day 7: the climb

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the day's events:

friday was a no class day except for the art history field trip. therefore it was very quiet around when i got up. those who were on the trip had already long since departed and most everyone else was still asleep. gradually people turned out. meg, megan, heather and i had lunch in the garden. once the art history group returned we got a group together and went to the vatican to climb to the top of st. peter's. it was 4 euro to get up into the cupola but it was worth every eurocent. the climbing the 500-odd stairs was a trial but incredibly fun, and definitely rewarding once we reached the top. we couldn't stop taking pictures. the views were simply remarkable.

we did have to stop on the way up. Megan was getting a bit claustrophobic as i remember (and i couldn't blame her, i was a little bit that way too). we stopped at a little landing with a tiny grated window, through which i took this photo.

when we climbed back down into the main part of the church it was late afternoon. mass started at the far end of the church at 5pm. we wondered why we were being herded out of the way by security when suddenly a group of 5 cardinals came walking through. we left before we became engrossed in mass since we had to figure out the return bus system and get back in time for dinner. we wandered out of st. peter's looking for a fermata (bus stop). we didn't find any until we were on the road right along the river. we waited and waited and were just about to give up and have to climb the stairs back up the Gianicolo, but just then one came. we rode back to monte verde, made a quick stop at the enoteca (wine shop) and headed to dinner. a large group went out after dinner to the irish pub (some of them have been there 4 times already i think) but several of us have heard that the expense isn't worth it, so stayed in. party in the Centro, and we're not ashamed.

maybe a little ashamed? i'm generally pleased with how things went tho.