all roads lead to rome

hello everyone!
I hope everything is going well with you all, I know I have been having a pretty good couple of last weeks! The only damper on my fast approaching spring break are the two midterms I have to take this week! But my mom and youngest brother arrive on Thursday so I can't wait for that, it will be a nice reward for after exams to be sure.
Although I was lucky enough to have a visitor not too long ago. My friend Ashley came during Madison's spring break to visit me and it was so great! We spent a couple days in Madrid but most of the time we were in Rome, since I had a long weekend. I think it will be an experience we will not soon forget. We had a chance to see all the big things in Rome, from the Vatican to the Colosseum to making our wishes in the Trevi Fountain. It was quite the experience to see places I have been fascinated by ever since I first learned about them. While all the big things were amazing to see, I think my favorite one was a small church we never would have found had we not been looking for it- in fact we were standing around the corner from it and didn't even realize it as first- the church that was built over the prison that held the Apostles Peter and Paul. It was almost eerie to walk into the prison. We were overcome with the gravity of their situation and persecution they underwent. I know it put my own life into a harsh perspective.
We also attempted to take a day trip to the island of Capri to visit an amazing cave called the Blue Grotto, but that turned out to be a very bad idea since the weather was terrible and we got stranded without a bus further in the island in the rain and wind. It was for sure a bonding experience though and we are now starting to laugh about it!
Still though I think my favorite part was having one of my dearest friends with me and having the chance to catch up with her in person! Although it has made me slightly more homesick :)