meeting up with the group

I packed my stuff up and left the hostel at about 8 a.m. I walked to the tabacchi and bought my bus ticket to the Vatican, which is just on the other side of town. I could’ve easily walked but my bag is heavier than I am. So I’m waiting at the bus stop, looking for the number 64 and a man walks up to me. He asked me if I was waiting for the bus, and obviously I was since I was at the bus stop with my ticket in hand. He continues to tell me that the bus drivers are on strike and its very good that he ran into me or I would be waiting there all day. He grabbed my wrist and started dragging me down towards piazza republica where a bunch of vans were parked, rambling on about the strike in rome and not to worry because he has saved me the waiting time and will now drive me wherever I want to go. I was wondering what exactly this guy was getting out of this and started to ask how much this service cost. He avoided the question and that’s when I turned around and started walking back to the station. He was chasing after me telling me I was making a big mistake and grabbing at me. I used some bad words and I think I scared him off with my gestures. Immediately after, I hopped on the next bus, which was the 64. The buses weren’t on strike after all. I took the bus all the way to the end of the line and made my way down to the Vatican. I ran into Horia, my professor, and noah on the via fornacci. I put my stuff in the storage room of the hotel Emmaus and wandered out towards the Vatican to catch a glimpse for the first time. It was beautiful. Overwhelming and intricate in every detail. The statues of all the saints lined up around the circle, staring at me as I spun in circles of awe. I caught a glimpse of a beard and there was Daniel! We went and got a cup of espresso by the hotel and waited for more people to show up. At 11am we were allowed to check in, so we did. I brought my things up to the room and headed out in search of another vegan restaurant that was near where we were. A wild goose chase is what it turned out to be, ending in settling for a small deli with a salad that I had to pick the cheese out of. How deceiving of them to cover the cheese with delicious carrots and olives! Jerks. Once everyone had arrived from their different parts of the world, we headed out for a night stroll to the coliseum, and parts of the roman forum. I saw all this stuff yesterday but it was so beautiful and different by nightfall. On our way back, we stopped at a restaurant that had a pizza oven built in 1810. 200 year old pizza was pretty damn good. The waiter was in good spirits, witty and sarcastic which made the dinner that much better. Lots of wine, grappa and full bellies. Time for rest.

-L dawg