ok, the picture uploading thing isn't working at the moment...

Today was more walking around, it's like a constant workout over here! Umm...it's always so hard to find somewhere to start for these things. Today was a much nicer day, it didn't rain at all. We started our day off by touring the St. Maria Maggiore - the church right next to our hostel. Then we heading off to St. Clemente Basilica which was absolutely amazing. Clemente was this guy that had a house church while the Christians were persecuted, and later on this church was built in his name on top of this secret meeting place. There were three floors of ruins underneath this church it was incredible!! Then we were off to Museum on Capitol hill...there was this amazing look out on the whole city from the top of the building where we had lunch.
In the afternoon we had our first painting class, I was amazed with the results. I was totally able to just do whatever and not tense up while I was working. It was the most beautiful experience ever. Painting in the Piazza Novana, just trying to capture the moment in this way that a photograph just can't. They might just be sketches to some people - but to me, wow...amazing. There was music playing in the background while i was painting and people walking by trying to peer at my book. It's like when you take the time to take an experience like that down in an artistic way you end up taking down so much more - the atmosphere, what you're feeling inside, the energy the people give off.
Just thinking about how Rome has been a muse for writers and artists for centuries, a place of inspiration - and now I'm a part of that, one of the many artist who share this experience of being in Italy....wow.