Europe Day 25: Bye Bye Roma

Today was my last full day in Rome. I took it easy; class in the morning, Chinese for lunch, Lost in the afternoon, and a big class dinner in the evening.  On one hand, I felt like I ought to go out and do something spectacular for my last day in Rome.  On the other hand, it was raining.  A lot.  We have to have all of our cloths packed and ready to go at 7am tomorrow morning-I really did not feel like balling up my wet clothes into my suitcase with all of my fresh, clean clothes.  Kayla and I had planned to rent bikes and ride through the garden's at the Medici's house, but again-it was raining. 

I also was not too sure I should eat Chinese for lunch.  Then again, we've been to that place like, six times.  It sort of has a dear place in my heart.  The woman who seats us recognizes us now, and I have come to recognize what the young boy who can't speak English is saying when he brings us the food.  I managed to try almost all of the items on the chicken menu, and I got my helping of vegetables in my fried rice.  Having an "our place" felt pretty cool-especially considering we have only been in Rome for ten days.

After lunch we went to get our last gelato in Rome.  We went to the Frigidarium, where they dunk the gelato in chocolate, like a dipped cone from Dairy Queen.  Michael found us munching our treat on his way to a used bookstore, so we joined him.  I love used bookstores!  I feel like a book means so much more when I know that some one else somewhere experienced that book.  I may find their notations in the pages, or smell the coffee they spilt because they were reading during breakfast.  But as much as I love used book stores, I did not last long in this one. Of course, almost all of the books in the place were in Italian.  I would haved loved to purchase the Harry Potter, Michael Crichton, Jane Austen, or even the Tom Clancy book I found, but it would have done me no good-I could not understand a word of what was written. It was a little disheartening, so it did not take me long to leave.

Our class dinner was pretty sweet.  It was a set menu so everyone got the same thing, but it was a delicious same thing in a four course meal.  First, we had  "tongue teaser," more commonly translated appitizer.  This was bruschetta with tomatoes and olives on top-and the olives were pitted!  Anytime I've had olives on anything in Europe I have nearly cracked my teeth on the stone-like center.  Then there is the awkward spit-out-the-pit-without-slobbering-all-over-the-place bit that gets me every time.  This was a refreshing change.

Soon after bruschetta came a delicious salad-mostly so appetizing because it was covered in corn.  I love corn, and I haven't eaten it since we've been over here.  They also put some olive oil on it, though I can't say that did much for the flavor.  It mostly just made my lips greasy.

The main course sailed in shortly afterwards.  I was only dissapointed because it was the same noodles with pesto that I ate at that restaurant yesterday.  It was still yummy, but since I had snacked on ritz crackers and nutella less than an hour before I could not finish it.  Josh ate it for me instead.  Apparently everyone else was ravenous.

Dessert was chocolate mousse.  This I made room to finish.  It was thicker than any mousse I had ever eaten before, but still really yummy!  Though I'd have to say I like gelato better.

Tomorrow we leave for Sorrento.  As usual, I do not know what our wifi situation will be, just to warn you that I may not post for a while.  But, the hostel we are staying in is suppsed to be really nice. I am excited about that.  The hotel we are in now rarely gives us clean towels, and when they do, they often do not give enough.  The cleaning ladies also have a reputation of kicking people out of their room so they can clean.  On top of that, it is noisy here all the time!  We are on a major road, so we constantly get cars, car accidents, sirens, and late night party people all hours of the night. Ah, but thus is Rome!