Rome Week Five (GL 350)

“Few decisions are allowed to be influenced by sentiments, tastes, hazards or hopes, but usually by a careful valuation of the relative strength of the contending parties.”  Barzini says this in The Italians when talking about how Italians make decisions.  It kind of seems like the opposite of America, we’re told to go with our gut or to do whichever makes us happy, when making decisions.  But Italians seem to go about it by calculating how much they could lose if they’re decision is incorrect and another’s is correct.  I’d have to disagree and say that this isn’t how one should go about deciding things.  Going with my gut has made this trip everything I have imagined it to be and more. 

On Monday we went to the Museum of Medical Arts.  You’ve read about it in my SOC 490 blog but it was as interesting as old medical equipment is to someone who is SO not into the medical scene!  Then Katie and Brandon needed to visit the Vatican for their upcoming walking tour so Katie, Brandon, Dave and I went around the corner to see it!  St. Peter’s Basilica was amazing, it’s so big and just beautiful. 

Tuesday we had Aubree and Gabby’s tour of Borghese Gardens.  It was really pretty although it was more of a park than a garden but it was pretty nonetheless.  The museum that was also on the grounds was really pretty but it wasn’t as big as we were expecting and with no audio guide, we finished pretty fast.

Wednesday we had a free day which Katie and I used to complete laundry and our Education papers, which we tricked ourselves into doing early.  Since they aren’t due until the 29^th of November. 

Thursday was Thanksgiving!!  We went to Saint Susannah church which is an American Church located right in Rome.  Everything was in English which was a welcomed change.  Amy and I got to bring up the gifts during mass which was pretty cool.  Afterward we went home and put on sweats and t-shirts to prepare ourselves for the coming feast.  Thanksgiving dinner was amazing! We had squash soup, mashed potatoes, the best green bean casserole on the planet, mashed sweet potatoes, turkey, stuffing, corn casserole, cranberries, and any dessert you could want.  We had cake, ice cream, pumpkin pie, apple pie, pecan pie, and cookies.

On Friday morning, Katie, Emily, Amy and I were picked up by Julio and headed to the airport.  We took a three hour flight to Dublin, Ireland.  We stayed at a really cool hostel in Temple Bar.  We had some really cool Australian roommates who gave us some tips about the city, since they’d been there for about a week.  That night Katie and I went to our traditional Hard Rock dinner and then we experienced our first pub, complete with traditional Irish music.  We went on a hop on, hop off tour Saturday morning and then that night we went to dinner and then went on a pub crawl.  At the second bar, Emily wasn’t feeling it so she went back to the hostel.  Amy, Katie and I pushed on!  It was so much fun!  We went to six bars and a night club.  One of the bars we went to was the one featured in the movie, P.S. I Love You.  It was such a fun night; afterwards we didn’t want to leave.  I would definitely go back, for sure!

So, going with my gut throughout this week has made each of my experiences so much better.  I didn’t think about anything I just went with what I wanted to do in the moment and it was amazing!  This was probably the best week/weekend on this trip so far!  Until next time…

Shell to fill up water bottles on Gabby and Aubree's tour!

Temple Bar, down the street from where we stayed in Dublin!

The Dublin Zoo!