Last day in Rome

Wow. So today has been a busy, busy day, but it's nearly done now.

I woke up at 7:30, and headed over to the American embassy to ask about my passport issue. I went to the Repubblica metro station, purchased a day pass on the metro, and rode one stop to Barberini, because the embassy is on Via Veneto, which I did not know until recently. I waited until the place opened up at 8:30, at which point the Italian police on the outside would not let me in, because I had my backpack on. And they wouldn't let me drop it off with them, for security purposes. Darn. I needed to be back by 12:30, when the American citizen services shuts down for the day. Okay.

I rode the metro over to Cipro, and walked up to Medag to say my last goodbyes. I got my last cappucchino at the bar across from Medag, then walked down to the market to get my favorite pastry for tomorrow morning, but they did not have the ciavattone con crema. Damn. Then I went to GS looking for something to eat, but I ended up eating nothing from GS. I then walked to Old Bridge for a last gelato, but they did not open until 10 AM, so I jumped on the 492 bus, because I wanted to go to Campo for some shopping. I got off, shopped, then went to Tazza D'Oro for a granita di caffe. So, so good. I shall miss that. I even got a caffeine/sugar buzz off of it. I also said goodbye to my favorite building in the world, the Pantheon. I then rode the 492 up to near my hostel, which is north of Termini, an area I barely know.

I checked my flight, because I wanted to choose my seat. Apparently, they don't let me do that. Rejected again. I then rode the bus over to Barberini again, and went to the embassy without my backpack. They quickly let me in (no line), and within 5 minutes I was talking to an official about the issue. Probably not going to be a problem was the official line. Good. That's exactly what I wanted to hear. In and out within 10 minutes. I then metroed over to Ottaviano, because I had a hunch that the bakery in the market might have the pastry later in the day. Hunch= correct! I have breakfast for tomorrow now. So happy, I am. I then walked over to Old Bridge to have that final gelato. I got the 2.50 euro with strawberry, amaretto, and coffee. Yum yum yum. I strolled down to St. Peter's Square, and did a little touristy shopping along the way. I then got inside the square, and the Catholics suprised me in a most pleasant way by having the nativity scene still up, with the Christmas tree still decorated. Yay yay yay Jesus. So pretty. I expected it to be down, because yesterday was the 12th day of Christmas, and I had heard that nativity scenes go down then. I then said goodbye to my second-favoritist place in the world (after the Piazza del Pantheon), but I probably be back tonight. In fact, I'm sure I will be. I walked down Borgo San Spirito to Corso Vittorio Emmanuele, and I walked down that to the Architecture studio. I picked up my big green bag with most of my stuff in it, and hopped back on the 492 up to the hostel. Lugging the bag was a pain because I got off the bus too early, but eventually I made it to the hostel and my room. I rearranged my bags, took out the heavy stuff in the green bag and placed it in a carry-on. I also charged my US cell phone, which has been electricity-starved for months. I was probably done rearranging bags by 3:30.

Then came the most embarrassing part of the day. I was feeling especially good after the gelato, so I decided to do some pushups and ab exercises. Outside of a few sets of pushups one time in Austria, I haven't gotten any upper-body or core workout in 3 1/2 weeks. I am probably in the worst shape I've been in since freshman year. I could not do half the exercise I was able to do a month ago. This leads me to the thing I am most looking forward to when I get home: Rolfs Recreational Center. God, getting back on a treadmill will be murder, but I'm really looking forward to that.

The rest of the day is looking relaxed. I am going to shower, then go over to Da Baffetto for a Last Supper of sorts, walk around the last little bit, call it a night, and then wake up super early tomorrow, drag my bags over to Termini, take the Leonardo Express to FCO, and then America here I come.