When In Roma: Day 25-Roma!-Monday-2/21/11

Woke up this morning at 9am and showered and got ready for school. I was finally able to talk to my best friend Jen after it's been what seems like ages! She said it's the blizzard of the century at home, no good! I heard about 18inches? Not sure if that's right or not, I got the email that night classes were cancelled which rarely happens at MSU. Stay safe everyone and please don't drive unless you own some awesome truck that can get you through anything! I walked to school all on my own again and this time I didn't even get lost, it was awesome :) I feel like a real city girl! Class was pretty typical and we learned that it wasn't until 1861 that Italy final became unified. We also learned that States are legally recognized by others, defined by the outside and Nations are self conscious, defined by the inside. Pretty interesting. Our teacher also told us that the United Nations should technically be called the United States, but the name was already taken. Interesting… After class Molly, Matt, Brian, and I went to the perfect bun for lunch. We got Nachos as an app :) I was so happy to have guacamole again, but I must say, it was nothing compared to the guacamole batch my mom and I made the night before I left, that was absolutely amazing! For my meal I had a bacon cheeseburger and fries! Never thought I would say I missed french fries, but the whole meal hit the spot :) I'm going to try not to eat there for awhile though because I need to embrace the Italian culture, I just need to start ordering things other than pizza and pasta. After lunch we went back to the school and Molly, Jodine, Clara, Liz, Emily, and I booked our trip for the first weekend in March to Cinque Terre. It's a five city hike along the coast of Italy! I am soo excited!! Becky said it was gorgeous and one of her best travel memories!! I hope it's good weather! Keep your fingers crossed! By the time we finally figured all that out it was 5pm and time for my other class. We learned about the Pantheon today. The diameter is 43.33 meters and the height and width are exactly the same. Inside is what they believed could hold the perfect dimension of a sphere. The thickness of the wall is 12 feet. It is technically the 3rd Pantheon because the first was destroyed by a fire and the second destroyed by lightning. The hole at the top of the Pantheon is 27ft wide. Our teacher said we have to go in sometime when it rains because even though the hole is never covered the Pantheon doesn't flood. Why, you ask? It is because of air pressure. The warm air rises and builds a barrier while the rain falls it comes in through the hole, turns to mist, and back to tiny droplets by the time it hits the floor. There are a few drains in the center of the Pantheon, just enough to drain the little bit of rain that actually comes in. I hope I get to see this happen while I'm hear, it sounds absolutely fascinating! Also the receding coffers which are the square shapes on the inside ceiling of the dome make the Pantheon a perfect place for concerts because there is no annoying reverberating echo inside. Also the famous painter Raphael is buried inside the Pantheon along with an Italian Royal Family. After learning all about the Pantheon our teacher let us go pointing us in the direction of what she heard is to be one of the best gelato places. Yes, we went there, Me, Emily, and Zach. Lol, we couldn't resist. I got Oreo, Baileys, and Coffee. It was really good :) After that I went home with Emily and Liz because they live next to the Vatican and I haven't seen that or their place yet. The Vatican is breath taking and I only saw it from the outside at night. I will post pics below. Their apartment was cute, but small. I think I like mine better, even if it is a long way away. But, it would be nice to live next to the Pope :)