Museums Museums Museums 1/18

Hello,

We finally got the internet to start working again.  It decides when it wants to work.

The last 3 days have been spent going into many museums.  We bought a pass called the Roma Pass, which allowed us free transportation and free admission into museums for 3 days.  We went to the National Museum which was full of ancient ruin artifacts.  The museum consisted of three different buildings around the city so we ventured into all of them.  One building was of all the old artifacts from the Roman Baths.  There were many old sculptures and remains in the buildings.  The National Museum was cool........but once you have seen one sculpture, you have seen them all (in my opinion).  After the museum we went to Trevi fountain which was designed by Michelangelo.  It was a very calming place and was very large as well.  It started to get dark when we left the fountain so we decided to go SHOPPING!!  The stores are MUCH more expensive here then they are in the United States.  Also the exchange rate doesn't help.  I have to keep reminding myself that when something is 20 euro, it is really 28 US dollars.  The shops here are not big department stores, they are all little botiques so the prices are generally higher as well.  Clothing stores are everywhere.  Every shop specializes in a different product so you spend a lot of time searching for a complete outfit.  

The next day we went to the Museo di Roma.  It was full of paintings, drawings and clothing from different Roman times.  I decided that I like paintings more than sculptures.  They tell a better story.  Museums take a long time to fully explore, so we all got a little hungry.  It is about 60 degrees here in Rome, so warm enough to eat outside.  We found a little restaurant on a side street that had outdoor seating and heat lamps above.  The best places to eat are the restaurants that have specials like a salad, pasta, meat, and a glass of wine for 15 euro.  We dined true Italian style by staying to eat dinner for almost 3 hours.  It is a very relaxing place.  They drive very crazy, but life itself is very slow paced.  I am starting to get used to it but I am having a hard time slowing down.  

So far, the best thing I like about Rome is that each part of town has a different style.  The area by the Colosseum is very spread out and large.  It reminds me of a big city.  The part where our school is at, is very tight and cobblestone streets.  The buildings in the Vatican area are newer and this part of town is not as "Italian"  

We took a mini tour today and a local Italian brought us around to see the ancient parts of Rome.  We saw the remains where Julius Ceasar was assassinated, and where the old Roman Theatre was.  We also were brought through the "Ghetto" of Rome, which is where all the Jews live.  Rome's Jewish community is the oldest in Europe.  It is a very large community and it is very important in Rome.  On the tour, the guide explained how much higher the city is now, than it was when the Emperors lived.  Over the last 2000 years, the city has gained many layers of dirt and sediment.  Every artifact/ancient sight is dug down very deep.  You are looking down at the remains when trying to gaze.  

I have found a new love............GELATO!!!  (No, I haven't found a soccer player yet)    We have a gelateria right down the street from the apartment and I know it will become dangerous.  The good thing though is that they only give you a little bit.  This gelateria also has coffee and is a mini grocery store.  I am having a hard time getting used to the coffee here.  Most italians drink espresso throughout the day, so each time they get one, it is usually small.  When you ask for a coffee here, you get an espresso.  If you want coffee like in the States, you ask for a Cafe Americano.  All this is is an espresso shot with a little water. The drink is very small I am missing my large cup of coffee in the mornings.  Also Italians don't often take their coffee to go, they stay and drink it at the bar.  So when I ask for a coffee to go, they give a small plastic cup that I am pretty sure melts when the drink goes into it. The Cafe Americano is very very strong... I am getting used to it however.

If the internet stays on long enough, I will add another slideshow.

Ciao