The Sights: Piazza di Spagna e Trevi e Lido Ostia

School is getting better and better. I'm still very behind and just struggling to understand what my teacher is saying to me everyday, but every day is a little bit easier. I did sign up for nine hours of private lessons over the next two weeks. Since I only have two left it's important that I get as much Italian out of this experience as possible, and I don't think that will happen with only my class work.

Basta! Now, onto the fun stuff :-)

Wednesday, I went to the Piazza di Spagna and ran into my roommate and his classmates Anna and Jimena. The three of us went on to the fountain of Trevi (which has been the most beautiful thing I've seen so far. I could have just sat there and looked at it for hours!) and then grabbed a quick bite to eat.

Piazza di Spagna!


Another shot of the Piazza di Spagna


All the fountains in Rome are safe to drink. I'd recommend going to a spout to fill up like these folks instead of the pool where there tends to be dirty feet or nasty things floating!


A wider shot of the fountain at the base of the Scalinata di Spagna


Now, THIS is some of the pretty part of Rome. It seems like everywhere else has graffiti


Another nice street.


Fontana di Trevi!


Neptune


Me!


The scene close up. That's Plenty and Health in the niches on either side of Neptune.


Ah...Aqua


A Triton handling one of Neptune's winged horses.


And the other Triton and horse (on the left of Neptune).


Pretty.


Before you leave the fountain you must turn around, make a wish and throw two coins into the fountain. One for a safe return to Rome, and the other to make your wish come true! (all the money goes to CARITAS)


Yesterday, the crew, plus a bunch more, went down to the beach at Ostia (Lido Ostia).

I've started to discover that Jimena is not a very "sturdy" woman, and is getting on my nerves. She's always sitting down, or draping herself over one of the "big strong men." She plays the weakling, and it's quite bothersome. The others are quite cool. Anna is a Primary teacher (elementary for you non-English folk) and has quite a spark of fun, and sweet joy about her. Ryan is just a full out good guy. Smiley, chatty, and just genuine.

Jack accompanied us for the first time and appears to be a man of leisure. His father owns some big company in Switzerland and Jacks touring around the world learning English, Italian and other languages so that he's ready to take over his father's company. I usually look down on rich folk who have nothing better to do than rip around partying and playing and barely scratching by just to have a company handed to them, but I'm starting to feel bad for these folk. Sure, their life is all jet-setting and play in their twenties, but what happens after they take over the company? It probably becomes their entire life! I do not envy that. If it just becomes another form of partying (like, bigger yachts and with more CEOs instead of your college buds) than I'd feel pretty resentful of their frivolous lives.

Usul is a textile engineer from Turkey. His English isn't great, but he's a fun guy and was willing to jump in the rough water with Jack, Jimena and I even though he's not a great swimmer.

Finally, Jocelyn rounds our our North American contingent, representing Canada. She's the eldest of the group (though I'm not too far behind her) and has two little girls waiting at home for her. She's also a teacher and a lot of fun.


The Private Beach. Not bad, only €9 for a long chair, an umbrella (if you split the cost with others), and very nice shower and bathroom services (Servizi).


Ah...the water. So nice, and choppy! I had a blast jumpming up and down in the waves.


All of us. Life is so hard for us, no?