Half now half later...

Ciao!

It's been barely three days and already we are all so comfortable here. People are so friendly and most speak enough English to meet my ability to speak Italian half way. In the morning everyday I have a cappuccino and a pizza- which would be a sandwich to us in north America . Prosciutto and fresh mozzarella in the freshest bread I've ever tasted. Breakfast in Rome is my favorite meal hands down.

Today was a very long day it's just passed 5 pm now and we are all exhausted. 7am wakeups and treks that last till 4pm. We started at a church or chiesta in which we had to walk up and down many hills ( we kept making wrong turns) and kept passing this one VERY intimidating set or stairs. I think all of us knew in the back of our minds it was inevidable that we would have to walk up those. Sure enough they needed to be climbed to reach the church. We made the stair climb that made the CN tower stair climb look fun and continued to enter the church that housed michelangelo's statue of Moses. Seeing the marble statues in person is so surreal especially after seeing them in books all through school. It seems like in my mind I think of the statues as pictures and not as a tangible piece. Probably makes it hit harder when I see these incredible pieces 2 feet away from me.

One of the most awesome things that is seen most place is the worm done on the ceilings. The paintings and carvings it just blows your mind to think someone did these by hand. Things I can't even fathom. We moved onto the Capitine museum to look at more statues.

Fun fact # 87: the statues and busts of saints and people of importance were done by pouring wax over their heads to created a mild and then bronze was poured into it. This was done after they were deseased and their eye sockets were filled with molded substance( totally don't remember this part) but this is so the bronze caster would be able to manipulate their expressions- with dead people vein expressionless and all.

I spoke about The Dying Gaul and the importance in history the dipiction of emotion had. Soon after it was lunchtime and then on to the Pantheon. More impressive than you could ever imagine.

Right outside the Pantheon was a gelato bar a fellow Canadian directed us too. BEST cappuccino I've had thus far!!!!!
I chose the black cherry gelato which tasted even better than the black cherry ice-cream I used to ask my parents to go to Swiss Chalet for. Trust me, a HUGE feat and I never thought I would see the day.

I made a wish in the Trevi fountain an we were off to our last chiesta of the day. By this time my camera had died and I will have to rely on my fellow travellers for pictures.

We made the 30 minute walk back and stopped to buy lunch stuff for our trip to pompeii tommorrow. This was the first time I mustered up the confidence to speak in Italian to the grocery store employees. I ordered about 600 grams of prosciutto and enough mozzarella for 8 ( Otto) sandwiches. All for about $10 Canadian. We stopped at a bakery for our bread and 6 very large bottles of water which continues to be needed.

By the way I feel right now and felt this morning tonight is an early to bed kind of night. Not before making 8 sandwiches , showering and homework.

Until I get my hands on Daniels phone again Buenaventura sera.

Love and €13.40 Jose Cuervo,
V.