So I've reached the end of yet another semester. It ended just the way it began only 15 weeks ago, a few friends and I walked to school (as we did the first night) and had pizza at the school (as we did the first night). There were a few differences this time as compared to last. Most notably, Italy has verily rubbed off on us. The first evening when the pizza was placed on the table, we formed nice, orderly, American lines waiting in turns for one after the other to take what they wanted--of course only one piece so all could have some. The last evening when the pizza came into the room (before being placed on the table) we all sort of herded ourselves toward the table to wait and moan about why it wasn't there yet and then crowded around (not stepping away from the good places at the table) to eat until we couldn't anymore in a big blob of people rather than the nice orderly line.
And now, I face the break alone. Everyone has to move out of the Residence by 4pm tomorrow afternoon. I'm staying in the Residence but no one else is. There are both good sides and bad sides to this. The good things? This will be a blessed Christmas for the "Poor College Kid Foundation." The area under my Christmas tree (well, really a twig in a pot with some lights on it) is overflowing with donations: shampoo, laundry detergent, toothpaste, pasta, potatoes, onions, Nutella, books, notebooks (used and unused), misc. office supplies. There are still donations coming in (and will be until everyone leaves). Other than having to move them all to my new room, I am more than happy and pleased to accept their donations.
Now, before you think I am entirely selfish: they are getting something out of this as well: I am holding two people's bags over break because they don't want to put their bags in storage at the school since they are returning early.
Anywho, since this semester is now over, and the rest of it will be spent in solitude or with my 'rents, I'm not sure how often I will have to update this. I'll be back for certain shortly before the semester begins (January 8).
Until then,
Buon Natale!
e
Buona Fortuna in the Prossimo Anno!
Merry Christmas!
and
Good Luck in the Next Year!
Se Amo! (I Love y'all)
RomanTraveller
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Weekending in Paris...
So how did I spend my weekend? I spent it traveling through Paris.
A few notes to all of you who see yourself traveling to Paris anytime soon:
(1) I thought Roman drivers were bad...and then I got into cab in Paris.
(2) Spend more than two days: the first day e got in about 12, checked in about 1, lunched, and then ran to Notre Dame, and then taxied to the Eiffel Tower.
(2a) Note: you usually have to pay for Notre Dame, but if you go during Mass, it's free. And as much I hate being one of those people who gawks during the Mass, I'm also a student on a budget...besides, the music was good.
(3) You DEFINITELY need more than one day in the Louvre...if for no other reason than we ran from one end to the other looking at what we really wanted to see (because with only one day, you really have to prioritize), and it was ALL so overwhelming.
(3a) Now more than ever I am totally puzzled by the Mona Lisa, not in that good, artsy, she's so enigmtic and intriguing way...but more the, why do so many people line up to see her when she's really not that amazing, why were half the museum's signs devoted to pointing the way to the Mona Lisa (and not, say, to the Venus de Milo; the Winged Victory of Samothrace; the Turkish Bath; or any of the some three hundred other masterpieces which I happen to like as much if not better than the Mona Lisa)?
But it was lovely, and I have the ultimate addition to my ever-growing collection of collection guides!
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
A few notes to all of you who see yourself traveling to Paris anytime soon:
(1) I thought Roman drivers were bad...and then I got into cab in Paris.
(2) Spend more than two days: the first day e got in about 12, checked in about 1, lunched, and then ran to Notre Dame, and then taxied to the Eiffel Tower.
(2a) Note: you usually have to pay for Notre Dame, but if you go during Mass, it's free. And as much I hate being one of those people who gawks during the Mass, I'm also a student on a budget...besides, the music was good.
(3) You DEFINITELY need more than one day in the Louvre...if for no other reason than we ran from one end to the other looking at what we really wanted to see (because with only one day, you really have to prioritize), and it was ALL so overwhelming.
(3a) Now more than ever I am totally puzzled by the Mona Lisa, not in that good, artsy, she's so enigmtic and intriguing way...but more the, why do so many people line up to see her when she's really not that amazing, why were half the museum's signs devoted to pointing the way to the Mona Lisa (and not, say, to the Venus de Milo; the Winged Victory of Samothrace; the Turkish Bath; or any of the some three hundred other masterpieces which I happen to like as much if not better than the Mona Lisa)?
