triple & quadruple parking

The past week and a half in Italy has been amazing and quite different from Spain. Although I love Italian culture, there are parts of Spanish culture I miss like everyone being pretty much always happy to see you and having tapas all of the time. Italians are very different in that they don't just serve you food when you buy a drink, you actually have to pay for the food, and they are colder people. I wouldn't have it any other way though. This week I have seen a lot of Rome. I saw the Spanish steps, part of the Capitoline Museums, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, many churches, and a whole lot of old buildings. I like how in Rome things are closer together. My apartment is right on the water and I am close to pretty much everything.

It has been different living in an apartment with friends vs a host family. I miss the amazing meals Carmen cooked and the great company of my host family, especially when their grandson, Alvero came over because even though I didn't understand a word of the Spanish they spoke, I loved being able to see my family happy and enjoying one another's presence. In the apartment I have been staying up later, hanging out a lot more with friends and not really eating as well as I was before haha. It has been a nice change as it has gotten me in a new routine and feeling more like being back at UT rather than in Massachusetts.

Rome is vastly different than Madrid. The public transportation is not very easily accessible and few and far between here whereas in Madrid I took the metro everywhere and it went everywhere. Let's just say my legs are getting even more exercise everyday than anticipated (but hey at least I will be a little more toned when I return right?). The largest difference I have seen is the parking. Yes, double, triple and quadruple parking is very much a thing in Rome. Iv'e never seen so many smart cars in my life or in one place and the spaces that these cars fit into are crazy. Crossing the street has been an experience too. I thought crossing the street in Madrid was crazy. In Rome you kind of risk your life each time you cross the road because those cars are not stopping, especially the scooters.

It has been crazy seeing all of the Roman architecture here in Italy. From 6-12th grade I learned about the Romans and all of the buildings I am now seeing with my own eyes. Most of the attractions have lived up to my expectations but one place I was so excited to see honestly really let me down. This past weekend I travelled to Naples, Pompeii and part of the Amalfi Coast. Naples was definitely different from Rome and it was cool being in the Oldest city in Italy. Pompeii though, big let down. I had been wanting to visit ever since my Latin teacher (magistra) Mrs Jordan talked about it in my 6th grade intro to Latin class. I thought it was like the coolest, craziest, place in Roman history (next to the Colosseum of course). The amount of times I tried to convince her to get a trip to Italy sponsored by the school to go see this place was unreal.

So of course I go to see Pompeii on the windiest, coldest, literally snowing it was that cold, day in February. I also went on a tour of Pompeii that for 75% of it I could have led myself. I'm sure the terrible whether and tour somewhat attribute to my thoughts on Pompeii but still. Not what I expected. I think 11 year old Jules had it in her mind that most of Pompeii was still intact but 19 year old me knew that was not the case. In Pompeii some parts are still in tact like the theaters, roads, and some buildings. Even some frescos. I got to see a bed from the Roman era which was cool and the casts of people who died from Mt. Vesuvius exploding. I loved seeing the volcano in the background as well. In all honesty I thought there was a little more to the place. It was still really cool and I will never forget going to see it but I guess it just didn't live up to my expectations. However, don't let my experience deter you away from going because it was still amazing to see all of what was still standing after the amount of years and destruction the city has gone through. I also got to travel to the Amalfi coast which was gorgeous and ate a ginormous lemon it was the size of my head. Although the lemony part was the size of a regular lemon so it was kind of a let down there too but really cool to eat and try.

Overall I have had a great time in Italy. Although Pompeii did not go as expected I'm glad and grateful I was able to go see the city and can't wait to travel more around Italy and Europe. This weekend I go to Sardinia, which is an island off the eastern coast of Italy, with my school. Can't wait to give an update on that adventure. Until then...

xoxo, j