reunion.

dear italy. im sick of blogging about you. this will be told via pictures. captions. and short tidbits. unless i get a random burst of motivation.

we checked out of our hostel. and got some pictures on the way down. i couldnt find me return bus ticket. which was the saddest thing ever.

we then made out way to the borghese gallery. it was an adventure getting there as there were no direct roads there. but we made it right on time.

we walked up and saw phil and rodger and it was a joyous reunion. it felt like seeing your parents after being away from them for forever. they are the sweetest.

Delys was wonderful and had gotten the reservation for us. we had to check our bags and the bag check lady was the grumpiest. the gallery itself was wonderful. they only allow around 300 people in at a time and the reservation is for 2 hrs. then they clear it all out and the next group comes in. it was perfect, it wasnt crowded at all, and you had enough time to see everything. at one point i was the only one in the davids room so i was able to just look at bernini's david and really focus on the detail. it was amazing.

this was my favorite sculptue. its by Bernini and called Apollo and Daphne. the detail was impeccable. and was absolutely beautiful. it tells the story of the two and depicts the moment that Daphne begins to turn into a Laurel Tree. ahh gorgeous.

after that cali and i separated from the group because we had a later flight. rodger and phil were grand and let us break the three person rule so we didnt have to wait in the airport for hours on end.

we made out way to the spanish steps and then to find a delicious place to eat one last time. but it was way confusing how to get there as we were on the other side of rome and the roads didnt have sidewalks. we met a group of older Americans who were trying to get there too- we went and asked directions and found there was a cool underground tunnel thing that took us right to it. we had gone back to tell our american friends but they were gone, but we ran into them in the tunnels. it was grand, and they were the sweetest. we made it to the spanish steps and it was beautiful and then kept walking towards the pantheon. 

we then got yummy yummy lunch. it was a deal where you got a drink, bruchetta, and a meal, for only 12ish euros. i dont remember exactly.

where did we eat you ask? oh yes that is the pantheon right there. no worries. right outside the pantheon. hello beautiful view.

we got delicious lemon soda which was like lemonade but on crack- not real crack- but it was delicous

cali captured this great moment of pouring the soda into the glass. they are so formal here. states- i would so drink it out of  bottle- here they poor it into a pretty glass with ice.

the bruschetta was delicious. but not as good as the first night

i had a very hard time eating it. it was the trickiest. cali made it look so easy. i think more tomatoes ended up on my plate than in my mouth. devil.

continuing on the pictures of food theme. this was the yummy lasagna i got. yum. cali got a pesto dish that the waitress recommended and loved it. her love for pesto is the bestest.

we then went to the best gelato place in all of rome. our hostel worker lady had recommended it as well and rodger and phil. and it was right near the pantheon. and it was recommended for a reason. holy hannah.

most amazing gelato. story time. at this point i had 11 euros left. i needed 4 for the bus back, leaving me 7 euros. cali was all out of euros- she rocked at life. so i was going to buy here gelato for her. two options a small for 2.50 or a medium (with the chocolate cone) for 3.50. you do the math. we got the mediums. fast forward to getting the bus ticket. surprise. no longer four (as it was advertised on the brochure they gave me and what we paid the first time) it is now 6. devil. so instead of being left with 0 euros i was left with 18. it was the saddest.

seriously though- if you are ever in italy go to the giolitti. soo good! 

we ate our gelato on the move- and on our way back to the train station to catch the bus to the airport. we decided on our way home we should walk by the colesseum one last time. and see the roman forum and palatine hill- even if just from the road. it was still breath taking.

while walking i realized just how grateful i was for our private room, because it meant we could leave our stuff at the hostel. the backpack was heavy and very very hot.

loading up on aloe before getting to the airport in fear it wouldnt get through security. miracles of miracles. it did

we made it to the airport with pleanty of time to spare. security is extremely fast in europe so that whole two hours early thing. not needed. so we spent the time looking through pictures. all 800 plus of them...

i blew on cali's legs for her to help with the sunburn. im not sure how much it helped, but it was worth a try. that is true friendship.

 the plane ride was great. we got merchant of venice and flare path finished. and took naps. i was in the middle seat, and my head bobbing almost got me in trouble, as i woke up as i was putting my head on the italian man sitting next to me's shoulder. i immediately changed it to cali's and he started talking to me and saying it was okay and other such things but i pretended to still be asleep. soo embarassing.


we made it back to london, and rushed to get to customs as to avoid the line. cali hated me for making her climb stairs with her sunburn rather than ride the very slow escalator. we got to customs and no worries- waited there for forever. there was only one guy working non EU passports and there was a person with an issue. it was the saddest, but we eventually made it through. funny story: while walking out we saw a mom dragging her probably two year old son behind her- his pants were around his ankles. i couldnt help but smile, and wonder what her day had been like, where they were off to, etc.


we found the bus that would take us back to london and bought tickets with three minutes to spare before the next one left. we ran and as we did so the worker dude shut the gate and waved goodbye to the bus- then looked at us and smiled. complete joke. completely terrifying. we made it onto the bus with a minute to spare- and then got to sit for the hour and a half ride back to london.

it gave us time to finish up the last little bit of reading, and for the first time in my life i got motion sickness- it was the weirdest, and  kind of exciting.

