Easter / Compound Reuinion/ My 21st Birthday!

Hello again!!

So the weekend of Easter was one of the most fun, but hectic weekends of all time. I came home from Dublin on Tuesday, no time for rest, only to have some of my best friends (8 in total) come to visit for the weekend. Caitlin Brison came Tuesday, Jehan, Ted, Ashley (Boozer), Jac, and Bova came Wednesday, and Amy and Juli came Thursday. It rained pretty much the entire weekend (and by rained I mean poured) which only added to the stress, but everything worked out well and it was an amazing weekend!! Seeing everyone made me realize how much I missed BC! These people are my family while I'm at school, and having everyone here for my birthday was incredible.



So Wednesday afternoon we had perfect weather, 65 and sunny, and had the best day. After I met the crowd at their hostel, we spent the afternoon wandering around Rome, seeing the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Vittorio Emanuele (Piazza Venezia), and ending at the Spanish Steps just in time for sunset. I bought us some wine and we ended the perfect day with a gorgeous sunset over the city of Rome, enjoying good company and good wine. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. That night, we went to enjoy everyone's first Italian meal. Obviously we all got pasta! We met up with some friends at a bar nearby to watch the end of the Roma v. Lazio game (the two Roman teams who are the biggest rivals ever) and it was a mini BC reunion as it seems as though everyone had friends in town that weekend. It was really fun.







On Thursday afternoon, I also got a call from Fr. Greg, a friend of Carol Sanborn (my childhood best friend's mom) telling me he had 5 tickets to the Thursday morning mass at St. Peter's with the Pope, and three for Easter Sunday Mass!! We were all so excited, as everyone was going to be able to go.

So Thursday morning, Bova, Boozer, Jehan, Ted and I went to the Vatican bright and early for mass with PapaRatzi himself. It was the mass where they bless all the oils for the masses to come. We waited in line for quite some time, then finally went in the basilica, only to be pushed to the wayside by feisty little nuns. We finally found some seats, and waited around for a little, until the procession started. Everyone jumped up thinking the Pope was coming by, but no, it was actually a procession of 500 priests. I'm not exaggerating. Priests walked in for 25 minutes...and not at a slow stroll either. Full speed, 2 lines, for 25 minutes. It was insane. I kept thinking that with all these priests from all over the world here, I've got to know one. I didn't. Anyway, Pope Benedict finally walked by. He is such a rock star! He walked down the center isle, waving at people, shaking hands, pointing, etc. People were clapping, taking pictures, and he was loving it. Just like your normal celebrity. Mass was long, but it was a great experience.



After mass, it started raining cats and dogs. We ran into Caitlin Brison, who was with her parents, and she came with us to lunch. I think I was the only one who had an umbrella, so we all ran into the first restaurant we saw, which of course turned out to be a rip off seeing as how it was right next to one of the main tourist spots in Rome. I hate when restaurants charge you for bread just because you put it down on the table, then charge you a separate service charge. Afterwards, we took all the bread out of spite and fed it to the pigeons right outside the restaurant. Then of course, I had to take my guests to the best gelato place in Rome...Old Bridge. It is by far the best gelato I've ever eaten, its so cheap, and they give you so much! After a little ice cream and whipped cream was shoved into some faces (Boozer and Ted) we headed back towards school so I could take (and by take I mean fail...sorry Mom and Dad) a quiz for which I had no time to prepare.



Thursday night was the best night of the entire weekend. Katie and I hosted all 8 guests (Amy and Juli had come at this point) in our apartment for a home made meal. With a little help, Katie and I prepared a salad, pesto pasta, and chicken breast for 10 people. I also found 5 liter jugs of wine for 4 euro(!) at the grocery store, so of course I had to get one red and one white. The 10 of us sat down to enjoy our reunion dinner together, and it was incredible. It was like being back at BC again, all of us just hanging out, laughing, almost crying, and enjoying each others company. Of course, we made a toast to all of our friends who could not be there with us because they did not study abroad. Bova even took a 3 minute long video on his camera, and it seriously looks like its out of the Wonder Years. Definitely something we are going to be watching in the future, when we are 40, laughing about everything all over again. You can't really understand a word anyone is saying in the video because everyone is talking at once and there are about 5 conversations going on at the same time, but its perfect.

