my Roman home!

We finally arrived back in Roma after our excursions to Florence and Venice.. we stayed 3 nights and 3 days in each city..its crazy how each city is completely different from the other in the same country! i absolutely loved Florence.. i dont know if it was because a lot of people spoke english and there were so many american tourists that you heard english chatter rather than italian.. the shopping was great there too! i spent more money in 3 days than i had the whole trip i think! the art is so great in Florence too.. Rome has some notorious buildings but Florence is so rich in art that I think I liked it better! Our hotel in Florence was literally right on the Duomo square and yes i did hear the bell tower chime every half hour.. grr..the food was pretty much the same excpet i finally found some white cream sauce(what we call alfredo sauce) on a menu and it was the most amazing thing i have had all month! Then came Venice.. and is it the strangest city or what! Its really neat that there isnt 1 car in the whole city.. all the streets are either paved or you take boats through them... It rained the first two days we were there but it was an adventure.. It was super cold those 2 days too! We explored the little islands there.. we went to Murano the little island where they make all the Murano glass! it was awesome! We saw a demonstration of glass blowing.. thats art and talent if you ask me.. The food in venice is a little different- the pizza looks american in the triangle slices and there is more pesce or fish on the menu than a non-fish lover could dream about! I had some good pesto pasta and a lot of pizza.. We took a 5 hour train ride back to Rome yesterday and we got in around 7:30.. traveling is fun but a little hectic with a group but we all made it alive and safe back in our Residence.. we have the day off today so we are going grocery shopping and washing clothes! Im starting to get just a little homesick but i think its just because im tired and this is like the last leg of the race and i can see the finish ahead.. but i am going to enjoy every last moment here before its gone! Continue to pray for me while im here and pray for a heart to love the people here and to unconditionally love the group im here with all the time! Also pray for the staff at Pine Cove as they are in their first full week of campers! I love you all and will post again soon.. i will put picutres up again if i have a few hours to do so! Love you all so much and thanks for all your support and love!!

ps. i totally forgot to tell you i went on a gondola ride at night! it was super amazing.. its so quiet and serene at night because there really arent many people whoh live in venice.. its too expensive so they live on the mainland across the ocean.. giovanni was our little paddler man and he was very sweet and kind.. we spent most of that day with our teacer Jacque and she is a lot of fun to hang out with.. she just has this goofy personality and she lightens up a lot when in small groups..

this post is uber long but i thought why make a new post when i could modify this one.

today we had a short day and we went to a few churches and the pantheon.. the pantheon is really neat.. i know dad would love most of the buildings i am seeing..

i am so ready to be able to drive a car because everyday the public transportation really scares me more and more.. plus i miss florence and venice where i felt more safe from the people and surroundings. but its teaching me that its my job to change the way people are by being an example of Christ because they are so oblivious to his grace..

well im going to get some pizza and fold my laundry.. i really miss washing machines.. this whole turning my bathtub into a laundromat is hard work! plus our room is strung out with clothes lines.. it just makes me appreciate them so much more!

im doing great and enjoying the time here! wish you all could jump over here for a bit! take care and ill post soon.. love you all