But it was lovely, and I have the ultimate addition to my ever-growing collection of collection guides!
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
Monday, November 26, 2007
Thanksgiving
My Thanksgiving dinner consisted of Potato and Leak Soup & Beef and Guiness Pie at an Irish pub in Amsterdam. To make it a little more festive, I had a local hard cider with it. But eating amidst the Christmas decorations which festooned every empty place on the floor, walls and ceiling, I began to realize the importance of this holiday. It was good, and the person I was with helped make it more of a holiday, but it still wasn't the same as eating till I puked on turkey, stuffing, and potatoes.
Amsterdam was (from the minute we got into town) decked out to the rafters with Christmas decorations. It was really quite beautiful since Amsterdam is one of those cutely large cities. With canals and row homes, it has what America would consider "Old World Charm" but around the corner is a city of 800,000 people. So, decorating for Christmas was just enough. Luckily, the person I was with was kind enough to allow me my one peeve and let me count down until 6pm Amsterdam time on Thursday before we began shopping and speaking about Christmas. For those of you who don't know why, the reason is simple: 6pm here is 12noon there which is the moment when Santa Claus (every year without fail) crosses the line at Macy's making it the official (for me at least) Christmas season. So, in a country where everything had already been decked for Christmas (for some time it seemed) I wanted to wait until official American Christmas Season.
Anywho, otherwise my weekend was nice:
Thursday: get in, walk around, dinner, Red Light District (no trip to Amsterdam is complete without it), Erotic Museum (it was cheap, it was there, we went), movie attempt #1
Friday: Anne Frank House (just as moving as it sounds), Van Gogh Museum (surprisingly small, and without as much "van-gogh-i-ness" as one would think), movie attempt #2
Saturday: Torture Museum, Sex Museum, Amsterdam Dungeon (s sort of Halloweeny, scary, Salemmy, trp through Amsterdam history), dinner, Mass (which is slightly more confusing in Dutch) movie attempt #3...success! Crappy movie, but good for the cold, raininess that it was.
Sunday: up and out...home by 5.
Now to get back down to work before my weekend in Paris.
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
p.s. two notes: (1) No, I did not indulge in Amsterdam. Not really my thing. (2) I didn't explain any of the museums since they are all pretty straight forward.
Amsterdam was (from the minute we got into town) decked out to the rafters with Christmas decorations. It was really quite beautiful since Amsterdam is one of those cutely large cities. With canals and row homes, it has what America would consider "Old World Charm" but around the corner is a city of 800,000 people. So, decorating for Christmas was just enough. Luckily, the person I was with was kind enough to allow me my one peeve and let me count down until 6pm Amsterdam time on Thursday before we began shopping and speaking about Christmas. For those of you who don't know why, the reason is simple: 6pm here is 12noon there which is the moment when Santa Claus (every year without fail) crosses the line at Macy's making it the official (for me at least) Christmas season. So, in a country where everything had already been decked for Christmas (for some time it seemed) I wanted to wait until official American Christmas Season.
Anywho, otherwise my weekend was nice:
Thursday: get in, walk around, dinner, Red Light District (no trip to Amsterdam is complete without it), Erotic Museum (it was cheap, it was there, we went), movie attempt #1
Friday: Anne Frank House (just as moving as it sounds), Van Gogh Museum (surprisingly small, and without as much "van-gogh-i-ness" as one would think), movie attempt #2
Saturday: Torture Museum, Sex Museum, Amsterdam Dungeon (s sort of Halloweeny, scary, Salemmy, trp through Amsterdam history), dinner, Mass (which is slightly more confusing in Dutch) movie attempt #3...success! Crappy movie, but good for the cold, raininess that it was.
Sunday: up and out...home by 5.
Now to get back down to work before my weekend in Paris.
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
p.s. two notes: (1) No, I did not indulge in Amsterdam. Not really my thing. (2) I didn't explain any of the museums since they are all pretty straight forward.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Once in a Lifetime...
