Phew - I made it and its hot!

View from my room

YAY! I made it to Rome! I made it past my nine hour flight which didn't have individual screens for movies but instead was old-school field trip bus style. However, the flight did include wine, which wasn't great but hey it was wine.The music from the cd mix-master Anna (and help from Emily too) got me through the plane ride. I then proceeded to make it past the stressful baggage claim and the waiting in the non-airconditioned bus and the bus ride and now I am finally here at the John Felice Rome Center (JFRC). It is sweltering. I had to change my shirt three times already because it is sooooooooooooo hot. There are only a select few rooms at the JFRC with air conditioning. After a crazy check-in we hand lunch. I know this may come as a shock but I had pasta. It was quite yummy, and the fruit and yogurt for dessert was very refreshing. After lunch I unpacked a little in my room which has a gorgeous view of the courtyard, and then headed off on a walking tour exposing myself to the unforgiving Roman sun. I still don't know if it has really sunk in that I am in Rome, but that my just be my utter exhaustion. I can't connect my laptop to the internet yet so no skype and my pictures may be limited. Hopefully I can get some gelato soon so I can cool off! Thanks everyone for all the prayers and well wishes (and secret notes in my luggage)! Now I'm going to go eat some dinner and probably go to sleep so I can start my adventure refreshed tomorrow.