Arrividerci, la città eterna!

Last day!

Rome has been getting a lot of rain these past few days, causing the Tiber River to flood a bit, but this morning was absolutely gorgeous! First, I packed up a little more and brought three (three!!) bags of clothes/shoes to a local church. Then I got on the tram, going in the opposite direction of where I would usually go to school. I had been curious as to what was down that way but never got the chance to explore until today! After a few stops, I decided to get off because I didn't really see anything too interesting. Well, I'm so glad I did get off when I did because there was this great little marketplace with open fruit, meat, cheese, and clothing stands. Why didn't I know there a market there?! It would have been so neat to get my fruits and veggies from there, if I knew about it!

From there I made my way to the Trastevere train station and jumped on a train to Roma Termini (the main train station here). I knew that a few blocks from the station was the church, Santa Maria della Vittorio. Here is where another wonder from Bernini can be found: The Ecstasy of St. Teresa. Teresa of Avila had three divine visions, which she wrote about in her autobiography. In this particular vision, an angel appears by her side with a golden arrow and pierces her heart. The sculpture depicts the moment directly after the angel removes the arrow. As a result, Teresa was overwhelmed with the love of God, therefore inspiring and motivating her to live a new and more fulfilling life.

After finding the church, I figured I would head to the Trevi Fountain one last time and then take the scenic route home. As I was walking down the street from the church, I saw a sign for the Palazzo Barbarini - another art museum that I had been wanting to go to, but didn't think I'd have time for it! How lucky for me to be walking right past it!

After the museum, I made it to Trevi and got a last "cono piccolo" of gelato! Then I went to the Pantheon and sat inside for a while, just thinking and taking it all in. On the way home, I walked through Piazza Navona and saw the Carnival again. I watched one of those really hilarious "mute" street performers who interacts with the crowd for a while. It was fun!

I walked across one of the bridges - and boy is that river flooded! We can see the Tiber from our apartment now - we're just hoping the weather is okay in the morning so that we can get outta here on time!

I'd like to post another blog after I get home, with recommendations, do's and dont's, my expectations of this semester and if they were fulfilled or not. I may do that on this blog, or I might start a new blog - we'll see what I feel like doing when I get back! For those of you who have been reading throughout the semester, I am so grateful and glad that I had the opportunity to share my experiences with you. Thank you for your support and for following along! I'm looking forward to seeing some of you after I return - at school, church, or with the kids (who I have missed so much!). Please email me to say hi or to make plans!! This ending is definitely bittersweet: Of course I'm sad to leave this wonderful country, but I also have so many great things to look forward to when I get home.

I feel that seeing The Ecstasy of St. Teresa was a great way to end my time here. I see it as Rome, piercing me with its arrow, changing my life forever. I threw my coins in the Trevi Fountain today. I'll be back. :)

Con amore,
Gillian