seekingmygreaterperhaps

I’m finally in Rome! The Lizzie McGuire movie didn’t lie- it is actually this pretty. God is pretty good, and I’m staying with my new friend LaurieAnne. I met her by fate on an escaltor in Vienna, and then hung out with her in Bratislava the next day (before I almost became a criminal). So she has been nice enough to let me stay. 🙂

On my first day in Rome, I was really tired. This seems to be a theme…. I need to stop taking early trains. Anyways, I didn’t see any of the exciting tourist traps on my first day, but rather followed an itinerary almost entirely inspired by this song: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3PmXpT6ejE4

I saw there was a Chagall exhibit and don’t really know much about him, so I thought that would be my “thing” for the day. He is actually a really cool artist to learn about, and he is hyper optimistic and really into the idea of love.

If I create from the heart, almost everything works. If I create from the head, almost nothing.

Since I’m a student I got in for only 5 euro, which is awesome that the man at the front didn’t even check my ID, because online it said on EU students… score 1 for sneaky Americans.

This was my favorite piece, although Chagall has quite the range. He has created an illustrated version of bible stories, to illustrating old fables of grouchy people, to painting lovers as such.

Afterwards I watched a street performer be funny for about 15 minutes in Piazza Navona. He had a huge crowd, and I managed to not get anything stolen from me. (Pickpockets target such crowds.) It was cool because you could still enjoy the show no matter what language you spoke, because he used whistles and sound effects instead of words.

The Vatican City. The only pure monarchy left in Europe. It’s an independent state, and has it’s own post office. The Pope lives here and the cardinals.

I stood in line for the St. Peter’s Basilica, which I thought might take 8 years to actually get into, but it surprisingly moved very fast. (I cannot say the same about the Vatican Museum line.)

The inside was fabulous. Everything seems to be gilded and pretty. It is the largest building of any religion in the entire world, and it is HUGE. It was neat, they have a separate prayer room off to the side which is completely quiet. Even though it’s a sacred place and there are signs saying to be silent, people never are. And there are guided tours around, so that makes it hard to be quiet. This prayer room was special though. I liked spending a few minutes with the main man in my life in there.

Next stop: The Vatican Museum. Aka- where the Sistine Chapel is. Honestly, I couldn’t really enjoy this museum properly because of the sheer amounts of people inside. You couldn’t choose your own walking pace because it was so overcrowded. It’s hard for me to settle into a museum if people are always around me. I’m antisocial in that way. Also, once you get to the Sistine Chapel, people are lingering. Like maybe 300 people- because the place is huge. And for good reason, the room is beautiful. I snagged a wall seat and got to gaze for quite a while. There must be over 500 figured painted on those walls and ceiling, and if you look some are doing some weird things. I saw one holding like a skin of a person, and another sneaking away with their bum turned. Obviously the ceiling is incredible. Unfortunately- “NO FOTO.”

Go ahead an put another tally in the sneaky American column.

That day I also enjoyed a gelato on the Spanish Steps, and went to the Trevi fountain… which is currently under construction and you can’t see much of anything. All in all, I got to hang out with the pope, figure out what my favorite band was talking about, and get harassed by street people about selfie sticks. Good start Rome.