Monk-y-ing around

Sorry about the terrible pun blog post titles, I can be remarkably uncreative. For Saturday my roommates and I were planning on visiting a 'bone chapel' that was described as a chapel made entirely of bones (liars) The visit was sponsored by the resident life office at the AUR, and only cost a euro. I enjoyed sleeping in until eleven, woke up got ready, did my makeup, mistake, it was raining pretty steadily outside. I do not have an umbrella, and am one of the few people who refuse to shell out the money to buy one. Luckily I used water proof mascara so I didn't look like a metalocalypse groupie. The group that showed up was huge, and we filled a tram, the tiny side streets, a bus, and then the chapel itself. The bone chapel itself it turns out is not actually made of bones like we were lead to believe, it is however quite unorthodox and creepy. The crypt that is attached to the actual chapel is decorated with what must be hundreds of bones of Cappuchin monks. Elaborately decorated. Beautiful and eerie all at the same time. Pictures are not allowed, but I found this one on the web, it does a pretty good job of showing what the crypt is like, although it is not half as well lit as this picture lets on. In the last room of the crypt one of the popes (from a long time ago) nieces is displayed on the ceiling with scales and a scythe (made of bones of course) in her hand to represent death. A plaque on the floor exclaims, "What you are we once were; and what we are you will be" Overall, very worth the euro charge to get in. The church was beautiful as well, but naturally lit, and as it was a rainy day my pictures are pretty dark, there's one spot of sunshine that is crazy bright and the rest is very dim. There were multiple stations (not of the cross) around the perimeter of the church for people to enter and pray. These stations are small rooms filled with large frescoes and oil and canvas paintings. with tall archways for entrances, and kneelers for prayer. Once girl said to me (as she snapped a picture) These paintings are so beautiful. I really wanted to reply, "so beautiful that I'm not going to ruin them with the flash of my camera". But I didn't, because everyone was taking pictures, and I'm no art historian/ restorationist, maybe it's not that bad for them after all.
My roommates and I lingered a bit too long in the church and were left behind. We decided to hop on a bus, another mistake. We road it for probably half an hour, got terribly lost, waited for another bus in the cold but less rainy afternoon, and made our way home after yet another bus switch. I spent the evening catching up with people from back home, and stopped at Pizza Boom, a restaurant (kinda) for supper. A fried rice, mozzarella, and marinara ball and a slice of ham and cheese pizza for two euro. Yum.

I have also figured out my cell phone, My number for everyone in America is 011 39 377 1685853. It's free for me if you call me at this number, but expensive for you no doubt. I also have a virtual US number that will cost you no more than calling any other cell phone in the states, and is relatively cheap for me: 1 816 256 8761. I would love to hear from all of you, I can receive text messages for free as well,however, keep in mind I'm seven hours ahead ;)