Friday morning, we got to sleep in a little until people came over to our apartment to start the day. It was raining again, but we went out into the city regardless. Amy, Juli, Brison, Fly, and I (everyone I lived with in the fall) walked through Campo de Fiori and Piazza Navona, shopping a little here and there, only to get lost in route to the Trevi Fountain to meet up with the others who had gone to the Vatican Museum in the early morning. I think the Trevi Fountain was a favorite of people, and I understand why. Its breathtaking! Obviously we got gelato again and wandered around a little more down Via del Corso (the main street in Rome that goes from Piazza Venezia to Piazza del Popolo). We finally split up in the evening to go back to get ready for the evening. Fly and I took them to Art Cafe, our huge club, for the one big night out.



Saturday was a day spent more for recouperation than anything else. It was pouring rain, as per usual, and many people hadn't had much sleep in the last week (myself included) so it was an easy day. Saturday night, Brison, Jac, Fly and Jules went to the Easter Vigil mass with the Brison's while the rest of us went to dinner together. We met at Piazza Venezia and literally wandered down side streets for almost 30 minutes, enjoying the evening and reprieve from the rain, as well as looking for a cute, suitable place to make 6 people happy. We found a Pinocchio shop which was awsome, and also stumbled upon what seemed to be the WWII war memorial. Finally, we found a restaurant right near Piazza Navona (that I pass constantly but never knew anything about) and we sat down to dinner. No one else can speak Italian, so I was conversing with the waiter/owner. He complimented me many times on my Italian skills, and said I spoke very well! We sat there for almost 2 hours together, until we finally decided that 11 was a little late to be sitting at a restaurant. After dinner, I took them to Piazza Navona and Ted and Bova saw the street vendors selling stupid little gadgets, and were like kids in a candy store. Bova bought this light up saucer that you send soaring into the sky, and had a field day with it. He even bough 2 of them! After Piazza Navona, I took them to Campo de Fiori, where we hit midnight (my birthday). It was really great to be with my best friends at midnight on my birthday! While mine was not the typical midnight of your 21st birthday (I wasn't wasted trying to get into my first bar) it was still something special. I was standing in the middle of a famous area of Rome with my best friends in the entire world. Fly, Brison, Jules, and Jac weren't far and came directly to Campo so we were all together. Obviously, instead of my first drink I celebrated with my first gelato as a 21 year old.



Sunday morning, we woke up early for Easter Sunday mass in St. Peter's Square. My roommate Laura had waited in line for tickets early Saturday morning, and was able to get enough for all of my friends, all of her friends, plus all of our roommates and their guests! I believe it was 24 of us in total. We got there around 8:30am for a 10:30 am mass, and obviously at around 10:15 it begins to pour rain. It never stopped. We had a very good view of where the Pope would be standing, but as soon as the rain came, the umbrellas went up.




The mass was about 2 hours long in total, and by the end, only 3 of the 10 of my guests remained. Ted, Boozer, and I were the only ones who endured the rain for Easter Sunday Mass with the Pope.

Anyway, so that night we went out to dinner for my birthday! We went to our favorite restaurant right near our house, and ti was a group of 20+ people. I'm so popular. Just kidding...but really. Dinner with my best friends for my birthday was of course incredible and we all had a great time.



Unfortunately, after dinner, I came home to find I had a 101.9 fever. What a way to end my birthday! We left for spring break that next morning, and my roommate had to pack for me. My throat was hurting so much, and I felt miserable. But more on that later.

The weekend was SO MUCH FUN and it was great to see all my friends. Life is good here in Rome!!

When Irish Eyes are Smiling

Top of the mornin to ya!

So I had the incredible opportunity to spend St. Patrick's Day and the weekend before in Dublin. Yes, they DO celebrate St. Patrick's day over there, and boy do they know how to.

So we flew out of Rome on Friday morning, arriving in the first airport that had English words everywhere! It was glorious. The whole weekend was a nice change from other traveling weekends, we actually stayed at a HOTEL instead of a hostel. Nice, large comfy beds...it was the best weekend ever.

Friday night, we found a restaurant that my friend Megan, who had spent a summer in Dublin. My friend and I split my first real cheeseburger in forever. Italian food is to die for, don't get me wrong, but there is nothing like a little variety in life.


Anyway, moving on, that night we went to the Temple Bar area, which is the area where the pubs are. One of my best friends from BC, Ted, is studying in Glasgow, Scotland, but was in Ireland for the weekend. I met up with him in the Temple Bar area, and it was the most fun I had all weekend! Seeing him was a little taste of home.

