Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was the respect for each other: Tim

We made it to Rome after a fairly relaxing day on a small ship that seemed more like a freight ship that happened to toss a pool and bar onto it to keep the passengers happy. After getting off the boat we found that we were a ways away from the train station with no idea how to get there except rumor of a free shuttle. Pairing up with other groups of Americans coming off the boat we shamelessly went up to anyone and used our English to try and find out where the train station was and how to get there.

After finding the free shuttle we made it to the train station which took about an hour to get us into Rome from the port city. We arrived in the big Termini train station and were immediately bombarded with free help for hostels, which we sloughed off in the way we dodged people selling “friendship” bracelets and souvenirs at the Eiffel tower. This possibly led to our first leg of getting lost in Rome. Our directions we received from the hostel seemed to be fairly interpretable but when we arrived where we thought we should be but alas, no hostel! We were looking for number 88, and we found 90 and 86, but no 88. I felt like Harry Potter looking for platform 9 ¾ and a little too intimidated to ask anyone for fear of being laughed at.

It was barely 10 when we finally found that the hostel was actually inside of a building advertising another hotel. After checking in, we were ushered outside and across the street to yet another building where our room apparently was. All of this was just adding to my belief that this hostel is very...interesting and hopefully a reputable establishment.

After settling in for the night, we made plans to do laundry in the morning and then head off to see the Colosseum before meeting up with my friend studying abroad in Rome. It was on the way to the Colosseum that our differences began to divide us. With no plans on how to attack the Colosseum (by that I mean how to explore it) we soon began to fight and bicker over which direction would take us where and what we wanted to see and what wasn't worth seeing. You'd be surprised how tired and crabby hiking around ruins in Rome can make you, especially when you are not in total control of what is going on, or not wanting to be in total control in the case of Matt.


This is the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Rome or as Lindsey told us, "The Wedding Cake" to the Italians.

For most of the trip Mike and I have been content to just follow Matt and see w/e he plans to see because I don't particularly care to see more than maybe one thing in each place. Wimbledon in London, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, A bullfight in Spain....I have yet to decide on what I want to see in the other countries. It basically comes down to Matt to plan out all the other things we end up doing and I believe he is getting tired of it.

We seem to be very good at putting on a facade when we are with other people like Matt's friend Linnell in Barcelona, and my friend Lindsey in Rome, which we were able to enjoy a wonderful meal at the Hard Rock Cafe in Rome and then even see Michele Obama and her kids coming out of the Pantheon.



The next day we set aside for Vatican City and the Borghese Gallery, though we didn't get to make it into the gallery because you need to have reservations way ahead of time, and planning ahead is not something we are very good at. We did however make it to the Vatican after riding the metro and having a little meltdown between each other as to which direction the Vatican was. I don't get why I am the one they put in charge of directions because everyone in my family says I am great with them, and then DON'T trust me when I say which way to go. Though I may suggest that every tourist map should have like a cheap working compass on it that way when you get out of an underground train or something you still know which way is what.
At the Vatican we had another little meltdown which led to me saying some not so kind things towards Matt in order to get him to pay attention to me. Once we were inside the museum we were amazed and all the art and sculpture that was around us and took our time perusing the halls which may of led to our inability to see the Sistine Chapel which was quite a disappointment. Matt was unable to let go of. Barack Obama had flown in and caught up with his family and was apparently getting a tour of the Sistine Chapel which is why they kicked everyone out.

While we were waiting outside to see his motorcade arrive, we actually ended up talking to some other students next to us that turned out to be from Seattle Pacific University. We asked them what their favorite gelato place was in town and they said the same one that Lindsey had taken us to the night before! Quite a coincidence!

After waiting for the motorcade to go through we headed up to St. Peter's Basilica and were able to make it in without a hitch. I can't say the same for a number of others who were wearing tank tops, shorts, or short skirts/dresses. There was actually a few people standing there telling people they needed to cover up before going in. From what I understand it is to prevent lust within the church. What a job that would be though! Standing in front of St. Peter's deciding who incited lust or not haha!

After leaving the Basilica I ended up taking the lead because Matt was still pretty bummed about missing the Sistine Chapel and I just took us to get some dinner because getting your blood sugar up seems to calm people down very easily (thanks Nana!). At dinner I apologized for the words I said to Matt and hopefully got us on better terms with each other. It may take awhile for me to fully appreciate my brothers though...