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.

Week ¾ Sep. 8-22nd

While in Florence, Our program went on many weekend excursions to the Cinque Terra, Siena, Pisa, and Venice!!! I have to say, the Cinque Terra is by far one of the most beautiful places Ive ever been in the world! So beautiful! There are many little seaside villages lined up on the Northwestern coast of Italy, along the Mediterranean Sea.



The say it takes about 12 hours to hike through all the villages in one day, but a few of us hiked through 4 villages in a mere 3 hours, going ALL up hill for 1 of those hours. It was so beautiful along the way, looking at the water, hiking through grape vineyards, and seeing the beautiful beaches in the distance. I definitely want to go back! I got to swim there too which was another highlight of going.


Pisa was also very neat, but there wasn’t much to do there. Siena was another very beautiful but also interesting city. The whole city is divided up into 12 districts, with a specific flag and symbol for each. We visited the district of the “goose”.


You know which district you are in, because there are flags up and down every street. Siena would be very fun to go back to. Finally, During the weekend of my 22nd birthday, we went to Venice!!! “Venezia” is by far one of the biggest highlights of my trip so far. We visited the museums, the Palace, the Duomo, and the Cathedrals. I was so fascinated by the Venetian masks they make for the “Venetian Carnival” every summer. The last night we were there, a bunch of us went on a gondola tour and saw Marco Polo’s house, and some of the oldest families homes in Italy.


The week before we left Florence, we visited the Uffizi gallery where I saw “The Birth of Venus”, and almost died. It was incredible! Then of course, I’m sure you can guess. I saw the exquisite “David”.

Nothing can compare to seeing this in person. I probably stood there in awe for a good 20 minutes. It was unreal. I hope everyone has a chance to go see it sometime in their lifetime. I was a little sad leaving Florence, after finally getting used to the city and learning my way around, but I was ready for a bigger city, so off to Rome!

Week 1/2: Aug. 28-Sep. 7th

(me at my school in Florence)

After flying into London, we had 2 days to tour London and get to know each other in the program. There are about 80 people in the program from all over the country. There are many people from California, New York, Rhode Island, and Texas. While in London, a few of us went to a London musical called “Avenue Q”. It was a hilarious puppet play, similar characters to Sesame Street, but a little more adult and comical. After London, we flew to Rome and took a bus to Florence where we lived for 3 weeks. The group was split up into 2 hotels in Florence, I was staying in one of the oldest hotels in Florence, “Porta Rossa”, which was only 2 blocks away from the “Ponte Vecchio”, the oldest bridge in Italy which is only allowed to have gold and jewelry shops stationed on it. Its always a very touristy and busy area to be, but very fun! I was lucky to catch the bridge at sunset and it was so incredibly beautifulWe attended Intensive language courses for 4 hrs a day, 5 days a week for the entire time in Florence.While in Florence, The program arranged many things for us to do and try. We got to go gelato tasting, and try some of the best gelato in Italy. My hotel was very close to the Duomo, the 4th biggest dome in the world, and 3rd biggest in Italy! It was incredible! Another girl in the program and I went to church there one Sunday and it was fun having everything be in Italian. Some very Interesting things I learned about the culture of Italians were through the Chief of Police of Florence who came and talked to us about safety. I did not know this, but it is illegal to not only SELL fake designer goods in Italy, (such as clothing and bags), but it is just as illegal to Buy them! If caught, you can be fined up to 25,000 Euros!!!! (roughly $40,000). Amazing! It is only the black men that have rows and rows of fake designer bags and sunglasses lined up down the streets, and you know there are police nearby when the men pack up in lightning speed and bolt out of there! Very interesting to watch.
We had the opportunity to go to a small village in the Tuscan hills to a very prestigious Chianti Wine Festival...and try some of the best wine in Italy!!!