Well, I just started to pack my stuff to come home, and it seemed like everything fit better when I packed to leave. I just broke into a full sweat trying to do this. IT IS SO HOT! I know have two suitcases, and they are both really full. We have to be at the school at 7 am on Friday for the bus to take us to the airport, and I'm not actually sure how I'm going to get me and my bags there. The thought of me lugging two suitcases up a hill around the block to the bus stop makes me tired. Not to mention getting me and all of the stuff on the bus, considering the people here like to pack themselves on buses like sardines. I know I will be getting some dirty looks for taking up so much room. Chrissy and I thought about calling a cab to take us there, but we can't communicate with the cab company on the phone...how convenient! I guess we'll just have to suck it up and take the bus. Maybe no one will be on the bus that early. We are planning on leaving around 6, so hopefully it will be fine. On a lighter note, I went to St. Peter's Basilica today. I climbed the dome, which was like 550 steps or so. The view was really pretty...pictures are below. Tomorrow, my Italian Culture class is going back to the cooking school. They are showing us how to make an authentic Italian meal, then we get to eat it. We took the final today, and it wasn't bad. I'm really glad to be done with class, hopefully I did well on it.

Last night was the opera, Madame Butterfly, and it was so good. Even though I really didn't have a clue what was going on most of the time, it was still great. It was pretty, and the singing was amazing. It was outside near circus maximus by the Roman baths. So, the backdrop was ancient Roman ruins. It was so cool. I forgot my camera, so I don't have pictures. Chrissy took some, so I will just get copies from her. Before the opera we ate a Cafe Martini, which is just across the street from the Coliseum, so the view was great. I would write
more, but I have to get to class. Talk later, ciao!