Best Night Ever & I Saw the Pope...video included

My Australian roommate and I decided to get fat and go get gelato. We said "we're in Rome, we might as well." We were walking around looking for a gelateria, but couldn't find one anywhere. We were convinced that the people of Rome were hiding the gelato from us, and our Italian lovers (of whom don't actually exist...DON'T WORRY DAD). We walked past this one restaurant where one of the waiters, who was standing outside trying to get people eat there, handed us a card. We walked into the train station and found gelato that satisfied both of our needs: variety of flavors and enough gelato to make us happy. We got 3 flavors each. Then, we decided to go get dinner and walked to the restaurant that we had walked past previously. We sat down, ordered our food and a half bottle of wine (red wine for me). During the meal, we learned the waiter who handed us the card was Moroccon and the inside waiter was Indian. As we were finishing up our meal, the Indian waiter came up to us and said at 11:30 we close, you will come out with us? At first, we thought it was a joke, but he was persistant about it and we realized he wasn't joking. We asked for the bill and quickly left. We got back to the hostel, met a new roommate (also from Australia). We ended up talking about religion and history and it's interpretation, then she and I decided to go to the Trevi Fountain and make a wish and take pictures. I put on a dress, and we headed out. Along the way, we decided we might as well get more gelato. We went into this restaurant/gelateria, paid, then got gelato. I got kiwi and watermelon. It was delicious. The guy who served us gelato knew I was from the States and asked me if I spoke Italian. I said no, but he still said something to me in Italian. As we were looking for the Trevi Fountain, we asked someone if we were going the correct way. He said we were. After we left him, I wanted to go back to him because I thought that he looked and sounded like Seth Rogen. We continued on our way and got to the Trevi Fountain. We took pictures and a couple asked us to take a picture of them. The husband was from New York and the wife was from Colombia. As my roommate was taking pictures, one of the picture-taking-mosquitos came up to me, asked me my age, said he like 18, and told me I was very beautiful. Then as we were taking pictures of ourselves, 2 Italian men (who were kinda old) came up to us, one asked "are you from Texas?" and I said yes. We soon realized he was asking my Australian roommate. Then they asked where she's from. They guessed the United States and Canada (even though she has a distinct Australian accent). We talked for a bit, then for some reason, they asked me what my astrological sign was (the second time I had been asked that question that night). As we shook them off, another mosquito-picture-taker came up to us, handed us roses, we took pictures with them, then he asked for money...so we handed them back to him. We had decided that from the time we found the first gelato place to the time we got back to the hostel after the Trevi Fountain, everything had worked out for us.

I was suggested to go to the Vatican today to see the pope speak in St. Petersburg Square. So I said why not, I have nothing else to do today. Everything I really had wanted to do, I did the previous day: the Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain (twice in fact), the number of churches, etc... So as I arrived in the Vatican, I said to myself "I'm in another country." Then my next thought was "I'm actually at the Vatican. Wow." Finally I said "I'm going to see the pope today. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity." I stood around St. Petersburg Square for an hour just waiting to see the pope. I videotaped everything he said, including the blessings he gave. Imagine...me, a good Jewish girl, receiving a priestly blessing from the pope himself in St. Petersburg Square. After he said his blessings, I think I was the only one who did not respond with 'amen.'

