Italy Tour – Rome!

This morning was our first rehearsal of the tour! We found a cute little conference room on the upper level of the hotel, and practiced for about two hours. Following the rehearsal, the choir went to the small bars (little restaurants) just outside of the hotel for lunch.

The remainder of the afternoon consisted of a TON of walking and sight-seeing. On the way to the Colosseum, the choir stopped at the Altare della Patria, which turned out to be the very first place we were told to NOT sing! We thought the security guard assumed we were busking and stopped us mid-song. Despite the disappointment, the building was stunning nonetheless.

Next on the tour, the choir was able to go into the Colosseum! Luckily we didn’t have to wait in the long lines for the public, as Adriana (our magnificent tour guide) used her connections to get us in quickly. The views were breathtaking, and the architecture even more unbelievable. It’s astonishing that such a structure could still be (partially) standing 2000 years later. Our Colosseum tour guide was fantastic, too!

In our chaperone groups, the choir was let free to explore a few streets within the city centre. Within the two hours that we had, groups had the opportunity to buy souvenirs, enjoy gelato, and familiarize with the area. The streets were so charming, and the shop owners were lovely as well.

Following our excursions, the choir met up at a local restaurant for another fantastic three-course meal. We sang a thanks to the staff and owner and headed back to the hotel. Today has been very eventful, and I’m sure our sore feet will enjoy a rest before the even more eventful day tomorrow!

Goodnight from Roma

-Kyla and Hannah