Arrivederci, Roma

We went to the beach today, and it was absolutely a perfect way to end our time here. We went to a private beach, paid for beds, and had the best time ever. It was nice and quiet and warm and beautiful. We all got some nice sun, but no burns. :) We got back just in time to get all dressed up and walk over to Trastevere. We sat together on the steps to a church with an amazing view of the entire city and listened to the writing students read their favorite work from this trip to us. It was a really special experience, being able to eavesdrop on their thoughts and to see how incredibly talented my new friends are. We went to dinner at this amazing restaurant. 5 courses and we ate every one. We had this crazy plate of fried zucchini and pumkin flower and potato and mozzarella and it was so good! Then we got some spicy bean and noodle soup, then some penne pasta with bacon, then the best freaking meat I've tasted here. It was veal and roasted potatoes (kind of like the stuff I had a couple days ago, but 80 million times tastier). I wish I could have finished it, but by that time, I was super full. Tiramisu next (so good) and this strange other cakey thing that was reddish and tasted very much like red cough syrup with a very alchoholic zing. Meh. We didn't eat much of that. Then we had some coffee, which is going to be much needed tonight, since we're packing and waiting to leave at 3am tomorrow morning.
I can't believe we've already spent a month here, but it also seems like we've been here forever. Being back on American soil will be very strange.

No pictures tonight; I've already packed my card reader.