So here I am in a computer lab, finally, with 36 minutes left on my paid account. After checking my email, facebook, twitter, etc. I decide to do what I really bought this internet time to do: upload my pictures as I have been promising to do ever since I arrived. (I even bought a USB card reader!) But lo and behold, they disabled the usb port and wont allow me to upload my pictures. I think some sort of of anti-terrorism, for the same reason that Italy has made a law requiring all computer labs to get your passport or driver's licence --rolls eyes--

Still not a real qwerty keyboard, but at least most of the keys are the same. We're leaving Rome via train to Venice in about three hours. Enough for dinner and some computer time.

Rome has been absolutely spectacular. I can't believe that we're halfway through our trip already!

Saturday:
The only word to describe the airport in Girona (about 1.5 hrs from Barcelona; cheaper) was clusterfck. But we had left early and had plenty of time to wait for the flight. Flight was smooth, save for the obnoxiously loud group of guys in the plane who didnt shut up for the hour and a half. Apparently cheering like it's a football/soccer game as the plane is landing is a tradition, to celebrate that the piece of shit budget airline actually took off and landed in one piece haha. That was our last flight before we leave. Only trains from here to Prague.

We got to our hostel around 2:30ish and were pretty burnt out from the RyanAir flight from Barcelona. Went to see the Fontana di Trevi (I'm working off an Italian map, hence the Italian names) and the Piazza Mignanelli. I wish I could show you guys a map, but you can google it or wait for my pictures hehe..

Sunday:
We were supposed to go to Vatican City today, but Nam wasn't feeling well the night before/day of, so we didn't wake up as early as we had liked, and, knowing that it would be crazy crowded for Sunday mass, opted to go to the Colliseum and Palatine Hill instead (ruins). The ruins were absolutely incredible, especially considering that there was still so much that hadn't been excavated yet. We took a tour for both, and it was well worth it.

Monday:
Made our way to Vatican City to see St. Peter's Basillica, the Vatican museum, and the Sistine Chapel. Again, we opted to go with a tour group to avoid the lines. Unfortunately, the first tour guide we had had a really heavy Italian accent (we were promised a native English speaker), so we got a refund and found a different tour group. The Sistine Chapel is breathtaking, and craning my neck for even 10 minutes or so hurt like crazy; I can't imagine Michelangelo doing it for years (no, he did not paint it on his back).

Vatican City operates like their own country, minting their own coins, delivering their own mail, etc. Apparently their mail system is more reliable than the rest of Italy's we mailed a bunch of postcards from Vatican City. If you haven't sent me your address yet and you want one, e-mail me your address!

Tuesday (today):
Checked out of our hostel, but left our bags there so we didn't have to carry it around all day. Went to the Pantheon (google it; it's architecturally amazing) and re-visited the Fontana di Trevi (this time, we each threw a coin into the fountain) and did some quick souvenir shopping. We also saw the Bernini's Four Fountains, which are four fountains (duh) situated in the four corners of a busy intersection. Finally, we stopped by the Piazza Della Repubblica and the Fontana del Tritone. Overall, it's been a pretty chill day, and now we're just waiting to be able to get into our overnight train, which will arrive in Venice around 5:30 am tomorrow.

I desperately wish I could upload pictures!! Hopefully I'll be able to do it when we arrive in Venice. We ran out of room on our 4gb card and finally bought another 4gb. Considering that we've only just reached the halfway mark, I expect to have it filled up by the time we return home!