Bday recap!

So, my brithday turned out to actually be even better than I had hoped it would be. After class, and my last blog entry, I wandered off into Rome determined to find an affordable dress; I was sure that birthday magic would happen. After about two hours of dresses that didn't fit or cost too much, the magic kicked in. I practically accidently walked into this dress shop completely by chance, on a whim, and everything had the same affordable price and once I started looking I found cute dress after cute dress. Which would be lucky but not magical, yes that's right, it got better.

Not only could I actually buy a dress but the sales ladies treated me like a princess, giving me feedback, helping with sizes, bringing me similar styles and different things to try, all right up to my dressing room and in general being fun and attentive and wonderful. They made it so much fun!! I felt like a princess and thought they were great and loved what they were doing. I could have bought four dresses I absolutely adored but I kept it to two, one cute strapless dress that falls a bit above my knees and is black with white flowers and leaves along the bottom and another more sporty summer dress that laces up at the neck line and flares out after the waist.

Then I even found affordable shoes, and bought my first ever stiletto heels in Rome. Sure I couldnt have imagined how impractical they are, as I learned the hard way, but my, do I love them.

So I got all dressed up in my strapless dress and heels and my roomie, D, and Chris took me out to dinner. Chris paid for my meal as my bday present and it was absolutely amazing food at this quaint place where we sat outdoors. Chris also taught me how to say everything we needed to to the waitress, like can we have some oil for the bread? and can we have the check please? And I think I did well and she definitely appreciated that i was trying out some serious Italian! I felt very proud of myself. Then we went to this phenomenal gelato place and i made myself a fruit medley, mango, strawberry and watermelon. the watermelon flavor had me RAVING , and D paid for that for my bday. I'm STILL obssesed about that watermelong gelato, best flavor I've had in Rome! We ate sitting on church steps watching people go by, it was great.

Then we walked to St Peters at night and it was all lit up and the moon was out shining above. Unfortunately on the way home my feet were so sore I was walking with my arm around Chris' shoulders to alleviate the pain/threat of falling, looking like I was so drunk I couldn't even walk which was IRONIC since of course I didnt drink a drop, and I, of all people, looked like I had gotten smashed and couldnt walk home, not because of 21st bday drinking but thanks to my new shoes. It was rather amusing, and Chris pretty much saved me from falling down every five minutes, since have i mentioned its ALL cobblestone here? Well I was doing great on the cobblestone even in heels, which is a small miracle until my feet were in too much pain for me to be careful. So I clung to Chris D and stumbled along and I thought it was so funny.

Anyway, D and my romie Kelsey went out of their way to get me a bday cake and hid it from me and surprised me with it. I was SO TOUCHED, AND HAPPY AND EXCITED. Really it was a wonderful evening out with some good friends and it was exactly how I wanted my twenty first bday, well in Rome, anyway.

Today we did three days worth of walking tours and were very productive but really what you need to know is that I had my first real Italian canoli, and it was huge and heavenly, and wonderful.

Tomorrow I am free to do whatever I please and it will be glorious! Tonight I think we are going to walk around again and maybe go to a cappucino place that was recommended. So that will be super fun!