Walk a mile in my shoes

I estimated today, that we walk, at the minimum 2 miles a day, no matter what. Our apartment is about 1 mile from the rail station, and we have had to use it every day since our arrival. Today, at about 5 miles, was the least we have walked yet...outside anyway.
Yesterday we met at El Teatro Di Marcello, an old theatre made by caesar augustus, for the 'people'. Part of it was restored by Mussolini in the 30's and it sits right next to the old ghetto, which dates back to when only true romans could live within the city walls. The buildings in the old 'ghetto' were actually quite detailed ornate. They displayed the main color pallatte of Rome. Black, white, maroon and gold. An old large roman buliding sat at the back of the ghetto, which was used as a fish market during the time of mussolini.
After walking through the ghetto, we walked along the path on the tiber river. The water was high and flowing, and rather clean. the path, unfortuneately was not clean. As much as the city tries, the local football clubs tag the walls, in the city, predominantly by the river. Also, as we climbed a staircase out of the river, we walked by 6 used needles and a pile of human feces. Yuck. But i guess that too is part of the education of why i dont want to live here.
For the first part of lecture, we walked through El Campo De'Fiori. There was a market going on in the plaza and i bought a delicious blood orange to eat while i sketched. We then went to the Piazza Navona, where Mary presented the fountains of neptune and the sea nymphs. The plaza was a refreshing open area after the small and narrow alleys leading into it. Down one road sits a large sculpture of a rather cute elephant with an egyptian obelisk on its back. Beside this statue there were two gypsy boys playing music. One was about 8 years old and playing the violin, the other was about ten and playing the accordion. As they seemed to be bringing in quite a large amount of coin, i did not feel the need to contibute. However, the music did add the overall presence of the site while i sketched the elephant. behind the elephant sits the church of Santa Maria Sobre Minerva. We walked respedctively through the church and admired all the beautiful stonework. Since I am not catholic i did not sit down and kneel, but others in the class did as we passed by the tomb of St. cattherine. The day continued with a trip to the Trevi Fountain, where Neptune is Flanked by two horses, one the tame, one the wild to demonstrate the moods of the sea. The fountain is large and behind it sits a building whihc serves as a water basin. Supposedly, several, several years ago, in a restorattion project, a workman commmitted suicide from the top right window of the building. After his death, people spoke of seeing a face, and body reflected in the window. So many poeple saw it, and were bothere by it that eventually they boarded up the window and painted a fake window on the boards.
Four blocks from the trevi fountain sits the Spanish Steps, named for the spanish embassy to the holy seed. there are 138 steps that rise to an old church at the top of the hill, but that is all they are...steps. I climbed them twice, once because i felt i should, and twice to take a wheres waldo kind of photo. Class ended. Then it started raining. We went to a coffee shop and sat there sketching for about an hour. We then went back to the trevi fountain after the rain to finish some drawings that ended up getting rianed on anyway. We then went home to fall asleep very, very tired.
This morning we woke up at 530 to get to the vatican museum before the line was aroind the city. We got there, were very close to the front and spent the morning looking at old paintings and most importantly, the Sistine Chapel. Its gorgeous, Its beautiful, awesome, and inspiring. I did however find the woman lacking feminity, but when you can study women, you cant draw them, sorry Michealangelo. the museum is supposedly 4 miles to explore in its emtirety. My friends and i went through it twice before noon. After noon, we got lunch for 400 euro at a kabob place. Mine was very good as they ran out of pitas and had to use freschetta bread :). We walked by the city walls and headed to the Vatican Square for class. We met and learned about the city and its history. Apparently, the collonade is made up of pieces of the colleseum, how stupid of the romans...really. Anyway, I am tired and out of time. Also, my roomates have a homemade dinner waiting for me... Hopefully.