Das Is Good Ya?

(submission by Ella Rosa)

To end the month-long adventure, the Camajalini's hit the streets of Roma last night. In grand Camajilini family-style we started out with a champagne toast, and then made our way to our favorite part of the city, Trastevere, for one last "family dinner." At dinner, we reminisced about our favorite times and places in Italy.

Dodging the rain, we ducked into Friends for a drink and listened to endless electronica. With no good music in sight, the next stop was the Drunken Ship. The Camajalinis decided that one of the biggest most crowded Piazzas in Rome was the best place to take goofy pictures of ourselves. My personal favorite is the "sloth eye" shot.

Determined to dance, we made our way to a little bar/club where we knew the music would be good. Although we were the only ones there for about a half an hour, that didn't stop us from dancing to the likes of Shakira, Black Eyed Peas, and some of our other favorites. Soon, an influx of Americans arrived and we no longer enjoyed our private dance room. The pictures say it best!

A toast to going out in style :)

Here's everyone doing their signature dance move!

(Matteo enjoyed himself lots!!)

Where is the Love?

Oh don't be jealouso...Matteo and I were just chilling with the Black Eyed Peas at their FREE CONCERT in ROMA!

Yes - that is Will I Am featured on the Megatron behind us. Those crazy kids are super cool! So glad we got to "kick it!"

They entertained us with some random covers throughout the show, but I think my all time favorite was the Fergie cover of the G-n-R Classic, Sweet Child of Mine. Nothing brings the Gringos together like a rousing, air-guitar rendition of that chorus. (Come on...I know you can hear it playing in your head right now, can't you? "Sweet child! Sweet Chiild! Sweet ChiiiiiiIIIIiiiiiiiIIIIld of Miiiine! (swipe at the air guitar) YEAH!" It was an interesting juxtaposition against the Italian Futbol Chant for their World Cup Super Star Hero, Totti!

Where is the Love?
(Shout out to the Black Eyes Peas)

People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'

Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek


Father, Father, Father help us
Send us some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)

Cause I think You're Craaaaazy!

(shout out to Gnarls Barkley)

I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind

There was something so pleasant about that phase.

Even your emotions had an echo

In so much space

And when you're out there

Without care,

Yeah, I was out of touch

But it wasn't because I didn't know enough

I just knew too much

Does that make me crazy

Does that make me crazy

Does that make me crazy

Probably

And I hope that you are having the time of your life

But think twice,

that's my only advice

Come on now, who do you, who do you, who do you,

who do you think you are,

Ha ha ha bless your soul

You really think you're in control

Well, I think you're crazy

I think you're crazy

I think you're crazy

Just like me

My heroes had the heart to lose their lives out on a limb
And all I remember is thinking,
I want to be like them

Ever since I was little, ever since I

was little it looked like fun

And it's no coincidence I've come

And I can die when I'm done

Maybe I'm crazy

Maybe you're crazy

Maybe we're crazy

Probably

Ay Papi!

Ella Rosa & Sophia stumbled out at the top of the morn to spend a little time with the Pope-meister today. He sends his regards...

Viva la Papa (Revisited)

Republished with photos... Bella and Elmo communed with the Pope on Wednesday, June 21, 2006.

(submission by Bella)

i saw the pope this morning!! elmo and i went over to the basilica around 8:15 for the papal audience that starts at 10am. we saw people walking with red tickets in hand towards the seats up front and thought - if we just follow them maybe no one will stop us. so we kept walking through the gate and towards the seats. no one stopped us! i turned to elmo and asked "is this a sin?" needless to say, he didn't think so!

so we sat in the hot sun for 1 hour and 30 minutes. just in the hour or so that we sat there ... i think the temperature went up about 15-20 degrees. i think i started to roast! then we saw the pope being driven around in the pope mobile! we couldn't believe how close we were! it was kind of weird to be near the pope.

there were readings in about 5 different languages and then he spoke in italian -- we had no idea what he was saying! then he gave a blessing in english....he blesssed us and said that the blessing extended to our friends and family at home ... so consider yourself blessed by the POPE!

what an interesting start to my day in roma!

ciao!
"bella"

Our Hostile Hostel

(submission by Matteo)

If you find yourself headed to Firenze in the future, you should be very excited! It's a beautiful city, and there are plenty of budget hotels and hostels for the thrifty traveler. One word of caution: avoid EuroStudentHome Hostel. It looked fantastic online, but when we arrived, the dirty punks running the place informed us that they were overbooked. Not to worry, they could offer us a private apartment with plenty of room and no roommates, just a few minutes away. We made the hike over and were surprised at what we found.

To begin with, the apartment reeked. We found it painful to breathe in the hot, unfiltered air. Sure, there were windows, but right outside the windows were dumpsters. As it was terribly late at night, we decided to just sleep in these awful conditions, but not for long. After we all dozed off, garbage trucks came by to unload the dumpsters. I'm pretty sure the glass-bottle dumpster was unloaded for 3 hours non-stop. In the morning, the groggy Camajalini family (sans Bella, who lived it up in a hotel with air conditioning and a cleaning service) returned to the original hostel to complain. We Americans got our way, and we were moved to a more acceptable location.

Again, neither air conditioning or even air were available this weekend in Firenze, but it was better than the apartment, so we were okay with what we got. There were a few minor setbacks: no locks on the doors, one bed that was broken in half, a random Argentinian backpacker in our room when we arrived. Sophia worked it all out, though. The hostile hostel employees built us a new bed and showed the Argentinian to another room. In the end, the situation could have been much worse. We could have been sleeping in a tent. In the fiery pits of Hades.

The Banquet

Who knew that we would receive Awards for our performances in this year's Temple Roma Study Abroad?

Matteo was the most surprised of all of us. Having not prepared a speech he was just overcome with emotion! Winning feels good, doesn't it Matteo?

More Pix of Camajalini Fun at the Banquet.



....citronella candles for the wine and cheese - CHECK!

Firenze was en Fuego!

(submission by Sophia)

My Italian is getting much better! I can say things like, "Es molto caldo fiore!" That means it is VERY VERY MUY MUY OH MY GOD, I WILL SURELY KEEL OVER AND DIE HOT outside!" Any Italian you say that too will nod there head in agreement and start fanning themselves. Why don't they just get central air conditioning here? Step into the civilized world why don't you?

We got a lot done in Firenze...just about all of the Camajalini's will have an entry on this one -- we had some crazy adventures! 3 different housing accomodations... hanging out in the Piazza della Repubblica... seeing Michelangelo's David... Fine dining on Bistecca Florintina... staying out until 6:00 in the morn'in... and the long ride home to name a few.

You will never believe it, I actually bought my leather from Omid, the same guy we bought from in 2003. I found the jacket I wanted - Bordeuax Motorcycle Jacket - from Pouty McPout, but they just weren't ready to do the deal. So Omid happily sold me his wears. A Bordeaux Business Attache and a Green Purse! They are noice! Ella Rosa and I were caught in the act of getting a little luck for our next trip to Firenze. This trip was good, but the next will be better!

Arrive derci Firenze!