In my past life, I was Italian.

Inside St. Peters... too many things to look at at once.


It's true. I'm pretty certain that in my past life I was an Italian. A constantly eating Italian, on a serious journey to find the best gelatto, the best pizza, the best cappuccino. And my name was still Simona. I met a Simona in Rome, she's one of the Italian teachers and today as I paid for my AMAZING cheeseburger at Fame Nero, the beautiful owner asked if I was Italian after telling him my name.

Italy is the stuff dreams are made of.

I guess everyone finds that one place when they're studying abroad that just leaves their mouth constantly agape. That was Rome for me. And I have a hunch it will be the rest of Italy, when I finally go back and see Florence and Venice and Milan and Tuscany and Capri and Sorrento and... you get my point. The people are full of love, the streets are lined with food, and the language. Kill me now and send me to a heaven where they speak in Italian. It's not just the words, it's the rhythm in which they are said. Beautiful. Bellisimo!

Thursday night we all went out to dinner and I experienced my first Italian meal. It was good but it was only to get better... as I would later learn. A few of us stayed out to grab a drink (Peroni is good, but Czech beer is better) and then called it a night.

Spanish Steps

Trevi Fountain!!
Friday was spent sightseeing. I got to see the Trevi fountain (uh, amazing), and the Wedding Cake, and the Spanish steps, and part of the Roman Forum and there was just a lot of walking involved. The highlight of Friday was the cooking class I was so graciously invited to. One of the best things I've ever done. Even though there were 14 people, I still had a fantastic time though I wish I could have done more food preparation. The menu: homemade lasagna, veal wrapped around mortadella, cooked Roman broccoli, and some custard dessert that tasted like melted strawberry shortcake with lady fingers dipped in pineapple juice. Love. Love. Love.



Saturday began with a wonderful lunch at a closeby piazza basking in the sun. I bought a bronze Om that I fully intend on nailing to my wall back at home. I'm all about peace and harmony these days. Om...

We went out fully intending to "rage" to ring in Dan's 21st birthday... but it seems as though my friends and I are the quiet type. Birthday boy fell asleep at the table. A raging 21st indeed. Still though, a lot was accomplished after dinner. Like peanut butter and Nutella crepes. And coconut and Nutella gelatto. A country for me, for sure.

Flash forward to Sunday: MAJOR SIGHTSEETING. We're talking the main hotspots aka Colosseum, Roman Forum, and the Vatican. St. Peter's Basilica BLEW my mind. Pictures don't do it justice. Neither do words. Absolutely, hands down, the most incredible thing I've ever seen. The Colosseum and Roman Forum were of course amazing but relatively speaking, St. Peter's is just not something that can be described. I shall stop trying.

View of St Peters from afar.

It's good to be back in Prague but my Czech Theatre class (I HAD to drop film) comes with a bit of work. Between actually going to class and reading the works, we're required to go see shows. I'm happy to do so, but it can get difficult scheduling around shows especially as new ones are popping up all of the time. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a 4.0 this semester. I told my art professor that I'd like to write a paper on erotic art. You read that right, mom.

MAMA!

I wish I was back in Italy with the bestest friends a girl could ask for... but alas there's Paris to take on.


S.