Bella Roma!

Translation: Beautiful Rome!

I am back from my weekend excursion to Rome and so happy to share my stories and pictures with you! Rome was just as I thought it would be....AMAZING! Growing up a Roman Catholic and hearing stories of these places was truly amazing to see in person. I have so much to say on every picture I took, but to help you make it through this blog, I will break it into a few highlights (or "chapters" I will call them). I hope you enjoy and get the chance to experience this city if you haven't already.



Chapter 1: "Table for 1"

I started off my trip with a late dinner at a little Italian restaurant near my hostel. I read the menu outside and was greeted immediately by a welcoming staff....so I came right in and said "Table for 1"! Just minutes behind me was another girl and a guy who also said the same thing, we ended up all sitting together and enjoying a REAL homemade Italian meal. The girl was from Indiana- get out, right?! We had a lot in common and had great conversation.

I went on throughout the weekend to use this phrase and felt quite good about it. After all, I was eating my favorite food in its home country! So, what did I have?! Lasagna, Spaghetti, Mozzarella & Tomato Pizza (of course), foccacia bread, croissants unlike any croissants I have had before and my favorite....gelato! I treated myself to homemade Italian gelato every night I was there and never once felt guilty about it!

Chapter 2: Mary & Joesph

I was in 4th grade when I was chosen to play the Virgin Mary in our annual Christmas Play. The Christmas play was the biggest thing our school had and you were only chosen for parts, you didn't even get to try out. However, at least once in your grade school career you did get to have a major part in the play. So, this was my year- The Virgin Mary (yikes)! I would have a lovely duet with my costar Joesph played by none of other than my classmate/friend Johnny Burns. Johnny was a good kid, nothing weird or funny about him. He left after 4th grade to be home-schooled and returned to public high school where he was "the man"....ladies really liked him, he was sweet and sociable. We worked together in high school at his family restaurant chain called Heinemann's. Then, parted our ways to college and only saw each other during the holidays. It was a few years ago I ran into him at our usual run-in spot with a reunion of great grade school friends. He told us all of his new adventure to becoming a preist. We were surprised but not shocked and admired his bold decision.

So, now I am in Rome and looked up my friend Johnny who is studying at the Catholic University in Rome (of course) to become a priest and will be ordained in 2010. We meet at the Trevi Fountain and head around town for a bit as he shares his history knowledge on the city with me. Homeless people ask him (just as everyone else) for money and he smiles, puts his hands on their shoulders and blesses them. I am thinking to myself "this is crazy" but a really sensational crazy just to witness his happiness while doing it. We finally sit down for lunch and enjoy the best conversation I might have ever had in my life.

After our delicious 2 hour lunch I feel refreshed, inspired and ready to conquer the rest of Rome. I say goodbye to Johnny and think back to the memory of Mary & Joesph.....wow, Johnny is living up to that memory and as for me...thank goodness for second (ok, maybe like fifth) chances ;)

Chapter 3: The Sites

There is SO much to see in Rome and everything is beautiful and has an amazing story behind it. To not bore you or overload you with information I will tell you of my top 3!

#1- St Peter's Basilica
This is where it all takes place. Just walking up to it I am in amazement. It is HUGE and breathtaking. I spend sometime on the plaza outside taking pictures and then make my way in. As I enter I get a strange feeling like "am I really here?" and then I am in and I start to cry. I don't even know why...it's just its presence, the beauty and the holiness of it all. I think it also hit me, I am REALLY here!

#2- Vatican/Sistine Chapel
Holy Cow! They said that if you spent 1 minute on every object in the Vatican it would take you 12 years! There is SO much. I really had no idea Michelangelo was a ridiculous genius. The artwork is incredible and they describe it as the best representation of the word of God. Pictures and words do not do this place justice. To be in the center of the Sistine Chapel- the holiest of all places was simply surreal.

#3 - The Spanish Steps
I really enjoyed this area. The Spanish Steps are the longest and widest staircase in all of Europe. It was created to link the Bourbon Spanish Embassy to the Holy See. Around the area are palm trees with lights and great shopping....so yea, I couldn't help but enjoy myself! It is a popular place for young adults to mingle and go out making it alot of fun!

**Yes, the Colosseum and the Pantheon are also AMAZING, but I only picked 3 to not bore you.
** Also, my chance encounter with the Pope is something I can only tell in person! It's a great story!

Chapter 4: The End....until next time

So, my trip to Rome was great. I checked another thing off my bucket list and it feels amazing. I could talk for hours on this city, but I won't. I hope this little blog will suffice.

Next up....My XMAS Vacation to the French Alps! I took a tip from my friend Patrick Luckebill (THANKS PL!) to visit Chamonix, France (home to one of the Winter Olympics). I leave Dec 23rd and return 28th and will be on the slopes with my friend Barry Thau. So, you may not hear from me until then. So, FELIZ NAVIDAD!!

Love and miss you all!!

Ciao,
Holly