We traveled through Italy today via trains.  Everyone was excited to see their host families when we arrived.  More to come...

Rome Day 3 Pictures

Rome Day 2 Pictures

As we woke up this morning (actually on time today), we slurped down a cappuccino before heading out for our third day in Rome. In the morning, we toured several small churches in residential neighborhoods of the city. They were beautiful! We then walked around the Jewish ghetto and shopped at a charming open air market where among the things we purchased were cheese, sunglasses, oranges, and my personal favorite-fresh squeezed pomegranate juice. Some of us even popped into a little book store right beside the market called Libreria Fahrenhei 451. We ate lunch with a perfect view of the coliseum. After the coliseum tour, we arrived back at the hotel. A few of us who were not too tired went out for a nice late afternoon cappuccino! While everything we have done and seen so far has been enthralling, I still find myself enjoying the little things most of all-the coffee, the food, the flowers, and the friends.

Julia

Rome Day 1 Pictures

-Joanne Timberlake

6.7 miles later...As we jumped out of our beds minutes before walking out of our hotel this morning we had no idea how many times we stopped so Frankie could shop. As we walked through 2,500 years of history, our conversation ranged from embalmed popes to bold pigeons. After we visited the Vatican museum (including the Sistine Chapel), the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and the Spanish steps, our tour guide, Barbra, knowledgeably led us through the metro and to our wonderful dinner restaurant were they served fresh picked oranges for dessert. We then wished Kerrigan a happy 17th with celebratory cheesecake and tiramisu.

Julia

P.S. We also saw a levitating man.

Night tours in the rain...

After an incredibly long day and a very brief nap, we were off on a rainy walking tour and night bus tour of Rome!  Interesting sights, wet socks, overtired teenagers, and one delicious gelato later, we are turning in early.  Our first stop tomorrow-Vatican City!