Tre Settimane

Well, this blog isn't about anything in particular but merely to mark my three weeks spent in Rome. I can't believe it has been three weeks. Things are fabulous. Sometimes I forget I'm in Italy and then I remember and get really excited. I can't help but think I should be doing more with my days here but then I gently remind myself that I came here not only to see the sights but also to experience the Italian life. I think I am doing a great job if I do say so myself! Stefano and Gioia think so too. Also, I recently got my results back from a blood test I took right before I left and turns out my hyperthyroid is not going away as I had previously thought. This explains why I am exhausted after 4 hours of sightseeing and wandering. I realized that the sights are truly exquisite and are everything I wanted them to be but the city is equally as wonderful. I could live here if it weren't for being away from family and friends. The city is easy to navigate (as long as you live near the metro) and its nice to just wander.
The other day I went looking for an English book store as I finished my book (lasted a long time I must say). So I arrived at "The Lion bookshop" and it was strange to speak English easily. I find I dumb down my English for the family so to speak using big words was just lovely. The owner is from the UK and was a big help. By the way I should say how much I love the fact that it is called a "bookshop"- it seemed so British. Though the store has expanded to take up three storefronts (not a lot by Canadian standards but big for Rome) they did not have either of the books I was looking for. I browsed through the young adult section though and saw some fictional books that are- as far as I can tell- about a group of friends in ancient Roman times. I will go back and check them out further as the series would be wonderful to have (and I'm not going to lie, I love young adult books).
So I left there and just wandered. I was walking down Via del Corso which is quickly becoming one of my favorite streets. It has a couple stores we have in Canada like Lush and H&M but I like it because it runs directly from Piazza del Popolo to Piazza Venezia which are two very important piazzas let me tell you. But I love it here. I feel like I fit here. And yes, I know I don't speak the language and yes I know I don't know anywhere except Piazza Bologna and Il Centro. But I fit.
The cafe that I go to every day makes me happy because the guys that work there know me now and always greet my entrance with a smile and a "Ciao bella, uno cappuccino?" It's the closest thing to Starbucks I have over here and I am grateful for it.
So my mom suggested the twins class write letters to her class in Canada; they have already started and are very excited. I went to iron out the details with their English teacher on Thursday.
I am very excited because I am planning a trip to Florence with an old friend that I haven't seen in years who is working as an au pair in Sweden. We are going for the first week of March and I am super excited. It has worked out nicely because my family is going on a skiing trip during this time. So Heather and I are going to Florence and hopefully we can see some of the Tuscan countryside. I have visions of drinking wine at dusk with a beautiful view- hopefully this is attainable. I have also been told to have a fragola (strawberry) and limone gelato on the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) by a certain someone who lived in Florence for a couple years going to art school. How romantic!
After that trip I will return to Rome for about a week and then off to Paris (!!!) where my mother will meet me!!! I am very excited. We will spend some quality time together in Paris and environs during her spring break. How decadent!!
So that about sums it up. Rome is wonderful. I will remember this trip forever.
Ciao miei amici!! Lots of love and miss you all.
Kate