The Streets of Rome

Since Rome was the first city we visited in Europe, we did A LOT of walking before we wised up to taxis and public transportation. These were some miscellaneous pictures of the city that I liked.
There were so many street cafes which was an interesting change. A lot of restaurants would just take two or three parallel parking spots and just build a deck with a canopy, add some tables and potted plants and you had instant outdoor seating with the cars whizzing by.
This guy was waiting for someone while I was sitting on the steps outside the Pantheon and this was actually his "resting" pose. I couldn't believe it because it just screams "photo shoot" to me. Of course, I took the picture.
John with the Fountain of Trevi in the background. At night, they turn these huge floodlights on the fountain and it is just as crowded as it is in daylight.
I was fascinated with this couple and took a bazillion pictures of them while sitting by the fountain. Mainly, because I like the colors of the water with the lights. This was day three of our trip and my feet were killing me. Sitting at Trevi and people watching was so fun and got us geared up for the next steps.

The Tiber River! Can you get more Roman?? Fact: Rome doesn't have a subway system because every time they started to dig they hit the ruins of another ancient civilization.
This was a fabulous store that I loved everything I saw. Completely my style and then I looked up and saw the sign! Unfortunately, it was closed so I never got to meet my clothing destiny...
We spent two hours doing a walking tour of the monuments and this is a shot during a 30 min conversation using our combined history knowledge (and movie trivia) to piece together the order of the Caesars' rule, who belonged to which dynasties, the lands they conquered and who slept with who. We did such a good job, it deserved a picture.

If I lived in Europe and couldn't afford a BMW SUV or Land Rover, I'd want a Smart Car. I'm obviously not one of their normal "green" customers.) You can actually park horizontally across a parallel parking spot and still fit in between the lines. My parking woes would be OVER! (I can't parallel park to save my life...honestly.) You can buy them in the US in 2008 but how would you like to be in one of these things on the same road with a bunch of semi-trucks and SUVs?

One of the MANY churches of Rome. We walked by it FIVE times on our first morning there when we got a little lost and confused. That is when we discovered that not all roads are on all maps in Italy.
The crowds at the Fountain of Trevi. It stayed like this all day long. It is one of the most famous tourists sights because if you throw a coin in the fountain the legend says you will return to Rome.
There were street musicians all over Europe. This little guy just captured my interest.

iSurprise

I made a playlist on my iPod entitled "Running" months ago. However, I am normally more interested in chatting so I haven't listened to it. Yesterday, Nicole told me that if I can talk while I'm doing cardio than I'm not working hard enough. (I just thought that it meant I was a lot more in shape since I used to think I was going to die when I started back a couple years ago.)

With that in mind, I took my iPod to the gym and found the playlist which I had forgotten. I love fun surprises. This is what popped up:




Blessed Be Your Name Tree 63
Coach JBlaze (aka Jarret York to the TarHeels)
You Can't Hurry Love Diana Ross & The Supremes
Unconditional Kirk Franklin
I Am Free Newsboys
Open the Eyes of My Heart Michael W. Smith
You Never Let Go Matt Redman
Shackles (Praise You) Mary Mary
Made to Love TobyMac
Strong Tower Kutless

Coach makes me laugh out loud. Here are some of my favorite lines:

"But first, Hold up! Let me grab my pen. Do it old school style like we were ten. Forget the cellphone just give me your hand, let me open up your palm and write you in. I'm gonna blow in your hand so the ink dry right, looking you dead in the eye 'cause I'm focused right. If my number ain't smeared by the end of the night, that means you ain't sweating me and I will be alright."

All Quite on the Southeastern Front...

Road tripped to Charleston last weekend. Completely wonderful visit. I stopped by Z.H.O.P. on the way down. I'm now thrilled that I work in Ft. Mill, SC so I can spend more time there.

Then, made it back in time to see the movie, Hairspray, and to attend the Eddie Money concert complete with fireworks in downtown Raleigh. I had to call Jason to figure out why this guy was famous. I'm just not an 80s Chic. Plus, "Take Me Home Tonight" has just never really meshed with my M.O.

On Sunday, I ended up at an impromptu lunch where everyone was an I.V. alum. What was really funny is that Justin & Amy's staff worker happened to be in town from Roanoke, VA and had lunch with us. Turns out, we were all at Rockbridge yet never met.

Bean Traders

I love Bean Traders. They are completely awesome. I am so thankful that when they serve me my fabulous coffee I also get free wi-fi. (Completely handy until Time Warner can come hook up my wireless in my new place.) The husband and wife who own the stores roast the coffee beans for all the other locations here and it smells WONDERFUL.

