Rome, Italy

My adventure to Rome, Italy happened the weekend of November 21st-24th, of 2019. I arrived super late Thursday and had to figure out the train system to get to downtown. I arrived at my hostel and found out there was two of them and the one I booked was on the other side of the train terminal. Thankfully, there was a girl named Grace there that was in the same situation as me. We walked over to the other hostel together and started getting to know each other. We ended up rooming together in the same room at the hostel.

Friday morning, I got up early and took sometime to figure out how Rome’s transportation worked and then set out to meet up with my hop on and off bus so it could take me to the Vatican. I was trying to get there at 10:45 am to use the ticket I bought earlier but the bus got me there too late. So I ended up having to buy another ticket for 11:30 am. But the good thing was, I had a tour guide with this one. Honestly, I am very happy with the way it turned out. He was a great tour guide and got us in the St. Peter’s Basilica where I wouldn’t of been able to go in there if I had arrived on time for the 10:45am ticket.

I met a really nice family on the tour from Florida. They were traveling for a month and their 12 year old daughter does her homework online. They were very nice and sweet. They gave me some great pointers on where to go in Rome. I finished my tour of the Vatican around 4 pm so I finally ate lunch where I had some great Italian pasta.

Then I saw a guy singing hallelujah and yelling and praising Jesus in the streets. He had ear buds in and was dancing and praising Jesus. I got up and met him in the streets. His name was Samual and was from Nigeria. He said to me “God Bless you,” and kept yelling Jesus and dancing. I thought to my self, WOW, I love the boldness he has! That is so brave!

I then walked to some other sites. Everything was pretty close but I enjoyed walking long distances too. Everywhere you walk in the city center of Rome is beautiful and is something historical. I went to the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. Then I had dinner at a restaurant I stumbled on. I had a great server that was singing songs to the customers and enjoying his time at work.

Then I went back to the hostel and got ready for bed. Grace got back from her day exploring and asked me if I wanted to go down to Karaoke. That was a lot of fun. I enjoyed watching other people sing and dance. Most of the songs they sang was in Italian or Spanish. Grace and I had a wonderful time together and decided to get breakfast together the next morning.

We had such a great breakfast talking about our experiences in Morocco and the love we have for God. I enjoyed hearing her story and some of the hard things that have happened to her. She was so sweet! She has a heart for the Middle East people. I was able to pray for her before she went to Naples, Italy.

Saturday after breakfast I went and toured the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum. I loved learning the history. It was so cool to see! Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum was very beautiful. Both tour guides were great and I got to meet another Christian during my tour of Palatine Hill. We had a wonderful conversation!

I am grateful I met up with one of my friends from Colorado, Brian Miller and his new Italian wife. They showed me around and took me to the Monti area where we had pizza and gelato. We had a great time catching up since we haven’t seen each other for probably 10 years. I’m so glad Brian and his wife was able to teach me about Italian culture.

They like to pick an area and walk around. They don’t have a plan where to eat they just decide on the go. They walk until they want drinks and then they get food. It’s very typical to have tiramisu or gelato for a dessert after their meal. I got to try Suppli which is very typical Italian food and they explained to me that if they think your a tourist they will up the prices.

That night I went to the Pantheon Roman Temple. While I was waiting in line I met a sweet couple from the Netherlands. We had a wonderful conversation. The Pantheon was so beautiful! Then I walked to the Trevastere area. Brain and his wife had suggested that I should go there and they didn’t steer me wrong. It started raining so I walked in the rain, and that was honestly kinda fun. I decided to get pizza and then I met another lovely couple from Australia. They were retired from teaching. Super kind couple.

I ate a fried artichoke, and a huge pizza. Then I walked down the street but it was still raining. I decided to stop again for food, and I decided to have their Combinará pasta which is very well known in Rome. I met another couple from Dublin and they gave me some tips about my trip in Dublin that is coming up just before I head back to the States. Then I had tiramisu as my dessert.

I figured out the train system to get back and finally gave in and bought a umbrella as it was still pouring down rain.

Sunday I got up super early and went to the museum where Paul wrote 2 Timothy in prison. It was so cool to see that place. I had to read 2 Timothy while I was there to let the Holy Spirit speak to me. Then I head to the airport and chilled there until my flight back to Barcelona. Ahh, Rome, the Eternal City. I’m glad I got to know you. Back in Barcelona I met up with a friend from Sweden that wanted to go to church for the very first time. That was super sweet! Always love seeing her.

The Sistine Chapel

Sistine Chapel, in the Vatican Palace was erected in 1473–81 by the architect Giovanni de Dolci for Pope Sixtus IV. The most important artworks in the chapel are the frescoes by Michelangelo on the ceiling and on the west wall behind the altar. The frescoes on the ceiling, collectively known as the Sistine Ceiling, were commissioned by Pope Julius II in 1508 and were painted by Michelangelo in the years from 1508 to 1512.

St. Peter’s Basilica at Vatican Museums

St. Peter’s Basilica begun by Pope Julius II in 1506 and completed in 1615 under Paul V. It is designed as a three-aisled Latin cross with a dome at the crossing, directly above the high altar which covers the shrine of St. Peter’s Church.

Alter of the Fatherland: Ancient Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus in 753 BC. After a rising conflict, Romolus killed Remus, became king, and named Rome after himself.