Vatican City WHAT UP

So I'm currently "stuck" in Brussels--I still love being here, but I was mentally prepared to get back in Jersey this time yesterday, but c'est la vie! At least I'm lucky enough to have a home to come back to until tomorrow when I try again to see if I can get back into the States before Christmas, but I'm skeptical because the snowstorm is coming. Le sigh! I did feel really grown up dealing with all these flight troubles/rescheduling myself though. ...Not sure if I liked that feeling though haha

So meanwhile as I wait, I might as well write about my time in Italy. It was wonderful! The thing I loved most about Italy is the language. It's so animated and excited and sensual the way the words roll off the tongue. Although I do have this fond love for French too--it was so nice coming back to Brussels and hearing it everywhere again.

Donc, before we left, Laura and I set goals that we had to complete in Italy:
1. Drink coffee
2. Eat gelato
3. Eat tiramisu (for Kristie) and cannoli (for Laura)
4. Have pasta
5. Have pizza
6. Try grappa

Do you notice how they all involve eating? hahaha

So on Friday after wandering the streets and highlights of Brussels with David until 1:30 am, I was reluctant to fall asleep since I knew I had to get up just 2 hours later to leave for the airport at 4 am for our flight to Rome. But I did anyway and was super groggy as we landed and headed off to see the Vatican City right after we dropped off our suitcases. And as we got our first cappucino in Italy (goal one--complete!) outside the Sistine Chapel (!! How cool does that sound?), Laura suddenly sat up straighter and asked, "ISN'T THAT EDDIE OVER THERE?!" Turns out one of our classmates from VeCo (my school in Brussels) was in Rome with his sister and his friends too! And we bumped into them in the Vatican City! It was such a crazy coincidence.

So we went to the Vatican City museum and Sistine Chapel together with our tour guide who may or may not have been making up facts to feed to us hahah There were so many things to look at--I'm really glad we had a tour guide because otherwise we would've had no idea what we were looking at.

Dome of the Sistine Chapel seen from the Vatican Museum

Hallways and hallways of art

Pretty ceiling! Not the one in the Sistine though--we weren't allowed to take pictures in there, but it was beautiful. Kudos to Michelangelo!

It was strange to think that we were in a different country (but not a member of the UN--thank you, Professor Koopsy)!

Then we headed over to St. Peter's Basilica, which is the largest Christian Church in the world (thank you, Florence guide book).

There was a huge line outside to get in!

Beautiful!

Friends in the square of St. Peter's :)

Then we hopped over to Piazza Poppoli and the Villa Borgheuse and Boboli Gardens, and they had a Christmas tree! It's the prettiest piazza in Rome.

I love the word "piazza!"

Then we ended the night at the Fountain of Trevi. It is STUNNING and HUGE.

Tradition says that if you throw a coin in it over your shoulder with your back to it, you'll return. Laura and I threw a coin in with an underhand toss while facing it... and making a wish. Whoops. Just updating a tradition, that's all :p

By that point, we were pooped so Laura and I said goodbye to Eddie and headed for the hotel. I still cant believe that we bumped into a fellow VeCo student! It's too bad we didn't spend more time with them. Eddie's a genuine sweetheart, and super charming too.