Frenzy Getting to Firenze

These stories and adventures are coming from the next leg of my five weeks. Friday, June 24, I made the treck to Florence, or Firenze from Roma.

It was definitely an adventure getting to Florence. I took a train which wasn't too bad at all. But, let's just say that those trains are more ideal for those traveling with a backpack, as opposed to the giant suitcase that I had with all of my belongings from the past month.

The train ride went by super fast! I sat in my booth, if you will, with two Aussies that were traveling throughout Europe. They definitely had the backpacking situation down to an art. It was not uncommon to run into these fellow Aussie folks throughout our travels. Apparently it is really cheap for them to travel in Europe! Anyways, back to it! I napped for a little bit, only because we spent a majority of the trip chatting.

Once we got into Florence I was nervous, excited, and so tired all at the same time! It was the beginning of the next part of my trip and I was ready to see what it was going to involve.

Pretty sure that I have never felt so lost or confused than I did the moment I walked out of that train station. I thought I had things all planned out, but no. At that point, I just figured it would be best to get myself a taxi and call it good. Well, that was a whole adventure in itself!

The cab took me through all these winding streets and he explained to me that the law had just been changed so that 30+ streets were now pedestrian only, so he had to change his route. I came to find out later that was only partly true. Andrea, the hotel manager informed me of this. Anyways, we wound our way to the small street of cobblestones. He stopped at the end of the block unloaded my suitcase and pointed me to where I needed to go. I wheeled my way down the street. For the future, once again, cobblestones are not very conducive to wheels on a large suitcase.

I soon found the address to my hotel. Buzzed in, and the door opened. Only to find a flight of stairs. That was the last thing that I had wanted to see! Please believe me! I figured it would only be one flight up to the hotel because the directions said it started was on the second floor. Well, in Italy, the floors start at 0, then 1, then 2. So, it was indeed on the second floor, just the third level.

The elevator, which barely fit me and my suitcase was at the top of the first flight of stairs. That helped some. Once I finally made it, they were very helpful and Andrea was so great about get me all checked in. I read online that the hotel had great views of the Duomo. So when I got sort of settled in my room, I opened my window to yes, a brick wall. Not what I was expecting but it certainly made me get out and do some more things.

When I was checking in Andrea informed me of the events of the weekend. It was the celebration of St. John the Baptist. I will definitely be going back to Italy for this in the future! It was such a great experience to be a part of.

It's time for me to get some sleep so I will hopefully get some writing time in again soon! Enjoy the hotel pictures!

This was my cute little room! 

View into the bathroom and the armoire! 

This key was the greatest invention! In order for the lights to work the key had to be in the wall! And you never forgot your key, or shutting of the lights because when it got pulled out, off the lights went! 

See that lovely little word "secondo"...so deceiving! 

Those were the stairs that were almost to the elevator. Not quite a full flight shown here, those ones are behind me! The elevator is to the right in the picture and its definitely not much wider than that! 

The Ending of One Adventure and the Beginning of a New One!

Wow it sure has been a while since I have written on here! I promised myself though that I would finish up the blog for the memories! Also for those of you who didn't know, my last week or so I was without my computer because the charger ended up breaking. Then I came home and time got away from me! Here we are in September already! Crazy! Anyways! Here we go!

So, take yourself back a couple of months to Italy! Please believe me, I do this pretty much on a daily basis! I will get to that later though! Thursday, June 26, was somewhat of a bittersweet day for all of us girls! It was, for most of them, their last day in Italy. It was our last official day of class, and we knew that goodbyes for now were on the horizon. I spent the day in class, giving a presentation and taking a final.

After class was over it was time to get the best of Rome. Michelle, Kate and I went out to do some shopping! We had a blast exploring a part of Rome we hadn't been to yet. Or at least explored in much depth. It was was in the shopping district and we did some good shopping! I even came across a Carhart store! Who knew? That was a good little bit of home to see!

Dad had suggested that while I was in Italy, I might as well check out the Beretta factory. Or anything I could find! Doing my part as the good Montana daughter! He had sent me an address for a location of a Beretta "factory"! So on our way walking back after getting gelato, to cool us down from the heat! We set out on this adventure. Just another typical Marinna/Kate adventure!

We stood on the corner and looked at a map to get our barrings and headed down the street. I got directions off of the internet that lead us down quite the path. We stopped to ask some locals if we were going in the right direction. They pointed us back on the right road and we were off following the internet directions again.

Soon I began to realize where I was. No, this wasn't just a "I've been here" sort of feeling. It was a, "I come past here all the time" feeling. Not to mention the thought that was running through my head over and over. How could I have missed the Beretta factory walking past here all the time? Well pretty soon we were at the address, and let me tell you! The outside of the building did not look like a factory.

At this point, I was somewhat confused as to what adventure dad had sent me on. There were two gentlemen standing in front of the building so I asked them if they knew anything about the Beretta factory that was at this said location. Once we got past a small language barrier and the men understood what I was looking for, I found out that there was no Beretta store or factory at this address. It was their offices. The main store is in Milan if I remember correctly. This just means that Dad and I will have to make a trip back together in order to see the factory! (That's a good hint dad!!!)

Kate, Michelle and I took off heading back to the apartment to start the project of packing. What a task! It was definitely a very bittersweet thing to have to do. The reality was that all of us were leaving tomorrow. Some roads taking a few home, others onward throughout Europe. And me to Florence.

