italy pt 2

		What a day!  It started with several hours of blah-blah-blah corporate encouraging blah.  It was somewhat decent, in that it talked about having an emotional IQ and how to deal with people.  Hmph.  Whatever.  The fun part came around 2 pm when me and Forrest and his wife Jennifer went on an adventure into the city.  Walking, walking, walking.  Still amazed by the textures and layers of this city.  Ancient, graffiti, modern, all in the same place.  Imagine if you will, one of the homes from the Ranching Heritage Center (you know a "real old one" from 1780) and put it in Texas Tech, then put the bus station with all it's graffiti and low income peoples surrounding it in the mix.  But then you also have to have the ultra modern, so you throw in a McDonalds and the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for Arts and Design.  (These images will only be relevant to you if you live in Lubbock, obviously.) Ok, so.......then we walked.  And we saw the Trevi Fountain, and we saw the Pantheon and we saw Dianna's Temple, and a war memorial and a ton of stuff.  And I walked for 5 hours.  And I'm tired. All I can say is this is incredible.  Ginormous buildings. I feel like I'm having an out of body experience.  Like I'm dreaming.  So incredibly surreal. When I went to Mount Rushmore years ago I felt like my education had been worthwhile.  That's not how I feel now.  It's more like my education has failed me to a certain extent.  When was the Pantheon built?  I don't know.  What's it's exact purpose?  Hmmm...to worship many gods? At the same time though, it is not lackluster.  It's tremendous.  I've never seen things this big and this ornate.  It's kind of the antithesis of Time Square.  While TS is big it's modern and it overwhelms your senses.  This is just dumbfounding and awe inspiring.  And.....and....and....idk. Tomorrow, the Vatican Museum, St. Peter's basilica and the Coliseum.

My Italian Love Affair pt. 1

I arrived in Rome at 7:15 am Wednesday morning, which is approximately 2 am in Texas, I think.

It was mostly a good flight with just a bit of turbulence from Dallas to Boston.  Boston to Rome was fairly uneventful.  Shortly after takeoff, we ate dinner and watched a movie.  I only had 6 hours after eating until we landed so I didn't take a full dramamine to help me sleep.  I just took half and it worked well.  I slept about four hours and then watched another movie and landed in Rome.

Upon arrival, I found my car service to take me to the hotel.  We had about an hour drive into downtown Rome.  The first thing I noticed was the layers of texture and architecture.  Driving into Rome, you see lush gardens that reminded me of Florida, old buildings with graffiti that reminded me of any inner city, huge churches, and very modern architecture.

Once we got into downtown, I was amazed at the quintessential non-American feel to the street vendors.  As we were winding through the roads, the driver was pointing out things and all of the sudden on my left was the Coliseum.  It felt kind of like going to the Alamo.  You expect something so historic to not be sitting in the middle of downtown.  But there it was.  Beautiful. 

When I got to the hotel my room was not ready, so I basically had to store my luggage and go explore.  Perfect.  I walked down the street and bought postcards, found a store to sell me a new battery for my camera (I left the other one in the charger at home), and bought stamps at the post office.  I'm not real sure how all that happened since I don't speak Italian and they barely spoke English.  So either God was on my side ....nope I'm sure that was what it was.

I think it's about noon here and 6 am there.  I am really tired.  My room won't be ready for another couple of hours probably.  I'm anxious for a shower and a nap.  Once those things are accomplished, then it will be time for our welcome meeting and dinner.  Tomorrow we have meetings from 9a-5p.  Friday we go to the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and Coliseum. 

Sorry for rambling. I'm tired. It was much more eloquent in my head I'm sure.  :)