Adventures in Roming

Just some short accounts of the two other trips I've made to Rome so far, and our trip to Lake Albano:

Not much to say about Lake Albano, except that for some reason it's a lot cooler to say you're swimming in a lake in Italy, than just going to any old lake in the states. It was pretty cool and refreshing, because it took us forever to walk uphill in the sun to the town of Albano. Way up on the hill above the lake is Castel Gandolfo. Who knows, the Pope could have been watching us swim! Now to get out into the lake, you have to trod your way through shin-deep mud. There was lots of screaming on the way into the water, but once the water came up to your neck, the lake bottom was solid, and the water was surprisingly clear! It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed the blue skies and green hills. Then we padded across the black sand up to a little shop selling water bottles and gelato. The walk back to campus was much shorter since we now knew our way, and the only excitement was when someone saw a piece of bungee cord on the side of the road and thought it was a snake. Again, lots of screaming.

Sunday was the last day before classes started, so my roommate Jamie and I decided to travel to Rome. We waited at the bus stop with many other Romers and wished we had remembered to bring the bus schedule with us. Some students got bored and went to the bar across the street. A few minutes after they left, the bus pulled up. The bargoers were left behind. After a hot and sweaty ride, we reached the Metro. Jamie and I intended to go all the way to the Spanish Steps, so we got on the A line of the subway and settled in for the ride. We had gotten as far as San Giovanni when the lights on the car began to flicker. Suddenly everyone in every car got up and off the train and headed for the "uscita." Thinking we had better follow the crowd and hope these Italians knew what they were doing, we also headed for the exit. At the top of the stairs were some very angry Italians, and lines of buses. Weighing our options, we decided to stay where we were and visit San Giovanni en Laterano, a beautiful looking church we had passed on our way into Rome a few days before. The statues on the roof were enough to lure one close to the magnificent building. We crossed the threshold and I gasped at the beautiful statues of each of the apostles. Peter with the keys to heaven, and all the rest with various symbols of their lives and deaths. The church was adorned with scores of angels and cherubs, the most beautiful fixed on the ceilings above side altars. Then we went across the street to the Church of Scala Santa. Here the Emperor Constantine's mother brought the steps from Pontius Pilate's residence that Jesus walked upon. Pilgrims can only go up the stairs on their knees. At the top is the Pope's private chapel. We didn't climb the steps because we were tired and Jamie wasn't feeling well, but before we returned to the subway we visited the large statue of St. Francis which points to the Church of St. John Lateran. The subway wasn't working North of San Giovanni, but luckily there was no problem heading South to our stop. A little unexpected hitch in our trip turned out to be a very pleasant alternative.

Today we finally made it to the Spanish steps, and they were very impressive. Beautiful and stretching on up a hill, they are filled with people in the evening. Men and women of all ages, but I mostly noticed young people watching the tourists and shoppers alike. The church at the top was busy with mass but we were able to go in the back and see a few statues in the shadows created by the sunset. For the rest of the evening we wandered the streets, getting lost in the art and ancient twists and turns of the city. At dusk we found ourselves at the Tomb of Augustus, across the street from a large, modern looking cafe called Gusto. Andrew, who had the best knowledge of Italian, talked to the host and got us a table inside. We all had a pizza (yes, they serve each person a whole pizza). I don't remember the name of mine, but it was delicious. Black olives, artichokes, and my new favorite cheese, peccorino. Then we headed to the nearest Metro station, crossing the Piazza de Popolo, filled with sphinxes and obelisks, saxophone players and men handing out roses, and saints and churches. Then the subway and the bus, then a starry walk to the campus gates, and relief at the lights of home