I visit more old things

So this past weekend, I was left all alone in my apartment as all of my roommates left me. Rachel and Annie visited Paris, while Francesca spent the weekend with her Dad in Venice at Carnevale. Jealous on both accounts. However, I visited more old and formerly important things. What is this you may ask yourself? It wasn't the Colosseum or the Forum (again; though it did cross my mind, but my dwindling bank account stopped me.) but the Appian Way! The Appia Antica was the main trading/travel route out of ancient Rome to just about the rest of the Empire. So given that I was all alone, I waited until Sunday because it was nice, and I packed myself a nice little lunch of peanut butter and nutella cracker sandwiches, some bread and a clementine, got my camera, ipod and sunglasses and headed on my way. I had looked at how to get there vaguely but was just going to wing it. The first bus I had to take took me out to the verge of nowhere and I just kinda walked til I found the stop where I needed to take the next bus. Well when I looked at the sign, it appeared that there was no such bus (the 714) running on sundays. Just my luck. Here was when I considered giving up and just going to Colosseum and doing some reading that I have neglected to do for the past 2 months... (School doesn't count here but don't tell anyone.) However, my small adventurous fiber was in full control and I thought if nothing else I could walk there (it was only 8 stops and I didn't think it could have been that bad given that I took 12 to get to the 714 stop. I was wrong). Fortunately I walked to the next stop where I saw a 714 going the other direction. Saved. I took the 714 now 7 stops and thank god I did. It was not a short way. And it was hilly. I viewed this as a sign that things were going to be fine.
So I got off at the stop I was supposed to right by the Aurelian wall was and I also saw this as a sign that I was going in the right direction (the Aurelian wall was built in the 300's AD and encompassed the city of Rome. Safety precaution. It's rather imposing.) However, I walked the wrong way (left instead of right. typical.) and walked around in a circle. Down the street to the left, crossed the street, walked back up, took a right down a different street, walked back up before I decided to follow some other touristy looking people. I walked along the wall until I saw the signs that said Appia Anitca. It was about a 7 min walk. To the right. Not the left. And I even had it written down in my notebook.

This was another clue that I was in the right place. This was one of the gates to get through to the city. It would make sense that this would be at the end of the Appian Road. Its called the Porta San Sebastiano.

Anyway. I started walking down the appian way and once again I wanted to turn around because it took awhile to find anything that looked older then a hundred years. The road was all cobble stones but the buildings were like barns and small dirty snack places basically. However, I carried and lo and behold I found some more tourists! There were periodic groups that passed me the other way so that was also good. I walked through this gate and up a path that cut through a field. The actual Appian way went slightly to the left but at this point I was feeling extremely adventurous (and the left had failed me before) so I went straight. It was beautiful. The pathway was along the top of this hill so you could see for mile(s) all around.

I walked for probably about a mile and came across the Catacombs of San Callisto. I don't who that was or what it was but according my guide book, its 20km of tunnels of tombs, including 16 popes. Wild. I didn't go in because I only had 20 euro and I was saving that in case I had to pay for a taxi or something. God only knows. The road was lined with the skinny cypress trees and the sun was out and I was having a great time.

I then found a church that I wen in (someone told me to go into every church I found). Given there wasn't much else around I went it. I again read my book and It was the Basilica di San Sebastiano as well as the catacombs, but they were closed. It was pretty cool. He was apparently killed by arrows and it said that the arrows were in the church but I didn't see them (I stopped back in on my way back). It also said that the foot prints of Jesus were there as well. Also not found.

After I left I walked down the road some more and took in more of the countryside. There was sign that said that the Mausoleo di Romolo. So naturally I assumed Romulus. The founder of Rome. I almost started crying on the spot. However it was not that Romulus. It was the son of Maxentius. Who was an emperor in the 300's AD. much past the first Romulus. So sad. Nonetheless I continued on for a while and passed several villas and such (new/only retirement plan: get a villa on the appian way. rent whenever Im not there. WIN). I eventually decided to turn around after I thought there was not much else, which there wasn't.
So I walked all the way back, past the Basilica (where I went back in), past the catacombs and through the field and back out the gate and up the appian way once more. I made it back to the 714 bus and took it back to termini and went home. All in all I walked about 10 miles and got a nice glow on my face. Needless to say I was pretty tired. Fortunately, roommates were home and I was no longer living alone!
This weekend I'm going to Paris to see Gretchen and Adam!!!! SO MUCH WINNING. I'm so excited!! I can't wait to see their facessss in real life. wahhhhhhh and the Eiffel tower, Louvre etc etc etc...............