Ciao Roma!

Didn't post on my blog yesterday because we just had a rest day before our big trip to ITALY! We don't have class from this Thursday until Tuesday, so we decided to take advantage of our 5 day weekend and explore this grand continent.

We left Cité at 4am, walked about 30 min to take a bus to Orly Airport. Security at Orly was a breeze, traveling through the Schengen zone truly is an advantage. Our flight left Paris at 6:45am and we arrived in Rome at 8:45am.

We took a bus to the city center, and immediately started to roam around Rome!

First stop: Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.

Rome's biggest basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The architecture and style was strikingly different and in some ways similar to French churches. The stained glass was limited and much simpler, the marble floors were decked out in amazing patterns, and the ceiling art was breathtaking.

Then we went off to grab a quick pizza before heading to our Airbnb. We are staying at a place close the the Vatican and very close to the Metro so it is very convenient! It is on the top floor of an apartment complex and I feel like I'm truly experiencing Italy from this place.

We didn't want to waste any time, so we jumped right back on the metro to the Coloseum! And once you get off the Colosseo station, it's right there. I was amazed by how close to was. It's massive, and it's beautiful.

We paid to walk inside and see all the intricacies of the building and just revel is its capability to withstand over two thousand years.

Right next to the Colosseum is the Arch of Constantine, which was also very beautiful.

And this area is connect to the entire Roman Forum, where everything happened centuries ago, all political, economic, and social activity occurred in this center.

Then we hit up the Trevi Fountain, threw in a few 1 cent coins (broke college students for real) and snapped lots of photos of this iconic monument.

Dinner was pasta, which is all I want to eat while I'm here.

And dessert, need I say more, gelato at Giolitti! I would recommend just getting a small, even though the cheap prices will make you want to get a bigger size, the servers are very generous! And ask for the fresh whipped cream on top!

Then we took a glance at the night view of the lit up Trevi Fountain, and the area was still absolutely packed with tourists.

Today we walked 12 miles, and we have been awake for about 22 hours now. I'm absolutely exhausted now, but it was an incredible day and I can't wait for Rome day two!

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