I'm In Rome!!!!

HellO All!

I am thrilled to say I have been running around Rome the past two days, though with all that we have done it feels like I have been here for Weeks!

The flight here was as fun as a flight can be I suppose! The flight to Newark was very uneventful, I sat by a very cute older couple and slept some. After the flight though I found about 9 or so kids who are in API and going to Florence. They are all so sweet and very fun, I am thrilled I met them so early in the trip. We flew from there to Rome, and lemme tell you, International flights are AWESOME. I watched Mad Money and the King and I and slept for two hours and before I knew it was there!!

We spent an hour and a half trying to get through immigration. No lines in Italy, only mosh pits, thats what took so long! Three times the Italians got tired of waiting and someone started a slow clap and soon everyone was clapping and cheering- I supose they were trying to cheer on the immigration officers to get them to hurry up! Whatever it was for it sure made me smile!

API picked us up and we went to our Hotel, which is VERY nice. We looked it up on line and its about 200 EURO a night...so we are stylin for sure! Its RIGHT behind the Pantheon (which we saw today) and only a few minutes from the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain (both of which we also saw today). Its a lot like G.Rolley for all of you who know that building. There is a lot of back tracking trying to find your room because the numbers bounce around and there is a suprising amount of stairs! I LOVE ITALY!

Here are some of my Inital Thoughts of the country:
1. Everyone here drives a Fiat...or similar sized car
2. Flats were a good call, everyone wears them here!
3. Everyone smokes, but its ok because everything is outdoors so its not so bad
4. I love this country!!!
5. I love Sangria (Emma, Lee, Anna and I found a little tratatorria and had a glass the first night we got here)
6. Everyone also wears this pashmina scarfs, VERY cute!!
7. Roma smells really good, kinda musty sweet, like flowers but something else, Its hard to describe...but its good!

Today we took a walking tour of the city today and when I get the chance I will upload some of the pics on to this slide show up there! Here are some of the highlights:
1. Pantheon- Huge Beautiful- HOW do they build these things!?!?!
2. Piazza Navona- Probably my favorite piazza, it is so gorgeous
3. The Spanish Steps- This is where Audrey Hepburn eats gelato!!
4. the Trevi Fountain- I LOVE THIS FOUNTAIN, favorite of the day!
Then we took a bus tour to:
1. The Colosseum- it IS as cool as it looks, I took video and I will show it to anyone who wants!
2. The Arch of Titus- very cool
3. More of Rome- to much to remember!

I have been able to use some Italian already, and while I am nowhere near fluent yet people respond well to my efforts and help me along. Did I mention I loved this country?

Ok, thats about it for tonight, but thanks for your prayers. I am having a GREAT time. I feel very safe, very at home, and very very happy. So thanks for reading up on me! Keep checkin back and I'll keep you updated on how its goin!! I love you all so much!!!


Arrivederci!
Mary K.