Rome Home

Today I woke up to the Rome I have always dreamed of. The sun was shining, and when I opened my window the light pouring in was warm for the first time since I've been here. I got dressed as quickly as possible to see my street in the sunshine, and it seemed everyone else had the same idea. The little cafe I always go to had filled every table on the sidewalk, and the street vendors were out in full force. I haggled with a jewelry vendor, and I consider getting two euro knocked off my new necklace a landmark achievement in my cultural immersion. Colleen and I then met up with some friends at Villa Borghese, one of Rome's largest and most beautiful parks. There is still snow in the shadows, but the areas in the sun were warm and bright. Villa Borghese is shaded by towering trees, among which are hidden fountains, ruins, museums, and more. Five of us rented a crazy bike cart and drove it around the park for an hour, weaving between other tourists, food vendors, and couples making out on benches. The view from Villa Borghese is amazing, from one side all of Rome sprawls out before you. The picture above is from the Piazzale dei Cavalli Marini, a which centers around a fountain where four sea horses play in the water. I loved the looks on their faces. Most of the statues here are very serious or forlorn, so it was nice to stumble upon one that portrayed sheer joy.

From the park we followed along the Spanish Steps to find our way back to school for a wine tasting. Some cheese, olives, and prosciutto made for a perfect snack along with our wine, and a visit to the 100-flavor gelato shop for desert (cause after wine and snacks the only logical progression is desert). I had champagne and chocolate-coconut, a weirdly wonderful mix.

Overall today my dream Rome came true. Sun, wine, food, park, friends...I couldn't have asked for more.