Today was our last day at the Villa Vergiliana (sadness) so it was goodbye to Naples and hello to Rome! I'd say the most prominent switch seen so far from country-side to city is the most important...FOOD! When staying at the Villa not only were we provided with food at basically all times without ANY problems but it was the most scrumptious food imaginable (can't top homemade Italian!).
Last night for dinner we split into two decently sized groups. One dined at a ridiculously cheap, killer pizza parlor-type place and was back in time to disperse and organize around the apartment whereas the second group had some pretty darn impatient and hungry children who just plopped down at the the first cafe/restaurant in sight. I don't want to say it but yeah, I was in group 2.
Seriously, the easiest way to win in Italy is just to scream louder than your opponent. But when you try to rationally order salad 10 times in 3 different languages and end up finally eating the equivalent of vinaigrette on paper and brick-like white nougat, you're in trouble.
They thought it'd be amusing to charge us a decent sum for this delicious meal. Group 1 Cost: approximately 10 Euros. Group 2 Cost: 17–25 Euros. Yummy.
Before the food and the frustration however was there a slightly darker (meant in both ways) place on our agenda. It was my 3rd time in a different place in the world going to where-else but HELL!
Commonly referred to as the Sibyll's Cave, an adorable, elderly, VERY ITALIAN man led us through with not just scorching hot lanterns (Szarrah had to test that one out...on me) but TORCHES. Not only did this huggable Italiano lead us into this large, ancient cave in the middle of the woods (note: giant, breathtaking lake surrounded us. The cave we went into was at one point used by Roman armies to get troops from one side of the lake to another.) but his loyal friend, Napolitano did as well.Yes, Napolitano as in Strawberry-chocolate-vanilla ice cream.
Want to guess why we loved N so much?!?!! Well, it might have been because he was yet another adorable Italian dog but he also made sure that, when walking down exactly 25 steps that you didn't fall into a giant pit of water, sat to show you that there was a 5 foot roof, and was just an excellent cuddle buddy as we sat on the cold cave floors while we read our elegies before crossing just a sketchy "bridge." After seeing some ancient "graffiti"/markings such as symbols for christianity (fishy! cross! palms! whoa.), fertility (certain...organs..."We're going to see a lot of skin in Italy."-Mrs. Tyma), and ancient writing did we progress to this obscenely awesome bridge. Going two at a time, we SLOWLY crossed the water that some Romans believed would lead to the underworld, creeping on a rickety, rotting bridge that TayTay might have possibly slipped on. Have no fear, parentals, it was both legal and I'd say 97% safe...Don't quote me on that though! This was done in order to experience not just some adrenaline but to really get close to where in the olden days people thought was where their loved (or hated) ones would go when they passed.
As a side note, kudos to everyone's elegies. Even more kudos because I don't think anyone cried, although some of us DID come dangerously close. RIP to all these were written for. We all got out of hell alive with only a few minor cuts and bruises before we hopped on a bus for the 3hr. trip to Rome. En route, we stopped at THE BEST gas station on the way - without a doubt as European as it gets with it being 2 stories with a restaurant, 2 cafes, grocery aisle and HARIBO. Michelle MIGHT have found "some" candy. That was a riveting experience.***
Even better was our WALKING TOUR. We started off in small groups, checking out the Spanish Steps, pretty fountains, and a cute tea shop. Then we moved on to the Trevi fountain, got MORE gelato, went to about 5 stunning Piazzas, the Pantheon (ohmygoshohymygoshohmygosh), the Prime Minister's house, and the Circus Maximus, totaling up to God knows how many miles. My fancy new shoes saved my life. Only in Europe would they have, get this, HEELED SNEAKERS.
We had quite a few new experiences today with some of our group members riding the bus and metro for the first time...that was a party!
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Awesome posts - 9th graders rock!
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