Rome

Ciao!

So, last weekend was my big trip to visit my college buddies Booger, Matt and Jeremy in Rome. They are studying there for their Study Abroad Experience... kind of like how I'm in foggy London Town.

It was a great time. I left Thursday afternoon and barely made my flight. I was caught editing an advert for the Student Television Station "Smokescreen TV" at Westminster and was about an hour later than I wanted to be... Not Cool. But the advert turned out great!... So, I get to Stanstead and the queue (line) is a good 600 deep for security. A good 2 hours maybe. Not cool. I had 20 minutes before my flight was scheduled to leave... So, I waited... sweating bullets and twiddling my fingers... then, I did the UNTHINKABLE. I cut the queue. O No O My! I know that's what you are thinking. yes, and that's what the English also think... I was not very well received... but sometimes you have to break a few silly rules. And thank God I did or I wouldn't have made my flight! I ended up SPRINTING about a half mile across the airport to barely make my flight 10 minutes late... And thankfully, there were many in a similar situation... so the plane would have waited a good 10 minutes more. Thank you RyanAir!

I get to Rome. It's absolutely gorgeous. well, filthy, but, the Sheer Grandeur of the buildings and the Epic Empire-like feel to the squares, boulevards and statues. I was in awe. It is much nicer than Athens... with a similar historic feel. The filth that you see almost adds to its charm... I think. It gives it character and age. I met my friends...we walk to their apartment. And, much to my liking, it was one block from the Vatican! Yeah, St. Peter's Basilica is in clear from their front door. So, I spent alot of time snapping pictures of the square.

So, when in Rome do as the Romans do... right? Well, I did. If you consider drinking loads of wine, eating loads of pizza and walking well over 5 miles a day doing as the Romans do, then I am right to say so. Each night we went out on the town and they showed me the places they like to party. The life is a rare treat. It's loud, it's got character and charisma. I loved it. Gypsies, Hobos, Drunken American Stupid Heads (My Friends) and Tiny Cars. It was a fun time.

THEN, on Sunday morning, my friend Molly, Matt and I attended the Canonization of 4 Saints. We rose at 5am sharp with a solid 2 hours under our belts... We then waited in line with something like 10,000 Mexicans. I felt like a Giant. Viva Mexico! they kept shouting. Aren't we here to honor the Saints and see the Pope? Not to promote Nationalism... Anyway, they were harmless. But, we eventually got into the square at 8am... 2 hours of waiting, then at 10am the Pope arrived. That was cool. He wasn't in his Pope-Mobile... but out there in the open with everyone. I thought that was pretty neat. We then sat through a 3 hour Mass... yeah. I'm definitely going to Heaven now. That was more than enough. It was something that not everyone sees in their lifetime... so I was very happy to be there.

So, I left Rome with High hopes and a positive look on a great city. Those high hopes would soon take a turn for the worst...

I'm not sure if these things happen simply because the gods of blogging hate me and find it necessary that I suffer for the sake of my readers... nevertheless, they continue to exist with outstanding strength and vigilance. So, I get to the airport... after MAJOR bus delays... I almost missed my flight again. Not a cool way to start the Voyage.... I get there, pay 10 E for my stupid tiny bag to be checked in... cuz of liquids or some shite. Fine fine. that's cool. I proceed, listening to my FlyPod. Time passes, the plane is delayed a few hours. At least the people around me can speak English... I do my European Cinema Reading. The plane comes, we fly, I read Generation X by Douglas Coupland and laugh out loud. My mood has returned to ok again. It's about 11 pm. We land. We exit. Things are good. My FlyPod is making me happy with a little tunage. I see the queue for customs... a good 200 ppl. yeah, and each one of them is being interrogated heavily. I keep my cool and whip out Douglas Coupland again. An hour later, I'm through customs and ready to grab my TINY bag and return home... Not so easy. My bag is NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. rats. or worse £^%$^%$%$£$%@!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, it's missing. And RyanAir has shut down for the night. It's 1:45 am. What??? Shut DOWN? I then proceed to look for a bus home... Shut Down as well. Trains??? Shut Down. I'm stuck here. £*£&(! k, keep your cool. It's ok. I get the number to call and am told to call after 6am, cuz that's when Baggage opens. K, cool. Not. I wait until 5:30, catch the first train home. I walk into my London flat at 7:45 am. I call the baggage office later that day and complain. The bag still hasn't arrived. It contained my cellphone, my power converter and my essential toiletries. cool. but, it'll be here soon. I'm still recovering from my lack of sleep this weekend... 2 hours in two days. That's a record for me. Love it!

But, don't get me wrong, it was quite the experience and I had a wonderful time. thanks for reading.