After a busy morning of catching a train from Manarola to La Spezia then boarding a 3-hour train ride to Rome, we loaded our luggage and settled in the decently-comfortable train seats. I turned on my Ipod and flipped though different songs and bands until I landed on a band that fit my mood perfectly, Mumford and Sons. I leaned back into my seat, put my headphones in my ears, turned up the volume on my Ipod and blocked out the world. I stared out at the Italian countryside as the train flew by. We passed acres and acres of dark green grass and colorful flowers, a constant view of snow-covered mountains in the distance. We passed small, simple houses with clothes hanging outside to dry, houses that looked like specs far away in the mountains, and a few large, pretty homes where I imagined a big, Italian family sitting down for breakfast. I closed my eyes and drifted in and out of conciousness, as Mumford and Sons sang "I Will Wait for You" on repeat.
I thought back to arriving in Venice. Taking a water taxi to "The Floating City," our dream-like gondola ride through the canals and under the bridges, my first taste of gelato near Saint Mark's Basilica, walking in the rain down the cobblestone streets, passing little shops and pizzaria's galore. I thought of our day in Florence, how I had instantly fallen in love with the Duomo. I was quite sure that it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Walking around the lively city, shopping, seeing street artists drawing portraits with chalk on the pavement, passing endless flower shops, the breath-taking view at the top of the 463 stairs of the Duomo. I laughed now at our initial panic about the train cancellation to Cinque Terre. How lucky were we that we actually ended up stopping in Pisa? A picture at the Tower of Pisa... one more thing I could cross off of my bucket list, along with hiking the hills of beautiful Cinque Terre on the coast of Italy. With the view of the water, the colorful houses scattered among the hills, the lemon trees and the palm trees, Cinque Terre was full of life and character. Now I was on a train to Rome, with my sisters and my best friend. I opened my eyes again to look out the window and make sure I wasn't dreaming. This was already the most amazing week of my life and it wasn't over yet.
I let Marcus Mumford's soothing voice encompass me as I settled back into my seat and closed my eyes once again, feeling the soft rattle of the train moving forward. The Colloseum, The Vatican, The Sistine Chapel, The Pantheon, The Spanish Steps and the The Trevi Fountain were waiting for me. Two more days and so much left to see and do. With my best friends in the world by my side to experience it all with, I felt invincible. Italy was even more than I had expected. I let myself drift off to get some rest. Two full days in Rome was sure to be yet another adventure.
I thought back to arriving in Venice. Taking a water taxi to "The Floating City," our dream-like gondola ride through the canals and under the bridges, my first taste of gelato near Saint Mark's Basilica, walking in the rain down the cobblestone streets, passing little shops and pizzaria's galore. I thought of our day in Florence, how I had instantly fallen in love with the Duomo. I was quite sure that it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Walking around the lively city, shopping, seeing street artists drawing portraits with chalk on the pavement, passing endless flower shops, the breath-taking view at the top of the 463 stairs of the Duomo. I laughed now at our initial panic about the train cancellation to Cinque Terre. How lucky were we that we actually ended up stopping in Pisa? A picture at the Tower of Pisa... one more thing I could cross off of my bucket list, along with hiking the hills of beautiful Cinque Terre on the coast of Italy. With the view of the water, the colorful houses scattered among the hills, the lemon trees and the palm trees, Cinque Terre was full of life and character. Now I was on a train to Rome, with my sisters and my best friend. I opened my eyes again to look out the window and make sure I wasn't dreaming. This was already the most amazing week of my life and it wasn't over yet.
I let Marcus Mumford's soothing voice encompass me as I settled back into my seat and closed my eyes once again, feeling the soft rattle of the train moving forward. The Colloseum, The Vatican, The Sistine Chapel, The Pantheon, The Spanish Steps and the The Trevi Fountain were waiting for me. Two more days and so much left to see and do. With my best friends in the world by my side to experience it all with, I felt invincible. Italy was even more than I had expected. I let myself drift off to get some rest. Two full days in Rome was sure to be yet another adventure.