Salzburg!!! The Last of my days in Rome...

I love Salzburg!!!! 6 of us girls took the train (11 hours) to Austria last weekend for only two days, and for my first time leaving Italy, it was amazing! It was also FREEZING! Snowing, and raining the whole time. We walked all around the city exploring all of the wonderful Christmas markets, (which the city is known for), and seeing Mozarts living quarters and a piano concert! On Saturday we did the Sound of Music tour and got to see all of the filming sights from the movie.. including the wonderful hills and mountain top that they climbed! It was such a lovely experience! The Gazebo from the movie was so much fun to see, but no one is allowed to go inside anymore because a few years ago, an 82 year old woman was jumping over the benches inside (just like in the movie), and fell and broke her hip! We sang on the bus the WHOLE TIME .It was seriously every bus drivers nightmare. For the most part, the people that I encountered there were very friendly to us, and made our visit a great one. We ate all the local specialties... Weiner schnitzel, braughtwurst, and potatoes. YUMMY!

We also learned that the flower edelweiss flower, (like the movie), only grows in July and August, and way back in the day men would prove their love for a ladt by climbing the mountain peaks where they grow and picking one for them.. many died along the way, which is why the flower is known as a symbol of love .

I cant believe that I only have 9 days left in ROME!!! Ive already gotten teary eyed a few times thinking about it. All of the churches and cathedrals around Rome are starting to put up their nativities, and the Colosseum and St. Peters have HUGE Christmas trees up too! Christmas here is so lovely!!! I didn't think I would.... but i have met someone here, and unfortunately I have to leave so soon. His name is Gianluca, and he is a dentist here in Rome. We have been going to dinner and Ive been getting the best tours of Rome from him! I miss everyone at home, and I cant wait to see you.... but I dont want to leave.

In the last few weeks I have been very busy with school and midterms and in my freetime frolicking around Rome. :) On Sunday night, a bunch of us went out to go to the ROMA soccer game, and when we got to the stadium there was a riot outside with guys throwing glass, holding metal crobars and sticks, blocking off roads with dividers and throwing bottles at police cars. The game in return was canceled in respect for the fan who got shot in the riot the previous night in Milan. "ITS JUST A GAME" I dont get it..... but thats Italy. We were unfortunately too close to the rioters and a person I was with was taking pictures of the guys doing these things and a few of them god mad and starting chasing after us with the metal rods and sticks and kicked me and another guy in the back as we ran and jumped on the bus.... I dont think Ill be going to any more Roma games here!

As of tomorrow... I will officially only have 1 month here left. I cant believe it!! I remember being back in Florence in September and thinking how long I was going to be here, and now I cant believe I have to go home so soon. :( I really have fallen in love with this city. I love it here! I watched Gladiator the other night, and then the next day I went to the Colosseum. Its so surreal! I am so lucky to be able to see these things everyday. Im excited to come home and see everyone, but at the same time, I know Im going to be extremely sad leaving the Eternal City.

Yesterday In my Art History class we got to go inside the "Castel Sant' Angelo".... the 2,000 year old castle that was used as Emporer Hadrians tomb, a papal fortress for many Popes, and a prison as well. It was so neat! at the top was one of the best views of the city I have ever seen. In case you have read Angels & Demons, it is the "Illumanti Lair", and there is "passato" a secret passage way through the ancient Roman walls that leads directly to the Vatican.

I have to go finish my research paper now... on Michelangelo's "Sistine Chapel Ceiling" the story of Genesis. Wish my luck! I miss you all!

CINEMA: Festa Internazionale di Roma

The Rome International Film Festival is going on right now... A lot of stars are in town and Ive seen them frolicking about Rome getting Gelato and seeing sights. Some friends and I have been going to it after school and getting spots along the red carpet to meet the stars and get pictures and autographs.... I hugged Tom Cruise last night! Ive met a lot of them so far.. Robert Redford, Jake Gylenhal, Reese Witherspoon.. and I had drinks next to Bruce Willis at a club last week! Oh well... When in Rome! I will my post my pictures of all this soon, but my computer isn't working. :(

Last Wednesday, I went to St. Peters with my photogtraphy class to do a project themed "religious symbols" and we happened to be there for the Pope's mass and blessing of the crowd, bu this time, instead of him coming out the window he drove in a car around the entire crowd and I was within 4ft of him! It was amazing to see people from all over the the world meet at one place to see such a highly prominent figure in their eyes. They were all shouting "pope" but in all different languages. Some nun pushed me off my chair to get closer to him.. it got pretty crazy.

We are started to review and study for Midterms coming up!!! These next 2 weeks will be full of studying. My art class goes to the Vatican Palace and Museum tomorrow... IM SO EXCITED. I will probably spend a good 5-8 hours there knowing me. I hope to put up pictures soon, but until then, I miss everyone! And everyone down in California effected by the terrible fires are in my thoughts and prayers.

Ciao!

Blessed by the Pope, and Orvieto!

On Friday my Art history class had a filed trip to Orvieto, which means "small town", and there we went to an old beautiful gothic Cathedral. The Cathedral has a relic in it of a linen cloth with a blood stain from the year 1241. Apparently, when they broke the bread for communion, the blood of Christ came out, and the blood stain on the floor dried in the shape of Jesus' face. The theme of the Cathedral on the outside and inside displays the stories of Revelations and Genesis. The frescos inside the church were made to frighten the people about death and to warn them of Hell. It was very interesting and beautiful.