When in Rome

So I am in Rome. This is the last stop of my journey unti lIsrael Experience Week (where I will be in Poland). Yesterday, in Florence, I came down to breakfast and saw 3 fellow Nativers. After breakfast, we went our separate ways for the day. I went to the Vecchio museum (which has a copy of the David outside in case any of you were wondering how I managed to take a picture of the David), I went to the Accademia Gallery (which hosts the real David), and I went to the Uffitzi (which hosts my absolute favorite painting, The Birth of Venus). I had walked around a bit more and when it began to get dark, I went back to the hostel to relax for the night. The 3 Nativers I saw at breakfast came back, we talked for a bit, then they went to bed. I stayed on my computer. An hour later, 6 more Nativers walked in. I knew I was going to see them in Rome, but I was surprised to see them in Florence. This morning, we learned that all 10 of us were staying at the same hostel this weekend. After breakfast, I checked out of my room, got on the bus, and headed to the train station for a 9:25 train to Rome. A smooth ride for the most part. When I got off the train, I learned that the hostel was a 5 minute walk from the station. I checked in to the hostel, but I couldn't get into my room until 3:00. So I decided to walk around Rome to get to know the area a little bit before I actually went sight seeing. I walked to the Trevi Fountain and around. As I walked around even more, I felt nervous. Of all the places I'd been travelling in alone, I did not feel safe in Rome. I came back to the hostel to relax some more. 15 til 3, the 3 Nativers I first met up with in Florence asked me what I was doing for Shabbat. Not realizing it was Friday, I had nothing planned. I have a very limited time in Europe because I head back to Israel Sunday night, so I plan on spending Saturday sight seeing in Rome. I also learned that even more Nativers are staying at the same hostel. It should be an interesting weekend. As they say, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." I'm not quite sure what that means, but I sure plan to find out

Venice and Florence

I arrived in Venice in the afternoon. The hostel's website had a list of how to get there depending on where you were. After the airport, I got on a bus that takes you to the central bus station. It cost 3 euro. When I got to the central bus station, I bought a 24 hour waterbus ticket and hopped on the waterbus that would take me to the stop near my hostel. A 30 minute waterbus ride isn't that bad. I got to the hostel, went to my room, chilled for a bit. Realizing I forgot an alarm clock, I went out to see what I could find. On the bus ride, I discovered my ipod has an alarm clock on it. Problem solved. The next day, I went out to explore the city. I went to the Rialto bridge, explored around, managed to get lost a little bit. In the process of getting lost, I managed to find a synagogue and a Kosher restaurant. Go figure. I then decided to go to the other side of Venice and explore St. Mark's Square. I did not go into Doge's Palace because the line was too long and why bother if I feel no connection to it. I did take pictures of the outside of course. I walked around a little bit and saw a great thing: The Ferrari Store. Yes, I did go in and yes, I did buy a Ferrari....

...set of golf balls. I walked around a little more, got lost again, but found my way after a little while. I went back to the hostel and decided to go out for dinner at a little restaurant right next to the Rialto bridge. I sat outside, under a heater, got pasta and a dessert. The outside waiters/host were very friendly, energetic, funny people. After a wonderful dinner, I went back to the hostel, relaxed a bit, then went to sleep. This morning I made my way to Florence via train. I found my car and seat (Car 7, Seat 36: next to the window). I was unaware that the train made several stops before reaching its final destination. Getting on 2 stations after me was a nun who ended up sitting next to me (of course my חיnecklace was hanging out). Now to figure out what to do in Florence

Silvester in Berlin

I am currently in Berlin. I am staying with my dad's college roommate, Duane, in Berlin. I was here for New Year's (which I have recently learned), called Silvester. Here during Silvester, people set off fireworks, cracklers, sparklers, etc. Berliners like to drink glühwein, beer, and sparkling wine. They eat döner kebabs, apple strudel, pastries with numerous fillings. Fillings include chocolate, a mixture of 4 fruits, banana, cherry, egg nog type cream, etc. Yesterday, I walked around East Berlin and saw the Brandenburg Gate, a Holocaust memorial, Reichstag, Potsdamer Platz (Sony Center), Unter den Linden (Under the Linden trees), Hackesche Hoefe (traditional courtyards development), the Bebel Platz (underground library commemorating the book burning), the New Synagogue and many museums. Last night, I was in West Berling and saw the ruins of the memorial church, Charlottenburg Palace, and the Schinkel Pavillion (where a nymphomaniac queen had a balcony so that her lovers would not have to see each other). I went back to Brandenburg Gate to see what happened during New Year's. It wasn't much. I had a beer (because I'm in Germany and that's one of the things that you have to do), but still, I don't like the taste of beer. Still, it was my first legal New Year's. There was a band (but they weren't very good). At 23:00, live coverage began there, but I had left about an hour before because it was quite boring.

Germany is a lot of fun. Today I went to the Jewish Museum. The museum is about Jews in Berlin from the mideval times until the present. It was a very interesting experience.