Oh what to say about the land of Lizzie McGuire.
Since I first saw the movie on May 2, 2003, (yes, I remember the exact day and yes I have a quiet celebration every year on the anniversary. It was/is that important to me) I had high expectations of Rome, the eternal city. I did not read the travel guide.
I had envisioned something like this:
And all around looking like I own the place.
Now I will compare and contrast.
Bugs in my bed at the hotel by the Stansted airport (also going to bed at 2 am and waking up at 5 for our flight)
(Plus side- my roommate that first night is now my homegirl hot diggity.)
Our flight to Rome was on Ryanair- offically the worst airline in the world.
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Exhibit C
I could finish the whole alphabet if I had the time.
Me personally, I had to pay £60 to check my carryon bag because it was "too big". They singled us out in the line to get onto the plane and had me try to fit my bag in the already small measurer. It didn't fit, and I had no time to adjust my things any further before the flight was going to take off. I had spent all summer thinking about packing light for this two week trip, and I was upset when I essentially failed and had to pay. Turns out Ryanair could be the devil's airline, so I 'm over it.
The first ever denim club- makin' friends.
I saw plenty of obelisks. Those conquerers!
Stepping on the Spanish Steps. (which were kind of average, I must admit)
THE TREVI!
This restaurant was my first real meal since Friday morning and it (the water especially. Did I mention it was around 70-95% humidity the whole time we were there? and I've never been in that kind of humidity ever? and we were walking probably 20,000 steps a day? Thus spawned our official hashtag #cardiowithheather) was delicious.
I ordered an apparently legitimate seafood risotto. Look at his little claws!
A girl from back home was starting her mission (As in first ward, first week) in the ward we visited- so that was crazy and good!
On Sunday we saw four stellar churches. Stellar.
We saw the Pantheon on the third try on Monday night, but Sunday was the 2nd attempt.
Rome had a serious advertising campaign for this place.
THE SCHOOL OF ATHENS ! !
Here I am in our second hotel (after miscommunication) that ended up with a sweet view. We spent all of our extra time (which was little) eating gelato and talking on the balcony.
Look! A bit of a tan forming! Miracles.
Finally inside the Pantheon. So unreal!
The last night in Rome we took a walk, saw the most gorgeous sunset, and some famous buildings.
A few of us (including our English professor) took a visit to the cemetery where Keats is buried- it was probably the prettiest cemetery I've ever seen.
and then we ran back to meet our group at the apartments, I grabbed a delicious pizza sandwich, it dripped down both sides of my shirt (I still need stain remover) and we landed on a coach that would take us to FLORENCE!
So, thus ends the Rome saga. Glad to see the place, glad to never see it again any time soon.
Love,
MM
P.S. I may appear in some of this footage. The girls in my group are the most amazing for compiling and creating these videos! Love 'em.
Since I first saw the movie on May 2, 2003, (yes, I remember the exact day and yes I have a quiet celebration every year on the anniversary. It was/is that important to me) I had high expectations of Rome, the eternal city. I did not read the travel guide.
I had envisioned something like this:
 |
| posin with my boi |
 |
| Meeting a look-a-like and fulfilling performance dreams in front of the Italian masses |
 |
| botched photoshop job but look at that Vespa |
And all around looking like I own the place.
Now I will compare and contrast.
Bugs in my bed at the hotel by the Stansted airport (also going to bed at 2 am and waking up at 5 for our flight)
(Plus side- my roommate that first night is now my homegirl hot diggity.)
Saturday
Our flight to Rome was on Ryanair- offically the worst airline in the world.
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Exhibit C
I could finish the whole alphabet if I had the time.
Me personally, I had to pay £60 to check my carryon bag because it was "too big". They singled us out in the line to get onto the plane and had me try to fit my bag in the already small measurer. It didn't fit, and I had no time to adjust my things any further before the flight was going to take off. I had spent all summer thinking about packing light for this two week trip, and I was upset when I essentially failed and had to pay. Turns out Ryanair could be the devil's airline, so I 'm over it.
The first ever denim club- makin' friends.
Stepping on the Spanish Steps. (which were kind of average, I must admit)
See this gelato? This gelato caused a group of 14 of us to be lost in the streets of Rome at night for an hour or more, including being followed by three creepers. All of this happened on the same, long, sweaty, amazing day.
Sunday
This restaurant was my first real meal since Friday morning and it (the water especially. Did I mention it was around 70-95% humidity the whole time we were there? and I've never been in that kind of humidity ever? and we were walking probably 20,000 steps a day? Thus spawned our official hashtag #cardiowithheather) was delicious.
A girl from back home was starting her mission (As in first ward, first week) in the ward we visited- so that was crazy and good!
On Sunday we saw four stellar churches. Stellar.
We saw the Pantheon on the third try on Monday night, but Sunday was the 2nd attempt.
Rome had a serious advertising campaign for this place.
Monday
aka "The Vatican is___" (fill in awe and/or complaint)
With some lovely ladies in the ridiculous and mesmerizing St. Peter's Basilica.
Sweaty, tired, hot, infamous building in background selfie.
THE SCHOOL OF ATHENS ! !
 |
| crowded with tourists and hot but what wait hold on.. see the iPad to my left? See the mathematicians painted by Raphael? Also working on an iPad. Okay I am dying. This is hilarious. And there are two fellow tourist bowing their heads behind me. Can you tell I just finished my first art history class? Here I am dissecting everything. |
 |
| Never ending LINES. |
Look! A bit of a tan forming! Miracles.
The last night in Rome we took a walk, saw the most gorgeous sunset, and some famous buildings.
 |
| Single Ladies Metro life |
Tuesday
A visit to the Galleria Borghese
(Look up the sculptor Bernini. Love him.)
 |
| I miss my Jack. |
A few of us (including our English professor) took a visit to the cemetery where Keats is buried- it was probably the prettiest cemetery I've ever seen.
and then we ran back to meet our group at the apartments, I grabbed a delicious pizza sandwich, it dripped down both sides of my shirt (I still need stain remover) and we landed on a coach that would take us to FLORENCE!
So, thus ends the Rome saga. Glad to see the place, glad to never see it again any time soon.
Love,
MM
P.S. I may appear in some of this footage. The girls in my group are the most amazing for compiling and creating these videos! Love 'em.
