a long long time ago

So it takes me FOREVER to update this thing! I usually spend at least an hour on each entry, since my internet is so slowwww. Anyways, so the ACCENT center, which is the the office that organizes the activities for us, gave us a free trip on the London Eye! This is a big deal, since they normally give us SQUAT. USC gets trips to Paris and goes to musicals, while we walk to the markets around town.

The Eye is the biggest ferris wheel in the world, and each capsule holds about 25 people. We got to in with a bunch of people from our program! Unfortunately, it was cloudy that day (last last Wednesday!) but we could still recognize lots of buildings. The group that went the day before us couldn't even see St. Paul's, so we were really lucky still.
Some of us peering out onto the ThamesDouble Deckers

Courtney and I on the way back down

See the tall building on the rightmost side? That's Centre Point, which is thisclose to my flat!

After, we had a guided walk and tour of the Museum in Docklands for our class. Our professor's name is Alaistair (Prof. Owens) and he is the CUTEST prof! My roomate created a facebook group for him... he wears pink argyle (sounds gross, but it looks good!) On the way there we also passed Borough Market, which only sells high class foods. Jamie Oliver and a bunch of other celebrities shop there too!

Canary Wharf- look at the lime green bridge!

The next day (actually around 3 AM), we left the flat for ITALIA!!! ^_^ We flew out to Rome on Thursday and spent 3 nights there. Unfortunately, it was only sunny for a bit, and we had to bring our umbrellas around. First day:

• Vittorio Emmanuel II Monument- We got to climb up this monument, which is dedicated to the unknown soldier. It has really cool views of the whole city! We asked this couple in Chinese to help us take a picture- it's the only time when Asians are nice to each other. (My theory is that Asians are so mean to one another!)
• The Roman Forum- really cool ruins... I can't believe that some of these tiles and columns are from BC!!!

• Colosseum- SO COOL! We got to take a tour, which helped us get a sense of what the place really looked like. I could totally hear Prof. Purchase (my classics prof) talking about the different animals that were showcased and all the people that came to watch and imagine Russell Crowe out in the center! The bottom of the stadium (acted as the backstage)
  
• Trevi Fountain- at night and in the POURING rain! Kind of sad... Shelley and I threw two coins into it. The first ensures that we'll return to Roma, while the second one is any wish you want!
• Il Gelato di San Crispino- apparently the best gelato in Italia. I had the apple flavor which was SO GOOD! There were little bits of apple and it totally felt like you were biting into one (except it's soft since it's icy)... anyways we had a chat with the Gelato man, who was Philipino! O_o The owner doesn't serve it in cones, since they have 'artificial ingredients'. Kind of a snooty place, if you ask me.
• Hostel peeps- I met Laura and Ben ('Bean' with an New Zealand accent), who were so cool! They were telling me about Oktober fest and all the other places they had been. Hostels are so cool since you get to hear about other people's life stories. There was this weird Asian OLD man that came in later and was freeeeaking out though.
  

Day two:

• The Vatican Museums- Oh my goodness! this was the longest line I have ever seen for anything. We went before 8:30 to wait in line, but there was a HUGE line that stretched ridiculously around... almost to St. Peter's Piazza. We got in eventually though and saw Anar, Jen, and Erin who were in Rome as well! The Vatican had lots of interessting artefacts, but not as much ast the British Museum :) We crowded into the lines and saw the Sistene Chapel, the School of Athens, and lots of other famous works of art.

The statue of Caesar that I learned about in Classics!!! :)

The map room... so LONG

Bad picture of the School of Athens... this was HUGE and crowded with people :(

Staircase exiting the Vatican... I tripped and rolled on my ankle though ._.

Since the Vatican is its own country, they have their own post office!! O_O

• St Mark's Basilica/Piazza- this was FREE! (very exciting) We got to see Michelangelo's Pietas, which was a lot smaller than I imagined. Also, Bernini's Canopy (this wooden Jewish-like wedding thing). My favorite part was hearing a CHIOR sing... it made the whole experience even more amazing. OH, the Swiss Guards, these men in funny striped suits tried to look unnerved by all the tourists.

The choir that was singing

• Wandering- this is what we did A LOT of. We wandered over to the Piazza Navona, which was rainy again, so all the artists were covered up :( We basically walked around that area to the Trevi again! I saw this cute calendar of Roman Holiday, but I was good and realized it was a tourist trap for desperate girls like moi.

The really cool wood store! They had pinocchios and this WALL of clocks!The fountain at a more lovely time... this is my FAVORITE part of Roma!

• Pantheon- AMAZING!!!! What was so cool was that I watched a show on the telly the night before we left for Rome about this place and the Colosseum. It's weird how all of these ancient ruins are right near modern hotels and cafes. Prof. Purchase would have been soooo proud of me! ^_^ We had a free tour of it (I had found it online the night before), and got to see Raphael's tomb and the Oculus!! There was water inside, since it had been raining before :)
• Gastronomia- we had gelato (again), which is cool since you can always pick two flavors and mix them. also, bruschetta and some other calzone-like thing :9

Day three:

• The Spanish Steps- There had just been a film festival here, so everything was all under construction. The obelisk right in front of the main building was in scaffolding, so we couldn't take our Roman Holiday pictures :( Right around this area is the Rodeo Dr. of Rome! I waited in line to get into this fancy menswear store... they let only 5 people in the store at a time! O_O
• Wandering- We saw the Boca de Veritas (the mouth of truth), which is supposed to bite your hand if you are a liar! We also got better views of the Roman Forum, and saw the Piazza Navona not rainy! We ate lunch at the Trasevere area, which is less touristy and on the other side of the Tiber. BTW, the Tiber is SO GROSS. It's like a swamp! We ended the night eating at another Piazza and having cappucinos! :9 It's so nice because there's ALWAYS live music (accordions, jazz players)!

So that concludes ROMA!!!

Sorry about the lack of pictures, Blogger is horrible about these things. I'm currently in the computer lab, since I thought the internet speedwas the problem, but nope! It's blogger >:l Pictures from the rest of the London skyline and the rest of my Italia/South of France holiday coming SOON! :)