Always something new

I apologize for not having this post up last night. It seems the internet in the hotel is waging an all out war against me, and last night it won. Knowing the tech nerd I am, I will not stand for this, and I'll make sure the hotel internet doesn't keep me from posting ever again. That said, you'll be happy to know I will post two posts today to keep up with my normal quota.


So over the past few days I've been showing my guests around Rome. I've hit all the usual places, but as it turns out their visit has given me an excuse to see lots of things I haven't already done. It's weird to think that after being here for so long I haven't done everything yet, but I've learned there is still much for me to see and do, even in the area right around me.

Navonna Notte:

For dinner their first night we went to Navonna Notte. This is a local restaurant in Piazza Navonna that is really well known for their great food, fun atmosphere and cheap prices. Students go there all the time from my program, and so I figured it was about time to go. I'm very happy we did. We actually had to wait five minutes for a table, something that rarely happens in Rome, so when you come across a place you have to wait for a table at, you know it is good. The food was fantastic, and the atmosphere was lively and happy. Birthdays being celebrated, friends meeting up, mostly locals which gave it an authentic feel as if the food wasn't authentic enough. I'd place it in my top 5 favorite restaurants, and I'd say that's a pretty bold move for all the places I've raved about in the past.

Villa Bourghese:
Yesterday (Saturday) was a beautiful day, so we went up to Villa bourghese, a large and beautiful park in Rome. I hadn't been up there yet, though I believe my parents went through it when they were visiting. We rented a 3 person bike/cart vehicle, which was in fact very hard to pedal (We believe we got ripped off, some of the other carts had motors that assisted the pedaling) but it was still a lot of fun. We then walked through the park and down to the Spanish steps.


Churches:
There are over 900 churches in Rome, so it's not hard to find a new church to go into, but some of the ones we have gone into the past few days are right in my "backyard" so to speak. The church in Piazza Navonna was open on thursday (this was without the jamies) so I went in it while waiting for my friend Steve to show up with his friends for dinner. It was a beautiful church but mass was going on so I wasn't able to walk around it much.

Another church we went into is right on the main road my hotel is on, and I walk past it every day on my way to and from the Vatican, yet I had never been in it. My Aunt Nancy had gone in while she was visiting and recommended I go see it, so I finally did, and I wasn't disappointed. It was much larger than it looked from the outside and also held the body of an incorruptible, though I'm not exactly sure who it is.

When we were at the spanish steps we visited the church at the top, and this was also another different and beautiful church. The marble-work on the altar was incredible.

Castel Sant Angelo:
Now this is something I've wanted to go into for a long time. I walk past the Castle every day, which was once used as a Papal fortress but is now a museum. We went in last night around sunset, and had the most incredible view from the top of the sun setting behind Saint Peter's Basilica. The Castle itself was also really impressive, but the view was worth the price of admission (though the girls got in free, this weekend all women get into national monuments for free, lucky them).

Angelus:

Today (Sunday) we went and saw the Pope say the Angelus from his balcony. The square was packed, and when he came out it was like Bruce Springsteen had come out on stage in Giants Stadium. It is also the first time I have ever heard the Pope speak english, which was really cool. He says his message about the Sunday readings in multiple languages, and when he announces what language it is the people of that language all cheer.

St. Peter's




I've been in Saint Peter's Basilica many times, but this was the first time I attended mass in the main apse of the Church. When the Pope says mass he says it on the altar that is above St. Peter's tomb, but today mass was held in the Apse behind it, which is normally closed off to the public (Though I was in it for the photography work in St. Peter's). It was nice to sit in that space again and take it all in while mass was going on, trying to piece together the Italian words I understood in the Priests homily.

That's all for now, another post tonight is promised!