we got off before victoria station at marble arch with the idea of catching a bus back. we went to the stop and watched as the bus we needed drove past. twice. we then went to the next stop, where we learned that you had to flag down the buses. by this point our feet hurt, we were exhausted, hungry, and just wanted to get home. i have never been so happy to get on a bus. the bus driver probably thought we were crazy for being so excited to see him.

we got home and had a wonderful reunion with the rest of the crew- hearing about their adventures and other grand stories. it was sad to leave italy, but nice to get back to a real bed, and london.

add another stamp to the passport

today started out like any normal day. wake up. shower. breakfast on the go. class. but it ended much different.

class was shorter than usual. we talked about cherry orchard. and then about travel week. our directors are very good at trying to instill fear into our little hearts. they do a fairly good job i must say. the best part was when phil taught us how to say leave me alone in french followed by how to say f-off, if they dont leave after the first one. i died laughing. 

we then rushed home to pack, get ready, and say goodbye to people. and then it was off to victoria station. we made a pit stop at tesco for some last minute chocolate. i got a kit kat, i heard they were supposed to be better here but i think i like the ones in america better. and some cadbury eggs (still on sale) for the week in italy. at victoria we tried pastys for the first time. they are kind of like a calzone but have mushy yumminess inside. they were delicious but way hot (temperature wise) and afterwards we were soooo full.

the group.

on the gatwick express the people next to us were speaking what we think was italian which made our excitement even greater. i passed out on cali's shoulder about ten minutes in but woke up when i got run over by the drink cart. silly me. my leg was poking out and i didnt know to move it. when we got off the train and into the station who did we run into but phil, rodger, and delys. we realized in that moment that we would have a very different relationship with them after this trip. phil is hysterical and will use antibacterial wipes all the time to avoid getting sick. and roger will just make fun of him like no other. it is amazing.

trying pastys

i love this girl. we are cool.

we made it through passport check just fine, but i got stopped at security and was patted down. my first thought. hysterical. once in we realized we had an hour before we would even find out what our gate number was, but luckily gatwick basically has a mall in it so we went exploring. cali and i found some computers with internet and being the ridiculous girls we spent a pound to be able to go online and say goodbye one more time. silly. yes. we then had a major dilemma on whether or not to get cadbury egg mcflurries, but we finally went and they didnt have cadbury which was the saddest. and cali thought i was ridiculous. other side note about gatwick. the bathrooms were amazing. they smelled like tropical fruit and were painted to look like an island. i was in paradise. literally. we also went into a few stores, where we found the most expensive clothes i have ever seen. honestly who buys expensive clothes in an airport.

yay for internet computers giving one last chance to say goodbye

sad to be with no contact for the week

but so so excited to be going to ROME

cali's 249 pound shirt/dress

our gate number was finally posted an we made our way to the gate. luckily i had extra room in my backpack because you are literally only allowed one bag so you have to fit your purse inside your bag. and considering my purse is the size of china, i was very grateful i underpacked for once in my life. there was a mad line slash rush to get to the plane because there arent assigned seating, but it was exciting and we got to walk outside to get to our plane. there was a very attractive italian flight attendant that we all immediately swooned over.

waiting at the gate in the mad rush of people. not so happy to be standing for so long with a heavy backpack.

about to board!

the plane was exciting because they announced everything in italian and then english. i had no idea what the were saying. i loved and hated it at the same moment. feeling completely clueless was awful, and it made me realize what other people must feel like coming to the united states, but it made me finally feel like i was in a foreign place. the plane ride was grand. with sleeping. reading. and cadbury eggs.

yay cadbury. boo failing at eating.

we got to campino and the weather was perfect. we got off the plane and then onto a bus which took us to the airport where we went through customs. it was crazy. one minute there were a but load of people and the next everyone was gone. they were very efficient. after that we got on a bus which took us to the city center at termini train station which was a two minute walk from our hostel. rodger was a doll and wanted to walk us to our hostel. the hostel was wonderful, and we actually got upgraded for free. originally we were in a 6 person room, so there would be two random people, but we were upgraded to a 4 (so just us) and we had a bathroom in our room. it was grand. while were were checking in there were some people from london in the front room watching tv and drinking who invited us to come have a drink with them. we declined polietly.

our hostel

the room itself was great. we had bunk beds, i called the top and cali indulged me. yes, i am ridiculous and always wanted a bunk bed when i was younger. silly, right. i regretted this "dibsing" when climbing up and realizing how they were not very sturdy and very squeaky. and i mean squeaky. any time anyone moved an inch there was a lovely squeak. but it was still sooo exciting to be so high. the room didnt have any curtains, and either did the bathroom, but luckily it just looked out to an alleyway and the windows of the building across the way were frosted. when you flushed the toilet it sounded as if there was a waterfall- it scared me the first time, but it was cheap, and a great location, and the people were absolutely wonderful and helpful. i would recommend it to someone.

the very unsteady, squeaky bunk bead.

that night we went around and all talked about the blessing we had seen that day, and what we were grateful. i am always amazed at the blessings i can see in my life. that night cali and i did scripture study together because we only brought one pair of scriptures. it was wonderful. i felt like i was back at efy as we looked at the chapter and really studied it. we talked about what it meant to us, and person application. it made me sooo very excited for efy where everyday all day is filled to the brim with scriptureness. 

that night we fell asleep to the sound of squeaking beds and loud music from the club below us. a perfect lullaby