Weekend without Nicole

Nicole went out of town this weekend so I had the place all to myself. It was amazing. It’s not that I cant do what I want when she’s home it’s just that it’s nice to be by yourself when you have been cramped up in the same room with someone for so long. I always underestimated space back home, mostly because I was so used to sharing my personal space with someone, be it my sister or my grandma or my best friend. But now it is more obvious than ever that I need space, at least I do if you aren’t one of those aforementioned people. Here’s how the weekend went.

Friday night (2/22) I was asked to baby sit the program director’s daughter, Giulia. We had so much fun. It was the first time I was able to watch American TV shows in ENGLISH! It was amazing. And I got to use the internet until 2 in the morning. I haven’t been able to do that since I’ve been here. It was perfect. I talked to all my best friends online and loved every minute of it. I was so exhausted by the time that Tina got home that I just stayed the night. And she made me breakfast the next morning. It was so nice. A night of internet, free food, and I even made 20 Euro. Nice.

Saturday (2/23) wasn’t much different than most nights. I stayed at home after leaving Tina’s and just chilled. I did a little cleaning but mostly relaxed.

Sunday (2/24) was my last day to myself. I wanted to make the most of it so I set off toward the center and did everything I talked about getting around to.


The first thing I did was head to the wedding cake (formally known as Il Complesso Vitoriano), google it. Underneath the monument is a small area that they use for exhibits. The exhibit going on right now, it ended today actually, is the Images of Europe. It was really interesting. There were pictures from all over Europe that showed things that were going on at different points in time.


I took this picture of one of the pictures which would never fly back home. there was absolutely no security in this joint. Anyway, this is a picture of the David and Goliath by I want to say Michelangelo but I could be wrong. I really liked this picture because of the use of shadows and light. It is a true black and white picture.

When I was finished with the exhibit I headed upstairs to look at the museum up there. There were a lot of old war memorabilia. And there was also a lot of pieces in glass cases that belonged to old presidents and kings, things like guns and helmets and portraits. Seemed slightly creepy.


This was the view from the top of the complesso. You can see the coliseum just down the street, in the upper right corner. Che bello.


This was the Caribinieri car that sits out front of the wedding cake everyday, just in case. I thought it was super badass.


This is the Wedding Cake. It looks a hot mess because they are doing construction out front for a new metro line and also because they are doing restorations on the top-middle of the complex. But if you imagine those things gone or look it up online you will see the true splendor of the building. I highly recommend you all looking this building up to get the full background. It is a beautiful story with quite an interesting concept behind it.

After I left, I went to Feltrinelli for a little big just to see what deals they had on movies. I decided to buy La Vita È Bella. Love that movie.


Then I headed to the Castel Sant’Angelo. This too has a very interesting story, forgive me if I have already told it. I sometimes get things out of order but I think that the idea behind it was to be the “safe room” for the Pope if ever the city were sacked. There is a wall that leads from the Pope’s apartment to the castle. And the Pope actually had to flee here once when the city was sacked in the 1800s. Then, it was turned into the resting place for Hadrian’s tomb. It was then turned into a prison and then became a museum, which it still is today.


This is the walkway leading up to the top.


They still had the original catapults that were used to protect the castle.


This is the view from the top of the castle and you can see St. Peter’s in the distance. It is the big dome.

When I left the castle I went to St. Peter’s for mass. It was fun, despite the fact that the holy man wasn’t there. I went with Alyssa, Nicole (not my roommate), Natalie and Natalie’s mom and aunt. I ran into them between the wedding cake and feltrinelli. They said they were going to mass and I thought I would join. After that I headed home and took a picture walking between the lanes of traffic to remember what its like crossing the street after getting off the bus. Never want to forget it.