Spending our morning the park in Rome was one beautiful but sad thing. This was where I took the time and reflected on my experience in Rome. I had the chance to just sit and enjoy the fact that I was in Rome with my best friend, Austin.

Spending the remainder of the evening in Frascati was one of the most hilarious and memorable evenings in Italy. I got to bond with the two most incredible girls with our inside jokes, got to have the most fabulous meal at a restaurant overlooking all of Rome, spending my last euros on clothes from Italy, and just enjoying the last hours I had in Italy.

The flight back to the Atlanta airport was so bittersweet.

I had just gotten used to my surroundings in Rome, the customs and the people of Rome, I didn’t want to leave. But I also missed the crisp air conditioner, my own bed, and my family. I am glad to say that I visited Rome before I was 18. I am glad that I have these memories to cherish for the rest of my life. I am glad that I was fortunate enough to take this trip and learn different histories of Rome and study at the University for the classes I took over seas, in the United States. One day, I know it, I will be back in Rome, looking back at these memories I made so many years ago…

This was the group in an area known as the Jewish Ghetto. This was taken before we went to the Great Synagogue of Rome. Listening to our guide talk about the history of Jews and the significance of the synagogue, it felt much bigger than me.

Everything from visiting the museum to sitting in the synagogue underneath the rainbow colored dome, I felt like there is so much history and information that people don’t really understand until they are listening to the stories, seeing pieces of history, and actually sitting in their place of prayer. Visiting the Jewish Ghetto was the one day I could never forget because it put me in a state of awe.

After a two hour speed-train ride, we finally made it to Florence with Jill, our tour-guide. The most amazing, mind blowing churches I have ever laid eyes on are in Florence. The churches in Florence were said to be bland on the inside but so specifically detailed on the outside. This is quite the opposite for churches in Rome, they might not even look like churches on the outside, but stepping into them, it’s like stepping into a painting!

There were many beautiful things about Florence, but one great thing I found in Florence was the space to actually appreciate the beauty of the city. Because it was a Roman Holiday and it was a Sunday, there was barely anyone on the streets and we were really given the quietness and time to actually take in all of the beauty Florence had to offer.

With just one exception, when we were visiting the David statue, it was so crowded I could barely take in the David’s beauty. But for the little time I did, I absolutely was mesmerized by Michelangelo’s work and the absolute and defined details the David had, it was incredibly ingenious.  It was too bad I couldn’t take a picture of it, but in reality, taking a picture couldn’t really give you the detail that your naked eye gives you when actually seeing it in person.

This was my absolute favorite day in Rome. I waited for this day my whole life, and on June 30th, 2012, my greatest wish came true, I was able to see the Trevi Fountain!

I can’t even begin to explain the feeling I felt seeing this fountain. I was so happy I believe I almost was in tears. I never thought I would be standing in front of the Trevi Fountain with my best friend, Austin, and my new close friend, Alexia.

Mytra, our tourguide, told us the key knowledge about the fountain- the wishes. You were able to make three wishes with the three coins you threw in.

1. You return to Rome.
2. You fall in love in Rome.
3. You get married in Rome.

You can only guess how many coins I threw in because I personally won’t tell you in hopes that my wish(es) come true!

But I do wish I was able to see the Trevi Fountain in its most complete form, when the main statue Neptune holding the trident but unfortunately, some fool in the 1800’s tried to climb the statue grabbing a hold of the trident and broke it. So that all that is left is what Neptune is holding literally in the palm of his hands.

After the two plane switches, a night spent in Atlanta, and a long, awaited 9-hour plane ride, we finally made it to Rome!  We were given three hours to catch up on sleep or unpack, and at noon, we would be on our first tour!

The first stop we made on our tour was the Colosseum! It was absolutely amazing touching the walls of the Colosseum and see the arena where gladiators and animals all fought for their lives. It was weird knowing that I was standing on the very same steps that people were gathering all around for entertainment!

From the Colosseum, we began our trek on the Palatine Hill. This was where I heard the famous story of Romulus and Remus, while sitting and admiring the view from the Palatine Hill.

After the Roman Forum, we visited our first church in Rome, St. Clemen’s Church. It didn’t at all look like it was a church, but after walking down each story further back into the history of the church, it started actually feeling like a church that held so much history. I felt like I was going back in time seeing each artifact the church held inside.

After stopping by the metro station for some gelato and having dinner at a nearby restaurant, we all ended our first night in Rome, and I fell asleep gazing out at the most beautiful sight of the St. Peter’s Dome.