Chapter 76
The excitement I had yesterday is still with me today. We are going to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica today. I carelessly stroke my camera bag as I consider the images I will be taking of today's landmarks to fill it. We spend the day seeing new places with Mr. Alvaro and the group, stopping along the route for food and gelato as we make our way from the basilica down to the chapel. I take in the images of the outside and inside of St. Peter's Basilica as I peer through my camera. It's really a stunning piece of construction. When Kelvin holds my hand and pushes me forward, he smiles at me when I look up at him. We are both wearing sunglasses to prevent the sun's rays from dazzling us. I soon hear Mr. Alvaro's voice drifting back, telling me the tale of how this cathedral came to be, as I move across the Sistine Chapel. Unfortunately, photography is prohibited here, but I still like to look around. After that, we all set off to travel to our final stop, the Vatican Museums. Our gang enters through the door and once more sets up our equipment.
I'm in awe of the ceiling, the big pieces of art on the walls, and the varying numbers of paintings that are dispersed around the space. As I go closer, I slant my camera to capture a photo of the ceiling that shows the room's end and the length of the ceiling. While some locations and artwork pieces are permissible for photography, some are not. Statues, paintings, and tapestries line corridor after hallway throughout the museum. The ceilings at the museum are my favorite feature since they are so exquisite and meticulously made. As she explains to us the timeline of how everything was created and when, my teacher rambles on and on about the museum as well as Vatican City. I take one last photo of a statue and an attractive tapestry before pursuing the group out while maintaining focus on them. A substitute instructor holds out a camera as we proceed to the golden ball outside to take another class picture. Before the company and I return to the city for dinner, I grin for the camera and loop my arm around Linda's and Kaden's. I'm pondering what Gabriel is doing as I'm walking through the streets when I peek up at the night sky. You can be sure he's either working away in his office or leading the group.
I can't imagine how difficult it must have been to take control of and manage the pack at such a young age and not have any time for yourself at intervals. He needs to get away for a little while to unwind. Gabriel is the complete opposite of how I want to spend time alone, which is at least once a week for me to decompress and rest. Kaden uses his elbow to poke me in the side, which causes me to yell in alarm and snap out of my reverie. When I mock-angryly gaze at him, he laughs, pulling me over to his side and showing me various landmarks; places he has been before, and places he hasn't gone yet.
After eating at a quaint cafe in the city for lunch, we return to the hotel in the evening as the sky is completely devoid of any clouds and is instead aglow with brilliant stars. When Kaden and I look at the photo, we both make a silly face and giggle. I then turn the camera around just to face us. Today was enjoyable. As we go into the hotel to check in for the night.
***
On our last day, we are free to do as we choose in the city, although there are limits on clubbing. I don't care to party all night and wake up hungover when I can instead spend the morning seeing the city a little more. As promised, when Linda and Kelvin must meet with another pack, Kaden takes Kayla, Max, and I on a tour of the city. Theo is also with us, carrying out his warrior responsibilities, and I am aware that there are a large number of additional male and female guards covertly pursuing our group to watch over and defend it. Although Linda and Kelvin's absence from our group makes me sad, I recognize that they must attend to packing duties as well.
So, after saying our goodbyes, we move on to the first place on the itinerary: the Campo dei Fiori markets. As Kaden leads us through the congested streets of Rome, I am eager to visit the outdoor market since I have heard about it. It's a well-known food market outside Piazza Navona where visitors typically go to restock their kitchens and sample the goods. I select a few items that appear tasty and unique as I look at the numerous stalls that have been put up. Since these booths were just set up a bit earlier in the day, we spent the majority of our morning here. You might miss it if you sleep in.
After that, we spend a bit of time shopping for trinkets to take home as gifts. We take a stroll in the quiet area to escape the city's noise and bustle. There aren't many cobblestone streets, and there aren't many automobiles to be seen. There are various cafés and restaurants that provide inexpensive cuisine that is nonetheless good. The piazza in front of the Santa Maria church in Trastevere, which is a beautiful sight to see, is where Kaden leads us next.
Then he turns around and walks us back, telling us that after dark, this neighborhood loses its calm and restful atmosphere and turns into a fascinating place for a variety of different reasons, which he refuses to explain no matter how many times we ask. We explore independently owned shops, quaint cafés, and other entertainment venues for the remainder of the evening. We even wander around the streets of different districts and engage in conversation with locals who are out enjoying the weather. We must get up in the morning to get to the airport on time, so it is soon time to return to the hotel to relax.
I say farewell to the lads and walk Kayla back to her room, laughing as she leaps onto her bed, complains about how painful her feet are, and says she would do it all over again simply to spend another day in the wonderful city. After I had changed and was prepared to go to bed, I informed Gabriel that I had returned to the hotel and would see him tomorrow. I tuck myself beneath the covers and talk to Kayla until we both nod off about how wonderful this vacation has been.
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