With a long flight ahead of us, we boarded the plane for an eight and a half hour flight to Amsterdam.  We were warned we should get some sleep, but none of us could find any.  Each seat had it’s own TV with choices of movies or music, which helped pass the time.  Brook, Allie, and Kresson watched One Tree Hill, and became absolutely addicted!  Once we arrived in Amsterdam, we had a three-hour layover, followed by a two-hour flight to Rome.  Everyone was thankful that their luggage arrived without complications.  Once in Rome, we boarded the bus and traveled to our hotel in the city.  Our hotel rooms were very small, with three tiny beds crammed into a room less than half the size of an average American hotel room.  We then took the metro to Spagna, where we viewed the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon.  We walked to the Piazza del Popolo and took the tram back to Termini, where we ate dinner at a little Italian restaurant next to our hotel. 



After a much needed night’s rest, we were ready to begin our first full day touring the city.  Our breakfast consisted of cocoa puffs, croissants, fruit, and yogurt.  Since Kresson was supposed to be “job shadowing” for school, Corey put her in charge of the money and labeled her the official tour guide for the day.  We headed back to the metro to wait in an extremely long line for the Sistine Chapel.  After several hours of boredom, we explored the Vatican and finally reached the Sistine Chapel.  We then ate lunch at a nearby café and watched a continuous battle between the illegal street vendors and the police.  Viewing St. Peter’s Basilica was next on our list.  We then proceeded to take the metro to the Colosseum.  We met two “friends” along the way who soon became our stalkers.  They followed us as we toured the Forum and Circus Maximus, where the ancient chariot races were held.  With aching feet we trudged back to the metro station at Termini to shop.  After a weather change, we decided to return to the hotel to put on warmer clothes, when Lauren realized her wallet was missing, along with her and Susan’s make-up.  When searching the room for the third time while Corey was reporting what had happened, Lauren brushed the curtain of the window and discovered the missing make-up.  Everyone was relieved, but Lauren’s wallet was still missing.  We concluded that it had been pick-pocketed on the metro.  The team took the metro back to the Spanish Steps and did some more damage with our credit cards.  After making our needed souvenir stops, we walked the streets, fantasizing about the designer shops at every corner.  Finally, we decided to drown our sorrows in Italian Gelato.  Our tummies full of ice cream, and chocolate cake, we returned to the hotel and headed to dinner at the same restaurant next to our hotel.  We were served pasta, grilled chicken, roasted potatoes, and fries.  Then, after our long and tiring day, we crashed. 

We are having a blast in Italy and we’re thinking of you all at home.  We love you and miss you!!!!
Kresson and Naomi