The Final Day

It seems fitting in a way that I write part of the final day, 2 weeks after writing about our first day of travel. This trip has been frustrating, silly, exciting, breath taking and, above all, an experiance of a life time.

Our final day started with a class at 10 am, a perfect time hours after our late night return the night prior.  For the first time the "class room" (as it was only the breakfast room) was warm enough: layers of clothing and blankets were not needed.

After class we had the final hours of free time to do with what we wished.  The 10 of us chose to grab some lunch at a place we visited our first week, and then we went our separate ways. B-west (the other contributor to today's post) chose to stick with the gang.  However, I had a very different plan: I chose instead to finish packing, get ready for our final famcy group dinner and then head down a few blocks into the park that over looked the Colosseum and read my favorite book.

I read this book twice a year, and this was honestly one of the best; there was something exciting about having the history and fantasy in the background to inspire the imagination.

However, like all good things this too came to an end, and I was off to locate dinner with the rest of the gang.  This time I timed my walk perfectly as the sun was going down so that the streets were so dark the lamps kicked in but the sky was bright with sun beams though the ruins of Old Rome.  I couldn't help but realize why people love this city so much.  Even with spray paint on walls and the constant risk of pick-pockets, it's just simply romantic. 

After my walk I met the gang and enjoyed dinner at a mom and papa hole in the wall place that was by far one of the best meals I've had here.  Between good conversation and a brilliant toast by Chris it marked an awesome end to a wonderful trip. 

Like Chris I feel it important to give a huge thanks to Carl and Michele.  Without them a huge part of our time here would not have been possible, and it has been a privilege to have had them as guides for these wonderful moments.