More Jesus and the Mafia (Rome, Day 3)

Started out the day with coffee again, of course. This was another funny moment. The guy behind the counter asked where I was from (I think possibly in Italian), and I told him “America.” “America! America?” he asked, so I elaborated. “New York.” “Uh, pizza spaghetti linguine,” he answered back. OK, not really, but he said something to these two other guys in Italian and I didn’t understand, and then the Italian guy next to me starts talking to me – in Italian. The only thing I understood was that he was telling me I should go to Sicily. Then he said something to the other guys, and all I heard was the word “mafioso,” so I laughed and nodded my head. “Yeah, I’m from Jersey, I know.” I don’t know that they understood that, but whatever.


Carrie, Darah, and I (who were staying in the hostel) met up with Alice (my roommate) and Ashley at the Piazza di Popolo (the obelisk there – one of about a bajillion in Rome, because Romans thought the Greeks had some kind of special wisdom or something – is above) and walked down the Via di Corso. There were a few McDonaldses (McDonaldsi?) in the city, and they all had signs nearby telling you how to get to them. Sort of spoiled the mood. That led us to the Pantheon, which was, for me, the coolest thing we saw in Rome. It’s just this very old, imposing building, and even though it’s dirty and kind of falling apart, it still has this aura of grandness and prominence. The inside was pretty cool too (it’s where Rafael is buried, and the dome is very big), but the outside just sort of made me go, “woah.”


When we came outside, there were some people filming a movie in the square. It was Italian, so nobody we recognized was in it. Then, as if I hadn’t hung out with Jesus enough, we went on a little Church tour. We saw two: the Church of Jesu (Jesu Church?), which was the first Jesuit Church; and Sant’Ignazio Di Loyola, which was built to commemorate the guy who founded the Jesuits. I basically chilled with Jesus all weekend, so we’ll be trading BFF friendship bracelets soon. On a more secular note, we also walked through Piazza Navona, another touristy area where there are some shops and restaurants. Pictures below, including one with a Pinocchio wannanbe (Pinocchio was carved in an Italian village -- so, not Rome, but maybe close).


The Trevi Fountain was next. A lot of people say this is overrated, but I still thought it was pretty. Of course, it was overwhelmed by tourists, but I didn’t really mind as long as they weren’t getting in the way of my pictures. We threw pennies (or euro-coins) and made wishes. Not really sure if that’s something you do there, but when in Rome… (OK, that phrase doesn’t really work there, but Darah and I were dying to find an appropriate moment to say that).


Finally at the Trevi we managed to get good gelato. We got some at some chain the first night called Blue Ice. You can tell by the name it’s not going to be good. There was better stuff here, though. Yummy… ooh I miss it. Might have to go to Ferrara’s when I get home (Mom? Dad?).

The group split up for a little rest, so we grabbed dinner to take back with us. We were in a very authentic Italian mood, so we got… Burger King. I know, good choice. There was also a little jewelry/accessories place we stopped in to get some souvenirs. :)