Uno, Due, Tre, Quattro

I had written out a nice longish report on my first three days but I have no way of getting it on this computer... flash drives not allowed in internet cafes... bah!

Hence, the short version as far as I can remember it.

Day 1 :: Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi :: Saying goodbye

• Too many goodbyes said as all of us went our separate ways.
• I learned that 'home' is something I'll never take for granted again, even if 'home' is just a place to stay for the night. In this case, I had a place to stay AND the company of two amazing gals, Laura and Emily D. It was such a relief to navigate and whatnot on the first day on my own with the knowledge that I had them to go back to!

Day 2 :: To Rome! :: Winging it

• Unlike my normal plan every moment self, I decided which train to take and bought the tickets only after I checked out of the hotel and didn't have a clue about where I'd be staying once I got to Rome.
• I never really appreciated 'accommodations' listings until this day. Thank goodness for Lonely Planet! I picked the hostel closest to the train station and, thankfully, it worked perfectly.

Day 3 :: Rome and the Vatican :: The Pope

• Rome rocks because there's so much to see everywhere that I can easily navigate from the hostel to the Vatican by way of sight hopping rather than trying to remember street names. Went to my first mass. In St Peter's in the Vatican. Whoot! (Even though I had no idea what was going on)
• Left mass only to see a massive massive massive crowd in the square. Couldn't figure out where the heck the Pope was except that it was up since everyone was looking up.
• Became a sardine as I tried to make my way into the square. I've never been so smooshed in my life. Person behind you moves, so do you. Sardines to the max.
• Saw the Pope! When he had less than a minute left in his blessing. But still! I saw the small dot that was the Pope! And I have a picture. A blurry picture but a picture nonetheless. Whoot!

Day 4 :: Rome. :: Old Rome.

• Went to the Colosseum only to find that I had forgotten to put my memory card back in. Colosseum. No camera. I did it oldschool and broke out the sketchbook. aww yeah.
• Went to the Palatine and the Roman Forum. And got massively rained on. And learned that I should never wear my grey pants if rain is predicted because they get slightly see through when wet. Oh dear.

To Florence tomorrow!