Once we were all packed we decided we needed to do one last roommate dinner. We all got dressed up for the night and headed down to the river again. We found a cute little Italian spot where Michelle and Kate had eaten one night before. The gnocchi was the best in all of Italy. Or at least that's what we decided at dinner! It was delicious! I had some ravioli that was amazing as well!

After dinner we headed to Scholars for a few drinks. It wouldn't have been a true last night with out going to Scholars. But before we got there we crossed the river and went through the island instead of going across a bridge. The pictures will show more and it will make more sense. We ended up going through the Jewish district. It was fun to have Gabby with us who is Jewish. She was bummed we didn't find it sooner though!

We spent some time at Scholars. Soon we met these British men that were in town for a soccer tournament. They wanted a tour of Rome, and all of us girls wanted to go back to the Trevi fountain one last time at night! The guys came with us to the fountain! They were hilarious!! The photos of this too describe how our night went!

Enjoy the pictures! I will post more soon so keep checking back!

Chelsey, Gabby, Kate, Maura, me, Ally at our roommate dinner! 

Our view walking to dinner! 

Ally and I at dinner! 

Snap shot while we were waiting for our food! 

Everyone at dinner!

This stuff goes away too fast! 

View up the river! 

This was at the market/carnival on the river! 

New favorite saying! 

Walking over the island! 

The crazy Brits with us at the Trevi! 

Roommates!! 

The Papal Audience

This morning came early after going out last night for a while! But definitely well worth our adventure! We left our apartment at 7:15, went downstairs and got a quick cappuccino and a muffin before we headed out to the tram. Got Tram 8 to Largo Argentina and hopped the 40 Bus to Piazza San Pietro to watch the Papal Audience.

The Pope does a blessing every Sunday over the square, and speaks every Wednesday to people. He only does this when he is in town, obviously! When we made it to the square we were about the 30 people back waiting in line! Soon more and more people would come and join the long line.

There were brides and grooms dressed up at the front of the line waiting to get in. Supposedly for newly wed couples if they wear their gowns/tuxes again they get special seating at the audience and a blessing during the ceremony! Good excuse to wear a dress again I would say! Anyways enough about that...we finally got to go in about 8:30. They did a quick security check and we were off. People were running to get good seats. We had been told by friends who went last week to watch about where good places to sit were. Right at the edge of any aisle. To be honest I had no idea what we were going to get ourselves into by sitting there. What a treat it was! The pictures sure do tell all!

We sat and waited until about 10:45 in the heat when the Pope finally made it to the square! It really was exciting! So many people were cheering as he came across the square in his Pope-mobile! Because the weather was so nice today the car was open like a convertible and he was standing waving at people. He came right in front of where we were standing not only once but twice before making his way up to the alter. I am not sure that it is still called an alter when it is outside. You will see in pictures what I mean!

He opened with a prayer and then went into a reading. All of them were said in a multitude of languages! It was very cool to see. Then the ceremony went into a blessing over the people and any artifacts they brought! I will post pictures of those as well. We missed hearing this part though because Michelle, Kate's friend who came along with us was not feeling well sitting in the heat for that long, so we were getting water out of the fountains and sitting in some shade. Not to be worried though, the rosaries did get blessed! After that, in all of the different languages again, the Cardinals read and gave introductions to all of the groups that were there. Ironically the group sitting next to us was from Billings! What a small world!

Soon the ceremony was over and we hustled back to Trastevere to get some food in us and get out of the shade! It was back for naps, and then dinner! What a great day!

Blessings to you all back home!

Making our way to the line.

Swiss Guards!

View from our seats! 

Bored waiting so lets take pictures of the Rosaries! 

He must be coming...

Around the corner....

Right in front of us...

There he goes...

And back around one more time! So cool! 

So good to see you! 

Up to the alter and driving the Pope Mobile down the steps! 

Afterwards! 

Bliss!! 

Getting My Tickets At the Vatican To See Pope Ben

So yesterday after class, Michelle, Kate's friend who is visiting, and I went on an adventure to get tickets to go see the Pope for today's Papal Audience. We ended up getting on the wrong bus and going to the outskirts of Roma more or less! There will be a picture!

We worked our way back to the Vatican City and finally found what we needed! Walking into the square and standing in a short line and going through security we finally got inside to get the tickets. They are only available at the Bronze doors from those lovely Swiss guards!

Got my tickets and we headed back to Trastevere. Then made some dinner and headed out on the picture adventure that sort of failed!

Check 'em out!!

On my way to get tickets!! 

Only one person from each party is allowed at a time up to the Bronze doors!

Waiting my turn! 

Love standing there waiting my turn! 

Oh those Swiss Guards just get ya every time! 

He's getting my tickets now! 

Official ticket holder! 

Holy water fountain! 

Yes, I did drink the Holy Water! 

Doors of the Jubliee...they only open every 100  years I think it is, but the next time is 2025. If you walk through them when they are opened all sins are forgiven! Guess I better start saving now for my next trip back! Hope it will be before then though! 

Some neat lighting in the Basilica

Walking up for the evening prayer service. 

Inside the treasury. Every time we go to the Basilica we find something new! 

Hope some of you got your postcards from here! 

Thanks for sending these Mom! Did my last loads of laundry with these since we ran  out of soap just the other day! 

Inside the Ducati Cafe! 

Tickets!