How often does your local barista remember your name, much less your favorite drink? They do here. Of course, I have been a regular customer for over a year.

Also, it is definitely the "local neighborhood hangout". I'm a magnet for the little kids who come in with their parents. I've now discovered that the color red attracts hummingbirds, bulls, and TODDLERS. I've gotten to know one of my pastors because he comes into get hot tea here every morning. It is just a cool place.

(I got these pictures of my favorite location off of flickr.com and they totally capture the way it is)

Greetings from My Coat Closet

It has been a bizarre day.

I don't think that I fully realized just how bizarre until I emerged from my coat closet after an hour long conversation on my cellphone. My new apartment still doesn't have a lot of furniture moved in yet so my voice echoes a lot and my mother was spending the night to help me move. I love to talk and I have my little shrieks of joy and surprise that up the noise level fairly quickly. I got tired of standing outside after midnight so I came back in and was trying to talk in hushed tones. Didn't work. The other person kept saying, "What?" "What did you say? I can't hear you."

So, the next thing I know I was totally Narnia-ing it by sitting on the floor tented by winter coats.

(Side Note: I am moving just down the hall into a larger apartment. Nothing too serious but it still requires packing.)

Tonight is the first night in my new apartment. I love it!

The real moving day is Saturday when all the big furniture gets passed through the doorways.

The Roman Forum

Things I learned this weekend at a wedding in Kenansville:

1. My former classmates are not afraid of cosmetic surgery and I can actually say they look fabulous as a result. (I'm still not for it but now I know it does work!)

2. Never congratulate someone on their upcoming wedding unless you have seen the engagement ring or heard from THEIR mouth that it is a sure thing. This is not the time to rely on the grapevine news. (It is pretty embarassing when they yell, "I'm not getting married!"

3. In smalls towns, when people ask, "What are you doing now?" don't feel you need to give them a detailed answer. They already have heard from their best friend's mother who ran into your mom at the grocery two months ago. This is just polite conversation to keep things going smoothly.

4. Little boys and girls grow up into men and women. You won't recognize the kid you babysat for six years and other people won't know who you are. It isn't that big of a deal.

5. Definitely sit with the couple at the table by themselves when trying to pick the "lesser evil". They will be a lot more motivated to make conversation because they probably don't know anyone else and you could really like them. (I met two real gems!)

6. Pick up where you left off with people. It is easier that way instead of feeling akward because you haven't talked in ten years. Unless, of course, you left off badly with someone. That's when you just pretend you forgot everything because it was SOOOO long ago and chat them up anyway.

7. I would rather have someone be sugary sweet to my face and then talk about me once I leave than to have them be obviously rude and mean in my presence. It may be a Southern thing but it HAS to be so much more civilized. In the past, I have been critical of the "Smile even if you are doing it through gritted teeth" mentality but I have decided that if someone is really going to be that pointedly offensive in front of you, they will badmouth you, too. I'd prefer not to have to deal with other people's poison. Some people say that Southern way is lying but I beg to differ...That sugary sweet stuff doesn't really fool anyone. You know if you are hated or adored. Once again, it makes the social situations easier.

Home but not quite...

Here's the whirlwind tour:

Three nights in Rome, two nights in Venice, three nights in Florence, two nights in Cinque Terre, two nights in Switzerland, two nights in Paris, four nights in London.

It is still crazy to me that Sandra and I missed each other by just a few days in London!! I also went to see the play Wicked since John and Alisha hadn't seen it yet. I think Jonesy was also in town. Crazy.

It was a fabulous trip. I was surprised by my reaction to the different cities. My favorite places (in order of greatest to least) were London, Paris, Rome, Switzerland, Cinque Terre, Florence and Venice. I was really thinking, "I need to learn French and move to Paris" but then once I got to London it was, "Forget Paris! I love London and already speak the language!" I'm totally in love with British culture. For those of you who don't know, my second major was English with a concentration in British literature. The BBC spellbinds me and I enjoy all the little differences in their vocab and accent.

I ADORE ROME. I just fell in love with the history merging with the present. You've got to love a city where it is impossible to have a subway because everytime they started digging ancient artifacts and new civilizations were found. Religon is so strong there. I don't know what I think about it all just yet but it leaves an impression on you.

My favorite attraction of the whole trip, hands down, was Vatican City. I was incredibly moved by those buildings. I'm not sure if because it really is holy ground or because the church of St. Peter is so grand that it really does make you look Heavenward.