A Day with the Dead - Tomb Wanderings on Sunday 5/29

Leaving at nine once more this morning, the group headed down to the metro, taking the train all the way to the end of the city. Probably the farthest we’ve gone yet, we were faced with one of the old gates to the Aurelian wall when we walked out. Across the street was a huge pyramid, built for a man named Gaius Cestius during Rome’s Egyptian craze (and this was mostly a show of power).

After talking about the pyramid in the already baking morning sun, we headed into a large cemetery for another group presentation. Also known as the city’s cat sanctuary, we watched the felines roam around as we viewed a few of the site’s most important tombs, Keats and Shelly amongst them, as well as travel writer Caroline Carson, whom we read in class.

We a bit of time dedicated to picture taking, and then soon left the quiet sanctuary to travel past some graffiti covered walls into a lesser-known area of Rome, which used to be a giant landfill for the citizens of the old city. Here, pottery was excavated in abundant qualities. After a brisk walk around the hill, we were done for the day.

A group of us set back on the metro for home, dropping our things and getting a quick lunch nearby out bus stop. Soon, we headed out to Castel Sant’ Angelo, to spend two hours in the maze-like mausoleum. For more on our journey there, see my entry below, but here are a few of my favorite parts of that part of today (including more amazing views):

On tired feet, we journeyed through the markets outside Castel Sant’ Angelo, purchasing various pieces of jewelry and clothes, and bartering and bargaining our way through. I stayed the longest with Melissa and Shannon, many others wandering home earlier. At the end of our long day, the three of us walked home, with only one small bout of getting lost. Once again, a wrong turn will throw you, but my handy map came to the rescue (we weren’t that far off).

After editing more photos and blogging some, I was off to a quiet dinner with Dan, Alissa, Shannon, and Katie - eating a few blocks away at an affordable restaurant. Finally able to find a pink sauce, I was delighted to eat spinach and cheese Ravioli in a pink tomato and sour cream sauce, lapping up the rest of it with some bread afterwards. We headed for some good gelato before going back to campus, and though I was disappointed they had no cinnamon left for me to try, I had a delicious mix of coffee and chocolate (and forgot to snap a picture).