One of the best things about being in Rome, is that I have been introduced, first via e-mail, to a seminarian friend who studies with the L.O.C. (Sounds like a rap group, doesn't it? Well. Not really) and has been incredibly helpful these past few days in getting me situated. Rome is much cooler when you have an insider showing you places. Saves you work, time, and headaches.
Yesterday, thursday, my friend met me at the Pantheon (Did I mention it is my next door neighbor?) and we did a small look around the center of the city. We pretty much went to every major spot, and measured which we liked best, etc, as to not spend time on that which we did not find as interesting. Only, most things are incredible, so there was much time spent many places. And actually, he helped me find Conservatorio Santa Cecilia, which is on this little quiet side street right off of Via del Corso. It was pretty incredible to finally be standing in front of it, and it definitely gave me a sense of great peace to finally be in front of it and to know where it is, which is rather close to where I am staying. I also learned where to buy the cheapest gelato in my zone (I live in a very centric area, which is great because of the culture, etc. but not so great because vendors are constantly trying to rip you off... like my taxi driver.)
But today was definitely the better of days, because I visited the Vatican. Not by myself, but again with a seminarian with many other seminarian friends working there. Such a difference! I basically got a giant tour of all the most significant things, and all the best information, for free. It was really pretty incredible. And due to all of his friends working there, we got to climb up to the top of St. Peter's Basilica before anyone else was really allowed. But can I just say, we complain about climbing stairs in the United States??? My God, you have NOT climbed up stairs until you have done so in St. Peter's. It's no so much how many stairs there are, as much as the way they are mostly positioned which is mostly small-heavily slanted-spiral. I know. Picture that. When we finally got to the top, there was an Italian woman saying, 'This is truly a sacrifice, a penance, a torture...' But to be quite honest, all that climbing was so worthwhile. You can see ALL of Rome from there. It's really breathtaking and really not able to put into words. That's the truth. We finished by then visiting all the tombs of past Popes and eating more gelato (How is it that this city has 558,876 pizzerias, 476,354 gelaterias, 876,456 cafes, and no bathrooms? Mind boggling.)
So now, I am just soo cheesed because I got an inside tour of the Vatican, and am now looking forward to next week, where I will start getting in contact with Santa Cecilia and getting ready for my audition once I am settled. Ahhh... 8 days until my Italian exam. Piece of cake, piece of pie, right?
God bless all of you.
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