The days are winding down!

Ciao guys,

Only a mere 5 days left in Rome, and 6 until I'm at home in MN!

These past weeks have gone so fast, I know that I'm going to get "Rome-sick".

Last weekend, a lot of our group was gone on little weekend adventures to Poland, Ireland, Spain and even Russia. For those of us who were left in the city, we had a little weekend full of excursions in Rome.

Thursday, I spent the evening bouncing from apartment to apartment, as everyone was having a night in and I got a little homework done. Friday, I woke up and my friend Gretchen and I went and toured Castel Sant'Angelo. 

It's a fortress down the way from St. Peter's Square. It used to be the mausoleum of Hadrian, then it was used as a castle and fortress for the Popes from the 1500's to the 1800's. They still have the papal apartments intact for us to view and walk around in, which was very cool. There is a secret walled passage from Castel Sant Angelo to the Vatican and it was used on a few occasions for the Pope's quick getaway. 

Castel Sant Angelo

Beyond that, we found some catapults and some pretty courtyards. It's a museum now, so we viewed the historical battle-gear and weapons on display. 

Lots of great views!

Gretchen heading up to one of the papal apartments

My best mock of the "European smile"

Courtyard with catapults and wells for private oils

Little doors! (And a pretty funny tourist behind Gretchen!)

Not the best photo, but this is where the secret passageway leads in the basement

After the tour, we made our way to Old Bridge- the famous gelato place by the Vatican, and helped ourselves to some black cherry chocolate gelato! Delicious!

(If I stuff myself with Gelato this week and come back 50 pounds heavier----I'm not sorry). It's great! 

Just kidding :) 

We thought we needed to go check out some other churches as long as they were free and we had some time. We made our way to San Clemente- a church near the north side of town, which was built on another chapel, which was built on a set of ruins- rooms for preparing communion or sacrifices or something...I wandered away at that point in the lesson. However, The underground rooms were incredible (We actually didn't go this day, but the next Monday for Theology class).

We topped off our day by finding our way to St. John Lateran- the official cathedral of Rome and one of the 4 papal basilicas (The others are St Peter's at the Vatican, St. Paul outside the Walls, and St. Mary Major--- all which were visited for Theology over the past few weeks). 

St. John Lateran has to be one of the largest churches I've ever been in, with one of the most beautiful altar baldachins too. 

The altar canopy

 Saturday, everyone was still gone and the boys from the London program were hanging out with our guys doing other touristy things, so I decided to go out on my own. 

I  realized that day that I really hadn't done many 'adventures' out on my own. I left my apartment, and there was no looking at my watch and no worrying about anyone else. It was really, really nice.  I just decided to hop on the metro with my map and my list of things I wanted to see and I walked around with my camera. 

I found my way to Santa Maria in Cosmedin, a Gothic styled church where the "Mouth of Truth" is located.  It's a marble disk of an old man's face that sits outside the church. The legend behind the "Bocca Della Verita" is that (short version) you stick your hand into the mouth, and if you lie it snaps your hand off. 

It's a goofy tourist attraction, but I was really amused with all of the Chinese tourists in the line. They kept wanting to take MY picture. 

The Mouth of Truth!

 I found some Christmas presents, and checked out the 50 years of photography exhibit at the Vittorio Emanuel 2 Monument. I've been there 4 times, but the pictures are amazing! It's like the Italian version of "Time" Magazine and National Geographic photos all blown up, and all about Rome and the rest of Italy. 

Outside, I got a little nostalgic for Athens...

Syrian flags and protesters chanting outside the monument

A small protest, and I had no idea what for. Nothing violent, just loud. 

I've been finding some of the street performers here very interesting lately. There was an old man playing away on his violin near piazza del Popolo, so I decided to snap some pictures of him. Before long he noticed and started shaking his angry fist at me like in old movies, but I can't say I was intimidated. He was sure a cute old man before that though!

Sunday, my roommates Hannah, Brigitta and I went to mass at St. Peter's Basillica. Even though it was all in Italian, I still followed along and the service was really interesting. There were 50 priests in front all in purple, pink and red-orange colored robes with unique matching hats with round tassels on top. I've never seen anything like it, and because it was the 2nd Sunday of Advent I'm sure that is why they were dressed so differently. They all do a little piece of the mass, and they just have children from the congregation picked out beforehand to give the gifts. It was a really good experience watching until Communion.

Usually, I  avoid going to Catholic mass when its really formal because I don't know what to do during Communion. It's a 50/50 for me. Sometimes I stay put in my seat, and sometimes I go up for the blessing. I would have been all fine staying in my seat, except that I'm in the middle and its really uncomfortable for people to have to move past me. So, like they even instructed in English while we were there, I just went up and put my hands across my shoulders and looked down. Generally, its a pretty clear sign. But I happened to be in the line of the really old Italian priest, who just looked so confused after what felt like an eternity of failed communication. I felt so bad for confusing him. 

 So, I just smiled and walked back to my seat.  

Awkward = My middle name. 

Besides that, it was a good experience. We walked out and were just in time to see Pope Benedict bless the crowd at noon. He has one of the most calm and warm voices I've ever heard. He steps up to the window of the apartment and speaks in Italian to the crowd. Then, he proceeds to bless the crowd in several different languages, all which he sounds fluent in and all with some sort of a transition that sounds like "Now, in Portugese!" and people from Portugal clap. 

I was so impressed. 

(My friend Judy and I ran to see him again this Sunday too- that is why he's wearing white in the first one and red in the second)

Brigitta and Hannah waiting

This Sunday, I came prepared and brought the big lens!

After that, we found some lunch at a cheap burger place by the Pantheon, and went to the Christmas market by Piazza Navona.

By far, the most bizarre and entertaining thing at the Christmas market was all of these decorations of Halloween witches. 

But they all said Merry Christmas on them so the girls and I were so confused. 

After later research, we found out that its legit. 

"La Befana" is the Italian Christmas Witch. 

From the wise world of wikipedia: 

Christian legend had it that Befana was approached by the biblical magi, also known as the Three Wise Men (or the three kings) a few days before the birth of the Infant Jesus. They asked for directions to where the Son of God was, as they had seen his star in the sky, but she did not know. She provided them with shelter for a night, as she was considered the best housekeeper in the village, with the most pleasant home. The magi invited her to join them on the journey to find the baby Jesus, but she declined, stating she was too busy with her housework. Later, La Befana had a change of heart, and tried to search out the astrologers and Jesus. That night she was not able to find them, so to this day, La Befana is searching for the little baby. She leaves all the good children toys and candy (“caramelle”) or fruit, while the bad children get coal (“carbone”), onions or garlic

Pretty crazy right? Anyways, it's cute. I might have to find me a little La Befana ornament before returning home. 

I'll fill you in on the last week soon!

Buon Natale (Merry Christmas!) 

Kirsten