Little European Travelers - ITALY

So we finally get to Florence and go to check into our hostel. It was really close to the train station and easy to find so that was good. The walls were decorated with graffiti (but it's supposed to be there), it was clean, we stayed in a 4-bed dorm, and had our own bathroom. The hostel offered free dinner and breakfast which we enjoyed. After we dropped our stuff off we found out how where our bus tour bus was and hopped on/off then walked around some before going back to eat some pizza for dinner. We thought we'd gotten lucky again to not have any roommates but sometime after we'd gotten into bed, two girls came in and went straight to bed. However, they were really nice - we met them in the morning obviously. I forget where they were from in the US but they're studying abroad too. After Rosemary and I got ready and got all our stuff, we headed down for breakfast and had some muesli cereal (which I now love by the way and always have it when hostels offer it) and yogurt. We stored our luggage and then went back to the hop on/off bus and went to the main places we wanted to see (like the bridge/main area and where the David statue is). We figured out (with some stress) how to get from the train station to the other one we needed to be at and got our luggage before taking the other bus route. We didn't hop off anywhere because we didn't have time but enjoyed riding around. We got off and headed to the train station and made it to the other one and to our train that took us to Rome.
We got into Rome in the evening and found our hostel which was again close to the station and easy to find. We asked the font desk for restaurant suggestions and after checking a few of them out, settled on one. I got some delicious bruschetta and vegetable soup and Rosemary got pizza with mushrooms. Afterwards we called it a night and just got ourselves prepared for the next day by figuring out what tour bus to take and where to go. So in the morning, we ate some breakfast and headed out. First was the colosseum where we joined an english tour to avoid the huge line and get some information as we were going. I'm not sure what Rosemary thought about it all but I hope she enjoyed it as much as I did the first time and felt how much history there is to that place. After the tour we went to the top and took some pictures. Then we headed back to the bus and got off at the next stop. Instead of waiting for the next bus we walked to the next place. We got back on and got off near a plaza. We walked from there to the Spanish steps, Trevi Fountain (stopped for some gelato from Valentino's!), and the Pantheon. Then we went back to the hostel and ate dinner at a place across the street. I got pasta with mushrooms and Rosemary got pizza. Afterwards we were exhausted and I made the mistake of laying down on the bed. Then I didn't really want to get up to go see the Pope at the colosseum but we went anyways by metro. I was really glad we went because it was definitely amazing to be among a huge group of priests, nuns, and other people who were there too. A lot of people had candles and the booklet of the stations of the cross. The Pope talked before and after but in between other people - maybe cardinals - went through the stations. We stayed for all of it and then headed back to get some sleep. We ate breakfast and got coffee at McDs by the train station before taking the metro to Vatican City. It was soooo packed which we should have thought about with it being the day before Easter. We joined an english guided tour which I am sure cut the waiting in line time by a lot but we still didn't have a lot of time before we had to head out to catch our plane. We got into the Vatican Museum and saw some things but then had to go. Other places were closing up early anyways and the lines would have been impossible to get through. We got back to the station and while Rosemary waited in line for our bus to the airport, I went and got her some postcards and food for us (a sandwich for me, pizza for her, and fruit for both of us) to eat on the way. I returned just in time for us to get some of the last seats on the bus (haha oops) and we were on our way. After sitting in line for a little while we were on the plane and on our way to Granada.

I finally did some shopping yesterday! Mamacita was SO happy with me haha. Usually Liz buys a number of things and I'll maybe have one thing. She loved what I bought though and the prices I found. I am happy with it too. Now she just things I'm unusual for not having gone out with Liz the last two nights. The first night I was super tired and feeling the beginnings of getting sick. Last night I was skyping with Harrison. Besides I don't plan on getting drunk so the going out thing isn't that exciting. Especially when I'd be the only one not drunk. I should be able to go out and have fun anyways but.. I just don't feel comfortable/like I fit in.
School is going fine. Our literature presentation is finally done (we thought it went well) and now we just have to do our paper. I have my art project mostly done I just have to fix a couple things then send it to my professor.
I am going to sign up for a trip through the school to go to Alpujarras next Saturday and we might take a day trip to the beach sometime. Then at the end of the month we (the 5 of us) are heading to Barcelona for the weekend. Once Nicole figures out when exactly her finals are, we plan on booking flights to Ireland for the weekend after finals (May 19/20-30) so that's exciting! I have a friend studying in Cork and she said if we go, she'd come meet us somewhere! :) IRELAND YAY! The 5 of us are going to go to Madrid together to "complete the circle" a couple days early so Nicole and Megan can fly out the 27th and Kathleen, Liz, and me on the 28th. Our time seems so short! I'm going to do my best to enjoy every last minute of it but I can't deny that there's a large part of me that's ready to be home.
I skyped with Harrison last night for like an hour and 45 minutes and am skyping with my mom tomorrow. I'm so thankful for skype and being able to see people's faces. :)
Anyways.. Liz is going to Merideth's today and will be gone for lunch and dinner. I plan on working on more homework and hopefully going for a run if it doesn't rain.
Hasta luego!