Little Kelly, Big Jump. Also, ROMA!

I can now officially answer the question "if all your friends are going to jump off a bridge would you jump too?". Turns out, I would go first. So, as promised, here are videos/pictures from the bridge jump off the Mascarat Gorge. Seeing as these are of questionable legality, they are, on the record, completely fake, not of me, or I did not take them. Take your pick.

Either way, I would suggest turning the volume down on your computers before watching this:

(OK I lied the video won't upload I'll figure that out)

It was quite a jump. I've never fully appreciated how fast gravity works before. After I went a some much calmer Europeans, some of the guys decided to do it head first, which was terrifying enough just to watch. After we had all had out adrenaline fill we hiked up to Sierra de Toix TV for some late afternoon climbing. TV gets last light over the sea, so we stayed there until sunset. I lead two 6a's, and had the best possible last day in Spain I could have hoped for. Huge thanks to all the folks at the Orange House for making my stay so amazing, I'll miss everyone. Open invitation to all for a Roman holiday.

Speaking of Rome...

In transit to Rome via Barcelona I picked up a nasty stomach bug and had my own international barf-fest as I flew into Rome. It got so bad at one point one of my contacts fell out, so I landed in Rome with vision in only one eye and sick as-well, I'll leave you to draw your own analogy. Thankfully Colleen arrived only twenty minutes after me, and we hauled our massive bags through the airport and onto the Leonardo Express into Rome. We then caught the metro into the city center where we were staying at a Bed and Breakfast on Via degli Scipioni. I have never fought so hard not to puke as I did while carrying my giant backpack and my suitcase through the subway. We finally got into the B&B, and I must not have looked too good, because the owner gave me his cell phone number just in case I needed to go to the hospital. Colleen and I were so overwhelmed we just went to bed.

Waking up in Rome the next morning (yesterday, now) was fantastic. I was feeling great, so we ventured out into the street for cappuccino. Our B&B was only a few blocks from the Vatican City, so we walked through St. Peter's Square. Walking into the Vatican meant for each of us visiting our third country in two days, and we gave ourselves a pat on the back about that. We avoided anything we had to pay for because we will get discount passes once school starts, but St. Peter's Basilica is free so we wandered in there. It was so massive I felt like it had it's own atmosphere. We spent a good amount of time exploring it's alcoves decorated richly with paintings, statues, and more. The marble columns that rise to it's dome are so impressively huge, and I can't imagine how they built it.

After The Vatican we wandered across the Trivere River into old Rome. We had lunch in Campo di Fuori, an open-air market. We trusted our instincts and followed the river some more until we found a path heading into a park on a hillside where I figured we could get a good view. As we wandered out of the little wooded area we found ourselves overlooking a breath-taking view of the Roman Forum and the Coliseum. I can't describe how amazing it felt to stumble upon them, except to say that we spent a few hours wandering around in dazed amazement. We crossed over to walk along the Circus Maximus, then followed the river back home. After a nap we had dinner at a little restaurant down the street, and yes, the food was amazing. Some wine and a movie later we went to bed, ready to get up early to meet our host mom.

This morning was sunny, and we walked around the shopping area near by and picked up some flowers for our host mom a street vendor's stand. We packed up and hopped in a taxi and drove to our new home. Lucia, out mom, greeted us, and Colleen and I have been unpacking and settling in. Tomorrow we head into the city center again to see our University.

I'm pretty sure this is all real, but I keep expecting to wake up at 5:15am and go to morning practice on the St. Lawrence River...maybe I just need another cappuccino.