Also in Orvieto, we did an underground tour of 2 manpmade caves from the Etruscan times. There are over 1200 all over the city, underground caves with pigeon coups, wine cellars, olive oil grinding stones etc.




Yesterday my roomates and I went to St. Peters for Mass, and stayed after to be blessed by the Pope! We had to go an hour before mass just to get in line to get in. People from every country imaginable were there to go to mass. They only have a certain number of seats inside and luckily we got in! I almost died when I inside because of all the amazing famous sculptures and statues I have studied for so long were there. Bernini's bronze alter was RIGHT in the center, and to the right was Michelangelo's "Pieta". Everything was so beautiful! The priests all did readings in 4 different languages; German, French, Italian and English.


After mass we went outside where the entire piazza was full of people waiting to see the Pope. He came out of a window near his apartment overlooking St. Peters square, and he blessed the whole crowd. It was amazing to be around so many people from all over the world. He does that every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon. Its crazy to think that this all happening just 6 blocks from my own apartment!

October 11, 2007

So.... tomorrow on Friday, I am going with my High Renaissance art class to Orvieto to visit "Heaven and Hell" in words and images... such as Dante and others. Then on Saturday from friend Crissy and I are spending the day and night in Perugia for the famous European Chocolate Festival!!! It is supposed to be amazing! Maybe I can bring home some samples for you all! I can't believe I am almost half way done with this experience. I have been here for 45 days, and I have 66 left in Rome. Crazy huh?

There are a few things here though that I will NEVER miss. One being every time you cross the street you have to RUN FOR YOUR LIFE whether or not its a green light or not. Another, is having to guard my bag and purse with my life no matter where I am.. the metro, the bus, a restaurant... there are gypsy kids everywhere that are very quick with their hands, and if you're not careful you would never know what you had missing. Also... Ive come to accept that Italians are actually quite rude and VERY impatient! ...the women at least.

I must go back to class... until next time!

Pompeii, Naples, CAPRI

This past weekend was a non-stop sight seeing adventure! On Friday we drove early in the morning to a hotel on the coast across the water from the volcano Mt. Vesuvius. During the day we visited Pompeii (the city destroyed and buried from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in the year 79 AD). It was really interesting to see what the homes and city was like almost 2,000 years ago. We went into the city "bath-house" where they also had saunas, and a ice-water bath. You can differentiate the wealthier families with the poor ones, because they had beautiful sculptures and paintings in the entry way of their homes. It was very eerie to see casted bodies that were found buried in the city of the lava and ash.


What made that city more interesting was going to the actual volcana, Mt. Vesuvius on Staurday! We hiked up to the summit and not only saw the steam from inside the volcano, but the most beautiful view of Naples I have ever seen! I snagged a few lava rocks to bring home. :) Our hotel wasnt actually in the city of Naples, "Napoli" but more on the outskirts.

Naples is one of the most dangerous, and dirty cities in Italy, and especially for American students. That night we were caught in the middle of a lightning storm and the power in our hotel kept going in and out and the first floor flooded! It was really neat to watch the lightning over the water with the volcano in the background.




Yesterday, (sunday) since the weather cleared up, we spent the day on the island of Capri!!! (Pronounced "CAW-PREE") On Capri, there is a little Marina with shops, and then 2 towns ontop of the hills; Capri, and Anacapri. We went to Anacapri because it was less touristy, and cheaper. They had a lift you could take to the top of the mountain there, and see the view of the island, it was beautiful!!!!





Definitely a nice change than going to see more museums. :) Im getting nervous, because I start my volunteer job this week. I am teaching English for a few hours a week to kids, either Elementary age, or High School. I find out soon. I hope I do well! The weather here is still hot and sunny, but my true Seattle colors are coming out and I am praying for either rain or cold weather. I know that sounds terrible but theres only so much heat I can take. Until next time!

Week 5

I have only been in Rome for a week, but already I can tell there is so much I wont get to do and see in this short period of time. Rome is so big! I am living in an apartment with 3 other girls, in 2 double rooms, a cute kitchen, and a large living room. Everyone in the program are spread out all around the city but most are in the same area. We are one of the furthest apartments from everything else, (a 45min. walk to school one way).


But on that note, we are also only about 4 blocks north of the Vatican!!!! We walk past the Vatican and St. Peters every morning on the way to school… its not everyday I can say that. We started classes last Monday, and in my Italian language class, there are 3 girls from Sweden, 2 from Germany, and 3 from my program. Its pretty fun having other people from around the world learning the same language as us.
Some girls and I have explored a little and seen some of the most amazing sites in Rome. The Pantheon, an architectural masterpiece, with the tomb of Raphael inside, the Colosseum, and the Trevi Fountain, where legend has it you are supposed to throw in 3 coins: 1 coin) You will return to Rome. 2 coin) You will fall in love in Italy 3 coin), you will marry the person you fall in love with....... we'll see. :)

I’m still learning the public transportation and metro system here, but for the time being I’m doing A LOT of walking. For my High Renaissance Art History class, the city is my classroom!


Every day for class we meet at a different spot in the city for lecture, and just last Thursday we met at the Coliseum! I didn’t get to explore at all this weekend, as I was sick in bed for 3 days straight, but I hope to see a lot more with this week to come! This coming weekend we are going on an excursion to Naples, Pompeii, and Capri! The weather has been in the 80’s and beautiful since the beginning of September. Its going to start getting much cooler and rainier soon, so I will take advantage.