Today is the first full day in Rome, and it's amazing. I've walked around the city quite a bit already, and it's gonna take a while to be able to skillfully navigate. Being so old, the streets aren't laid out in blocks like most cities back home, which makes it really easy to become turned around. The director called it "involuntary tourism" during the orientation we had today.

Walking around the city is fascinating, many of the streets are super narrow and paved with cobblestone. A relic from the Roman Empire I'm told. It's great walking down a lane-wide street with cars and scooters passing feet from you as you walk. The old buildings on either side jut straight up so that you can only see a sliver of the sky above. It's amazing knowing that those streets have been walked on by people from every generation since the ancient days, and the fact that I'm now one of them is pretty neat.


Earlier today a few of us from the group walked to an outdoor market that is a block from our school. It was an incredible scene, people selling everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to watches and tea kettles. Apparently, every Sunday there is another such market right on the same street as our residence that is the largest outdoor market in all of Europe. I'm so excited to buy some fresh fruits and other food there, it should be a really cool experience. And it happens every Sunday right downstairs which makes it even better.

A large pumpkin in the market

Anyways, it's officially been siesta time here in Rome for the last hour and a half and I could use a nap so I hope everything is well for everyone and expect to hear from me again soon. Ciao!