MY FAMILY FINALLY CAME TO ROME!!!! One of the best weeks of my life! Sharing my new life here with my family was an amazing experience. It was exhausting but unforgettable.
There was so much traveling! I'll just give the main details:
Friday: My best friend Hannah from UW-Madison was already in town, so my family, Hannah, and I went to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. I was their tour guide because I had class already in the Colosseum and the Forum so I was already an expert!
Saturday: We said our goodbyes to Hannah, and headed off to the Tuscany area to Lucca, to visit our Quilici family (My Grandma's family). Our train was very early, but we got to Lucca in the afternoon and spent the whole day with our family. I decided to study in Italy mainly because I wanted to learn more about my heritage, and meet my relatives. Even though my Italian is very limited, and only 3 of our relatives could speak a little bit of English, we all connected and bonded because we are FAMILY. It was one of the most amazing experiences. It truly made me feel Italian :) Lucca was so beautiful and very different from Rome. We walked around the town and had lunch with our family. Then we went to two of our relatives' homes, and visited the house that my great-grandpa grew up along with my other relatives. The house was on our family's olive vineyard and land. Words can't explain how wonderful I felt being able to spend time with my family, my Italian family, and to step in a house that has been in my family for multiple generations....it was breathtaking.
Sunday: After visiting our family we spent the night in Florence, and then spent all day Sunday touring Florence. We climbed the Duomo, saw the Ponte Vecchio, and spent a lot of time shopping at the leather market. We were all exhausted by the end of the day and all slept on the train home to Rome.
Monday: Dad came to Rome to go to a conference so for part of the day he was at a conference. So Mom, Sam, and I went to the Campo di' Fuori market and bought fresh food and made lunch for when Dad came back. Then the rest of the day, I showed them some of the special places in Rome...Villa Borghese, the Spanish Steps, Piazza di Popolo, the Trevi Fountatian, and the Pantheon. Going to Rome or any large tourist city with a Roman or someone who lives in the city, is key, because we know all the secret side paths, and the non-tourists places to be-- which can sometimes be the most special.
Tuesday: While Dad was at work, Mom, Sam, and I did some tourist shopping. Let me tell you...that was exhausting! Being an actual tourist here is so tiring! I definitely recommend spending over a week here to get everything done!
Wednesday: Our family went to the Papal Audience/Mass with the Pope. Even though the Vatican is currently going through a huge scandal that is very sad and terrible, we decided that going to a mass with the Pope would be a once in a lifetime experience. The mass was very exciting! People were going crazy over the Pope! There were a lot of different groups or organizations that attended mass. I think we were sitting next to a children's Communion group from Italy, but there were many different groups from all over the world. The Pope delivered mass in multiple languages, everyone was able to enjoy it. Before announcing the language, a priest would introduce the mass with a welcoming of many of the registered groups. Surprisingly, one of the groups there from the U.S was...UW-MADISON!! WE WENT CRAZY! How unique is that?!?
After Mass, we went on a Vatican tour with the organization Roman Odyssey. It was great, I would recommend that company for anyone going to Rome, they do tours everywhere!
Thanks Mom, Dad, and Sam for coming to Rome! I loved showing you around, Rome is amazing and thanks for the wonderful opportunity to travel, learn, and find myself!
Sempre con amore,
Hannah Marie Rizzo Peltier
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My dearest Hannah: The best thing about Italy was being with you and seeing first-hand how much you have grown. I can remember when we traveled in the past when you were young - - holding on to me, gripping my hand and being led. The reverse was true in Italy - - you sat in the front seat of the taxis, you ordered dinners and treats, you were our translator in Lucca - - you make me proud!
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