1 Via Dei Fori Imperiali

Right after our week-long study tour in Instanbul was Spring Break! I was so excited to meet up with my high school friend, Adrienne, who is studying in London this semester. Together, we explored Rome for a few days before making our way to Paris and to London.

It was so nice to get to show Adrienne around Rome and to finally share with somebody all of the things I've learned this semester. I was actually pretty surprised by how easily and how much I recalled when revisiting places like the Forum, the Vatican Museum, St. Peter's Basilica, and San Clemente. It was so nice to return to sites like these that we had been to for class and be able to move through them at my own pace and explore places I hadn't seen the first time. 

House of the Vestal Virgins in the Forum

It was also great to really get to share the places I go every day, like Campo de' Fiori and Trastevere, with someone from back home. It's nice to know that now when I tell stories about places in Rome, at least Adrienne will know what I'm talking about.

However, one of the coolest things about the three days we spent in Rome over spring break was where we stayed: 1 Via Dei Fori Imperiali. Google it, and the pointer pops up inside the Roman Forum. Through a priest connection of Adrienne's dad, we had the opportunity to stay in the Franciscan friars' guest apartment at the Basilica of Saints Cosmos and Damian. Expecting a dormlike situation on the opposite side of the street, we were absolutely flabbergasted when we showed up and realized that not only did we have what was essentially a small house with 2 floors all to ourselves, but it was also practically in the Forum! We felt so lucky.

The door to the Guest Apartment (behind the
 blue car) with the view of the Forum beyond