Well, it's seven days and counting people, and I don't know about everyone else, but I'm quite happy to be headed back to dreary old England. Since Rome is currently exactly the same, I'm having a few moments of wondering what country I'm currently living in anyways. It should not rain this much in the Med. and yet...

Seeing as I am done my essay and everyone else is not, things have been a bit boring as of late. The entire BSR seems to be a bit on edge (they'll be happy to see us leave) and all of us are on edge (aformentioned essays) and it just won't stop raining. Seriously. For THREE DAYS. They promise sun tomorrow, but I don't believe the weather forcasts anymore. Lying, traitorous...

I would like to go out and See Stuff, but since we come back every morning drenched and chilled, the prospects of going out and doing that all over again are nill. It just ain't worth it. Hopefully it'll clear up and I can spend Friday on the western front and Saturday on the eastern and then I will feel better about myself. And tomorrow I'm going to go to the art gallery damnit, if it's the last thing I do (that would be the one literally 200ft from us).

I am trying to convince everyone that we should have a toga party with wine and olives and stuff and steal the projector from the artists and watch Rome. Because what the hell else are we going to do to celebrate the end of course? And I have it on good authority they did it last year too. But everyone is so stressed about the aformentioned papers that no one is interested. Well, fine, I'll dress myself up, eat my own olives, drink my own wine and watch my own...and watch Rome myself.

There is a lecture on mosaics at the Nor. Academy next Monday evening. But it's halfway across the city and our chances of making it back for dinner are slim-to-none. And it's our last night. Damnit! Finally something on mosaics and Delia and I have to miss it! Bugger.

It is not 7:20 and I'm trying to pass the time before I die of starvation get to eat dinner. I'm out of TV, movies and fanfic. Oh gods, the end is nigh!

So today was interesting. The good kind of interesting where lots of things happened.

Today was AA library day. It has been two weeks in the planning and three days in the organizing, because AA isn't accepting new readers, but today was the only day we could possibly go, and yeah. We got it sorted out. And at 9am we began our adventure. Now, I was at AA last weekend. I know how to get there, but there was supposedly a transit strike this morning, and Bettina was map girl, and so instead of taking the buses we should have taken (which were, incidentaly, still running) we took the tram to the Vatican, walked three blocks, and then took the Guinicolo bus to what we thought was the closest stop. It wasn't, of course, but at least were weren't that far off.

And they let us in without having to flash my passport and declare equal rights to Canadians. And the library...OMG. You've heard me praise the BSR's. Well, our's sucks compared to the Americans. It's huge. It's four stories. It's lovely. I want to live there. I think I will next year.

Allison and I got done by 1 so we decided that lunch in Trestevere was in order. Well, I already knew how to get down there because we did it last weekend, and we found this great pizza place that had the coolest pizza toppings. Sooooo good. And alcohol. And then we went to the gelato place again and I had hazelnut and rum chocolate. And I think I died. And then we caught the tram to Argentinia. And then we walked to VE, intending to catch the 95 home. Well, we decided that since we were at VE and it was a gorgeous day we'd go up to the top. Half way up, for anyone who has seen a picture of the monument, that's where the front steps stop, we realized that an awful lot of people were stopped staring at something. So we turned around, to find that the Corso appeared to be on fire. Well, it was just one building, but it looked like the whole entrance was burning, and apparently the fire had been going for some time (and still was at 4pm, two hours later). Wow. I took pictures. There are on the usual site. And then we walked up to the top only to be told by the bitchy Italian ticket woman that our tessera now don't work for VE (right, because in one week they've changed their minds) and so we walked back down and took the metro home, as the 95 was diverted around the Corso, obviously.

And then we put our bathing suits on, drenched ourselves with the cold water in the hose outside, and then realized that four important looking old men were standing on the dining room porch watching us. Oh well, hopefully Andrew won't hear about that one. I was rather too hot to care. And oh, it felt nice. Need some more serious tan time. Think the beach our last weekend is in order.

And then there was tea. And Annalise's birthday (we are also going bowling tonight). And it's only 6:30!

GAH.

We were thisclose to getting a guided (and free) tour of Cinecitta Studios.

GAH.

So yesterday was fantastic for many reasons. A few of which had nothing to do with archaeology and went completely over Sarah's head. But that's okay; I like it that way.

( Oh yes, we're very advanced in Pompeii. In Rome, they're still using the old wood burning furnaces. )

So, today was a "free study" day, meaning that those of us who have stuff due worked. And those of us who don't (namely me), didn't.

I spent the morning at San Giovanni instead, shopping. Two skirts, a purse, a hat, a scarf and sunglasses! All for less than 50E. Go me! Have also managed to while away the afternoon doing pretty much nothing. We have a public lecture (Andrew's) in an hour, and that will require dressing up and being attentative. Sounds like too much effort! Still, it means extra good dinner tonight and DESSERT!

All I seem to do is eat and drink. And yet, all my pants still fit, so go figure. The four hours of standing we do a day definitely seems to burn the calories off, even if it kills my feet!

Tomorrow we are invading the German excavation under the Palentine with hard hats. All the domi that belong to people I have never heard of but were obviously important, since they lived around the hill. And then, joy, we have a seminar, which actually means participating.

Tarquinia on Sunday, I think. Or library. I'd prefer Tarquinia.

I should stop eating crisps.

Well, an update. Since I seem to have the time tonight and doubt that will crop up again anytime soon.

I have arrived safe and sound after a much too long travel day (honestly, I was only coming from England) but no problems, so that's good. The BSR is an impressive sight to behold (pictures to come) and I'm still slightly gob-smacked.

I was the first to arrive, but I got greeted at the front door, so yay! The director's assistant Chris gave me a really nice welcome intro and let me sit beside him at dinner so I wasn't absolutely alone. One other girl arrived near the end (Allison from Ottawa, of all places) and we spent the rest of the evening reminicing about Canada and Chris and I about Exeter (he did the course last year and was asked to stay and work, nice!!!) Exhaustion finally drove us to bed.

But oh the food. And oh the coffee. And oh the palm trees. Wait...we have those in England; nevermind. Allison and I are going to go explore tomorrow before everyone else arrives. First stops: gelato and liquor.

Gods I've missed this.