Viterbo e Roma!!!!!

12/3-15/3

This weekend I got to go back to one of my favorite places ever, Viterbo! The weekend was amazing, even if it didn’t start out so great. We bought all our tickets online, thinking that would save us time, and it ended up being the biggest cause of our problems. Our trains were as follows: Nice – Ventimiglia, Ventimiglia – Genova, Genova – Rome (overnight). We went to the nice train station to pick up the first batch of tickets and found out that even though we paid with an international credit card online, we couldn’t use this credit card in the machine to pick it up (no does it say that, all it says is that the card can not be read, so we just figured there was a problem with the magnetic strip). There were only one or two people working in the ticket line so we tried any way to get the tickets out of the machine or buy new ones, but those machines also only accepted French credit cards or coins (we didn’t have 7 euro each in coins). Finally we decide to stand in the line since we clearly have no other option and end up missing our train and the next one won’t get us into Ventimiglia with enough time to make the Genova connection. The woman at the window isn’t exactly helpful either.. apparently we needed some reservation booking number that we didn’t have. Why can’t they just look it up on the credit card? We finally got the tickets, but we knew we wouldn’t make the connection so we tried to convince the train people to call Ventimiglia and hold the train for 5 minutes. They said no, that they didn’t really want to call Italy and that they would only do it if there were lots of people on the connection. We said maybe they were, and they said that all those passengers would need to go up and inform them of that then. They also said that there were no more connections to Genova that night, so basically we would be stuck in Ventimiglia, but that we might as well try it because Italian trains usually run late (you’re telling me) so maybe we had a chance. So we tried to think positively, got on the next train (that was conveniently 10 minutes en retard.. really?!) We took the train, got to Ventimiglia and there were no trains in sight. Ughhh. We were only 5 minutes late! Looking at the departure bored there were no trains to any city in Italy until the next morning, our only option was to take one back to nice. So about 3 hours later we end up back in our apartment, after having been to 3 countries (France, Monaco, Italy)! We decided to take the next train to Rome leaving at 6:30 from Ventimiglia so we had to take a 5:15 train from Nice and decided to get there plenty in advance in order to not miss anything. So we got up around 3:45 and got on our train from Nice to Ventimiglia, then our straight train from Ventimiglia to Rome (6:30-2pm) where we had the 6 person car all to ourselves up until the last 30 minutes when some guys came on and offered us part of their lunch.. We finally made it to Rome at 2 then had to wait for our Viterbo train which left at 2:50 and got in at 4:45. Peter was supposed to meet us at the train station.. but thought that the train would be late so we ended up calling and he rushed over then walked us to Aaron’s. After we got to Aaron’s we walked around Viterbo (passegiata time!) and then came back and Aaron invited all the old usac-ers over (minus Hana who was in Rome) and they all made dinner for us. We didn’t lift a finger the whole weekend, Aaron was the best host! Anytime we tried to help with cooking or dishes Aaron was all like no, you are a guest. After dinner we went to Katie’s to hang out. So we hung out for a bit, and then went to Shu, where they had a really loud live band, which was not what we wanted. So we headed to the piazza della morte, where a bunch of the former and new dorm kids were hanging out. Then it was off to Try. We walked around a bit looking for people and made our way outside where I met some more American kids (they are like all from umd this semester!). The next morning we got up went to the market, and just chilled around Viterbo. I went to the pasticceria and got an amazing cappuccino (the one that gives you the perugina choclate) and it was the nice guy working this time! He was so excited to use his one English phrase, “yes we can!” Then we just walked around a bit but it was already pausa time so everything was closed and we just ended up sitting outside on the steps of Aarons apartment for awhile, waiting for him to come back so we could leave for the hot springs. So we went to the terme later, which smell like rotting eggs, are much smaller than I thought (the free ones anyways), were only luke warm that day, and were filled with creepy old, speedo wearing and topless Italian people. It was basically one big joke. But we stayed for like 2 hrs because that’s how often the bus came. Then we had to ride the bus back all smelly and wet which sucked. But then we got home all took showers and went out to ninja pizza for dinner. It was crowded so we decided to take it to the pope’s palace and eat outside. So we had some wine then played quarters aka 20 centesimi. Then we played f the dealer (again) and then his roommate came home and spent like 45 minutes talking about how women were stupid. After heading back to Aarons and staying up even later to sit around and chat we finally go to bed. The next morning we awake to peter and Aaron making us breakfast! I love them, they are awesome. After the amazing breakfast we only had a little bit of time and then it was off to the train station! :( So we were running a little late and the train was there all ready to leave so we get to the train, say thanks to Peter and Aaron, big hugs and baci all around. So sad to leave (it doesn’t get easier the second time around, I guess); I had such a good time! I love Viterbo and had the best time last semester; I really hope we can make a reunion happen in the future, especially if it’s in Viterbo!

The rest of our last day in Italy we spent in Rome. We went to St. Peter’s and climbed up the crazy amounts of stars at the cupola! There are 320 stairs from the roof of the basilica.. so all in all like 500 total or something? I have no idea; it seemed like a ton, especially with our huge backpacks with everything we were carrying that weekend. The view from the top was luckily well worth the tiny slant-y, vertigo inducing walk (work out) up. After doing that and walking around the basilica, we made our way to the metro, got some gelato, then metro to the train station, trained it to the airport, checked in, went through security, got some food, and got on our 50 minute flight back to Nice!