decided to exit the metro at the Spanish Steps. Since it was only 8:00 am there was absolutely no one around... it was very astounding and actually a bit overwhelming walking the streets of Rome all alone after you are used to constantly being bombarded by faces and voices from all different corners of the world. But i used this rare opportunity to capture some photos of the city without being lost in a sea of tourists.
The Spanish Steps (Piazza Spagna)
You can usually not walk down this street which usually contains thousands of people gazing longingly through the glass barriers separating them and the expensive Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Armani thingamajigs that are always out of any normal persons reach.
Somebody calls you somebody says
swim with the current and float away
Down by the river every day." Agnus Obel (Riverside)
The walk past Castle St. Angelo to reach the famous St. Peters stunning beauty.
A few early bird tourists approached me asking for me to assist them in taking a photo by holding there hands up making a motion and saying "Photo?"
Well i reached my destination with a little time to spare to sit and reflect back on life and the magnificence of where i was and where i am now in my life story.
And then i hear a lovely accent saying my name, oh look it is Poppy!...WEARING SHORTS... oh did i forget to mention is is freezing? yeah, okay well it was insanely cold... so yeah, Poppy is a tiddly bit crazy, but i still love her to death <3
Our first stop was the Vatican museum, home of many amazing Roman artifacts and the incredibly famous Sistine Chapel... Too put my feelings in to words.. let me just say i was completely stoked!
Our legit and secret reaction to seeing the actual amazing painting done by Michelangelo himself... Photos were not permitted so we were very...very VERY sneaky.
I got these ones from going to the very corner of the room, sitting down, and zoomed in as much as i could. The guards had no idea.. MuAHHAHAHA
But seriously. The feeling i got when i actually laid eyes on the real painting was so incredibly fulfilling.. i have always been so intrigued by history so for me to actually be underneath a painting done by one of the most famous painters ever in history was completely mind blowing.
Roman drinking fountain... awweee yeah
My lovely new friend Poopie Poppy! I met such an amazing friend that day, i only got to see her for one weekend but i seriously consider her to be one of my closest friends and i am so blessed to have gotten to know some one as insanely fun as her <3
The pose that pops into my head when i think of Popes...?
The real Pope-mobile!
The sign SPECIFICALLY says do not touch Poppy...what are you thinking..
Poppy was trying to imitate the pope-mobile . Apparently those are the wheels? i think i can see it when i tilt my head alllllll the way sideways.
Real Egyptian Hieroglyphs!!
It was so crazy to see a real up close mummy. you could see every hair and skin pieces and bone and it was so interesting to see something preserved for so many years...even if it is a bit morbid.
Original Gangnam style. ( an then there is Poppy trying to be O G..)
You know it is a sick museum when this is the way to exit. oh gosh, if only it was a slide!
Castle St. Angelo was used as a save haven for the Pope during war times. There is a pathway connecting this castle and the Vatican to insure safe passage.
The walk back through the outdoor markets was a sweet one ;)
And being the mature adults we are we just had to stop for a ride on the marry-go-round...
Fantastic!
Seriously one of the best ways to see St Peter from a distance... Magnificent.
We all know what this lovely landmark is! ^^
The views of Rome from the top of Piazza Venezia.
And this is the building were the above pictures were taken.
Rainy days..looking a bit crazy?
"aawwwee yeah, roman shit" ~Poppy (read this with an accent please)
Parting of the Red Sea street.
I love my foreign bestie and i miss her so much now!
So that was the picture book story of my short but amazing time with Poppaea and i will never ever forget her! Poppy if you are reading this, I LOVE YOU <3
Ciao everyone!
