l'inizio della fine (ROME 13)

Can this be? I will only have two blog posts left after this current recap of my weekend! I cannot believe it. My title of this post is the translated phrase of "the beginning of the end." Since I only have such little time left here, I thought that was appropriate! 

This past weekend, was an interesting, funny and typical one. Although, I haven’t had a mishap with traveling so far, this weekend definitely proved that you can’t go through abroad untouched.

Me and Sam decided to do a trip just us this weekend, since everyone else in Rome was traveling far places or staying here for one of their last weekends. We picked Lake Como, based on the fact that we could stay in Italy. Lake Como is a town north of Milan, which borders Switzerland. It is a common weekend destination for Italians, most similar to the Hamptons for New Yorkers. We got on the train in the morning and finally got to Como in the early afternoon. We got into the train station, and found a cab to our hostel. Our “hostel” was not much of a hostel to say the least. A older Italian women, who spoke zero English, greeted us at the cab. She brought us into her (pretty sure home) and showed us our room. It was very quaint and cute looking over the lake!

Our goal for the weekend was to go to three major towns on the lake. Bellagio being the prettiest, we wanted to get their as soon as possible. Although, one thing everyone should know is that the lake is not a round circle. I would consider it more of a river. We were told to get the bus to the ferry to bring us to Bellagio. After wandering the high way for about a half hour (almost considering hitch hiking), we gave up in finding the bus stop. We found a villa hotel, and asked them to call us a cab. The cab though, would take thirty minutes to get to us, due to our location. We officially realized our rooming accommodations were in the middle of NO WHERE! Although we could see the lake, they were definitely not ideal. We decided to get our stuff from our room, and take a cab to “Como.”  This is the main town, although not the most famous. We spent the rest of the day there and admired the beauty. We decided to go home that night instead, since staying was not practical.

One tiny problem, when we got to the train station, the train to Rome was SOLD OUT. What were the chances? In utter frustration to get back to Rome, we got on the train despite not having a ticket. After having the train fill up, we got on to find open seats. The only open seats that we found were in first class, so we sat there. The best part of this whole day is our nonexistent tickets were not checked, and we got back to Rome safe and sound for FREE! New tip for the jap guide: when it doubt, always just get on tren italia! 

Saturday I woke up and admired the 80 degree weather outside. I decided to go for a jog in one of my favorite parks, and then I had tickets to a soccer game! Soccer is a huge sport in Italy, and Rome fans take the game VERY seriously. We were sitting in the south side goal, which is designated as the Rome fan section. There were people leading cheers, and every time a goal happened, fireworks were set off in the stadium. Me and my friend Jenna loved the game, and it was such an experience. I could not be happier that we got to go!

My favorite part about Rome is a neighborhood called Trastevere. It has the best food, and the best piazzas. When it is nice out, there are so many people out and about, walking around with their families. On Sunday me and Sam went for brunch here, and sat outside and then walked to get smoothies along the river. I finally caught up on some homework, and then met back up with Sam and her roommate Raquel for dinner in Piazza Navona. Her sister was visiting, so we all wanted to get together! We ate at a new restaurant, (trying to go to as many before I have to go) where the original tartufo was created. It was so delicious!

We are off from school tomorrow due to May Day, which is the Europe equivalent of Labor Day. Everything will be closed, so if it is nice, I plan on going to the beach about a half hour from Rome!

Tonight Julie and Hannah are back in Rome for one last night before they go back to the United States. We have to celebrate with a delicious meal and then a fun club or bar night, and I am very excited to hear about their past week in Portugal.

The week should go by fast with one less day of school, and my upcoming trip to Milan/Cinque Terre. The next time I get on a plane after this, I will be on my way to New York! It doesn’t even seem real.

I want to also do a special shout out to other five member,Jenna, to completing a 5K this weekend in Boston!!!! I wish I was there to see her run, but I will be celebrating her 21 birthday in just a couple of weeks in the city, and I cannot wait!

Before I know it, all five of us will be reuniting in no time. I am making Ellen (our token California girl) come to the east coast before school in the fall! It would be impossible to not see her before then!

Here is to the final two weeks abroad! I will be writing again soon!

Ali