Saturday, we woke up and got Starbucks for breakfast!!! Coffee to go = INCREDIBLE! Like I said before, the coffee in Italy is obviously superior, but the chance to get it to go was such a nice change.


We walked along the famous shopping street, Grafton street, until we went to meet up with our friends. Along the way, I ran into a Leprechaun and the famous Molly Malone statue. I was so excited about seeing Molly Malone, as back at Corpus Christi, we used to sing her song. I haven't been able to stop singing it since I planned this trip to Dublin!






On the way to meet up with our friends, we found a pub called O'Sullivan's. I immediately fell in love, as it was a cute Irish pub with my sister's name, and our Irish family name! We decided to come back for the Ireland-England rugby game later that afternoon. In the afternoon, it started pouring down rain. We walked around the cheaper famous shopping street, Henry Street, until we were soaked and went back to O'Sullivan's. As we walked inside, the cutest old Irish man who worked there came up to us and was so sweet, he loved us. He found us a table right by the screen to watch the game, and gave us discounts on the food. He even let me keep the menu when he found out my family name and my sister's name was Sullivan! His name was Patsy, and he was amazing, which is why we continued to go back every day of our trip.






Our first drink in O'Sullivans! Cider, of course.


Us with Patsy!

Sunday morning, we woke up early for some sight-seeing, but things were closed so after breakfast (a bagel!!!), we headed straight for the Guinness Factory! It was so much fun, it was a great way to spend the afternoon. We walked through the Guinness Storehouse, which is attached to the brewery, (St. James Gate, which is leased for 9,000 years to Arthur Guinness for a mere 45 pounds a year) and saw exactly how the famous Black Stuff is made. It used to be the largest Brewery in the world, but is now only the largest brewer of stout. The entire place was so cool, with so many interactive things and explanations as to exactly how Guinness was made. They even let us taste the barely used for the Black Stuff.






At the end of the tour through the factory, we got a free pint of Guinness. Let me tell you, Guinness in Ireland is far superior than Guinness in the states. I actually like it! I even pulled my own perfect pint, and got a sweet certificate for it.





We enjoyed our free point in the Gravity Bar, the bar at the top of the factory which provides the best views of Dublin in the city.







After the Guinness Factory, we attempted to go to the Jameson Whiskey factory, but unfortunately the tours were booked for the day. So instead, we walked around Trinity College for a little. Beautiful campus.



Monday morning, my friend Laura and I decided to start off St. Patrick's Day right by catching the first tour at the Jameson Whiskey family. We were both chosen to be tasters at the end of the tour! We walked through the factory, learning how Irish Whiskey is made. It was a cool tour, very informative. For example, did you know that Irish Whiskey is distilled three times, Scotch Whiskey two times, and American Whiskey only once? That accounts for the different tastes of the three, which I got to taste at the end of the tour. Laura and I were among 6 people who sat at the front of the tour group, trying 5 different types of whiskey. We tried three types of Irish whiskey, one type of Scotch, and Jack Daniels to understand the difference between the whiskeys. Great way to start of St. Patrick's Day!





After the Jameson Factory, Laura and I walked to meet everyone at the St. Patrick's Day parade route. We found them in front of O'Sullivan's, naturally, and bought fun little St. Patrick's Day hats to get in the mood of the day.







After the parade started, we tried to watch for a little but realized we couldn't see anything, so we went into O'Sullivan's to watch the parade on TV.


Enjoying a beer with black current juice in it! A great way to sweeten it up.

After the parade, we ran into some BC friends in the Temple Bar area who are studying in London. I swear, it is such a small world. For example, on our way back to the hotel, my two friends and I went to Quizno's to grab a sandwhich, and while sitting there, Laura mentioned something about driving to Notre Dame for the football game this year, and a girl sitting behind us asked us where we went to school. Turns out she goes to Boston College as well, and is in the Cork program. She told us that at a pub 10 feet away was every single BC person who is in Ireland right now. We followed her to the bar, where we found a ton of BC kids. I swear, 90% of the pub was BC students. I ran into a bunch of people I knew from school. It was insane, and obviously what would happen. I always seem to find BC students all over the place.

St. Patrick's Day was a ton of fun, and it was a great experience being in Ireland. Dublin is AMAZING, and I'm slightly obsessed with the country. Everyone there was super nice and so friendly all the time. Everyone just enjoys life there. I can't wait to go back!