Mom's Visit, Part 2

On Wednesday evening my mom arrived in Rome, for the second time, in preparation for an extra day on her trip to spend with me!! Earlier that week, my roommate and I had planned out a route to her hotel (across the city from my neighborhood) and had successfully arrived at her hotel. I wanted to make sure that I could do it well on the day when I went to see her and to take her around Rome. So, Thursday morning I got up and headed out to the buses. I made it past the first hurdle and arrived onto my second bus, but I stayed on it too long (because I thought it made a loop to a street closer to her hotel) and I ended up discovering too late that I should have gotten off. I ended up out by the highways that lead OUT OF ROME and I was freaking out. I actually started crying at the point when I asked a man on the bus bench what bus I should take and he said that none would take me back into town; they all left town from that point! AHHHH! So, I tried to call a taxi but there was only a busy signal and I was already really late to meet my mom. So, I started walking towards the stop light just a little ways away and when I got there I was able to find a bus stop that would take me closer. A very kindly old man saw that I was upset and smiled at me and let me get on the bus before him. Its rare to meet people like that in Rome. Anyhow, I eventually made it to her hotel after some very fast paced walking and I was so excited to see her! It had only been a little over a week since I last saw her but Ive missed her so much that it still felt like a great reunion. We left the hotel and made our way to the main shopping road. From there, we walked all the way back to my apartment in some relatively good weather. We stopped in Campo dei Fiori and looked at all of the produce, herbs, kitchen wares, clothes and flowers! We saw some old and famous buildings and just had a good time enjoying the day and each other.
When we got to my apartment, I was pleasantly surprised that my mom thought it was really cute and liked it (though she admitted it needs a paint job). That made me feel good, not because I have some sort of pride for its creation, but because I wanted her to like where I live and see that we like it, too. We dropped off some things and then walked to lunch at a really good restaurant near my school, which Ive wanted to stop into but never have. I had a pizza and mom had a pizza with mushrooms. It was really good and pretty light.
We went to the school and I gave them the grand tour. Mom and I both agree that my school is the university version of my middle school. Thats okay though because its not negative, just small and based on a community idea. I think she liked seeing where I have class and all of the things I talk about in my emails to her. It was also neat to show her part of my life that I may never have gotten to show her if she hadnt been here. It meant a lot to me that she saw my life here and what I do so that forever I will know that she understands it.
We finished at the school and went to the church in the main piazza, the oldest place for Christian worship (in a building)! Mom really loved that part a lot and she thought it was breathtaking. We saw some Cavalli and the mosaics are beautiful. She really liked one of the side chapels a lot, also. From there, we went to a shop in the neighborhood and mom bought me a necklace that I love. Its so nice to have something that she left here with me so that all the time while Im wearing it, I can think of her and how she was here to share Rome with me.
We returned to the apartment and did some CD burning so that I could get her pictures onto something for her to take home (from a memory card she needed to leave with me) and we organized the suitcase she had left with me, which shes taking home now. It had some of my summer things that I can unload and she gave me some of the snacks she had brought with her on the trip that she no longer needed. I also got some magazines and mom, if youre reading this, I saw your note and you'll be happy to know that Ive eaten breakfast everyday that Ive been in Italy. :)
For dinner we went to this place on one of the main roads of the neighborhood and I had a REALLY amazing pasta dish with salmon and herbs. It was wonderful! I think it was the perfect ending to a day with her. We went to grab a taxi and they were off not long from then, but I could feel mom lingering and how much I miss her. I cant wait to see her again in December. Its hard when someone is there right before you but then you know it will be a while before seeing them again. Actually, for me, its not long until I can enjoy her company again and spend some time - only something like 8 weeks! I think that time will fly by.