So Venice (see below) was a bit more expensive than my original plan to stay in and be a dork writing a paper...however, when I say it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I really mean it. Going into the weekend I knew that even if I could go to a Biennale in the future, it would never be THIS Biennale. But once I got there I found out something very interesting. 2007 is what they call a year of the Grand Tour.
Every ten years, no less, four of the Great International Art Exhibition occur during the same summer. They are: La Biennale di Venezia, some triennial exhbition (I want to say somewhere in either France or Germany), an art faire somewhere, and something else...
So when I say that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I REALLY mean it...
Just thought I'd brag a little more...
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
Every ten years, no less, four of the Great International Art Exhibition occur during the same summer. They are: La Biennale di Venezia, some triennial exhbition (I want to say somewhere in either France or Germany), an art faire somewhere, and something else...
So when I say that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I REALLY mean it...
Just thought I'd brag a little more...
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
La Biennale di Venezia and My Whirlwind Weekend
An update is coming as far as general life since I last updated this thing. But while it is still fresh, I must write about this amazing weekend!
So this was going to be a nice, leisurely weekend of "paper-writing" and relaxation (emphasis on the latter) until Friday evening about 8pm when a friend of mine came into the room I was in at the time (someone else's where we were having wine and dessert) and asked, "So, does anybody want to go to Venice this weekend?" My first thought was that he meant did anyone want to spend Thanksgiving break in Venice, but not sure I asked, "You mean, like Thanksgiving? Sorry I can't I'm going to Amsterdam." He replied, "No, like as in tonight." Surprised, and kind of intrigued by the spur-of-the-moment-ness of it all, my first reaction (thorough planner that I am) was to say that I just couldn't because I had so much work to do, and didn't think it through enough. But, after some hemming and hawing I knew I just had to go and packed my backpack and off we went taking the 2250 train from Roma Tiburtina Stazione to Venezia Santa Lucia Stazione--getting in about 530.
So, out first encounter with this weekend of firsts for me (keep in mind this is the most impulsive thing I have EVER done in my entire life) was to get to the wrong train station. My friend had misread the schedule and thought that the train was leaving from Termini Stazione whereas it actually left from Tiburtina Stazione. Getting off the Met.Ro at Termini we went to the ticket taker with 20 minutes to spare, only to find out we actually had to go to Tiburtina which was 4 Met.Ro stops away. We ripped our tickets out of her hand and ran for the Met.Ro only to miss the train. We waited almost 10 minutes for the next train. Keep in mind, by the time it arrived we had 5 minutes to get onto the train, travel four stops, get off at a completely foreign train station which neither of us had been to, find out where our train was leaving from and get there in time. We got off the Met.Ro in Tiburtina and hauled ass, movie style, to the nearest ticket seller where we scared the crap out of the dozing staff person by slamming ourselves (completely accidentally) into the counter and screaming for help. After we found out where the train was leaving from (it was now 2253) was tore our way through the train station screaming “Permesso” and “Scuzzi” to everyone and everything that got in our way. We got to the right track and sure we were going to find it empty, we made our way up the stairs to the track where to our amazement we found the train. We jumped on the nearest open door and found ourselves (again amazingly) and empty room. After hearty congratulations we passed out.
We awoke around Venezia where we got off and walked into the cold grip of Death (which we thought was just freezing cold Venice until later in the day when we finally realized that Death was actually gripping us). We found a hotel (after only a little looking) which was cheap (by Venice standards), near both the train station and a waterbus stop. Yes, Venice has no traffic, there are no cars, buses, trucks, or motorcycles in Venice, everything is by foot. Public transportation, then, is the waterbus, which runs much like an autobus, but on water. Our next rude awakening was that this is indeed Italy…at 530…am. Nothing was open (there is no such thing as 24 hours a day in Italy, and CERTAINLY not in Venice). Thus we made our way leisurely to Piazza San Marco. This is where all the really famous pictures from Venice are with people standing covered in pigeons. Don’t ask me why, every time we were there the pigeons were all sleeping.
This brings me to point number 2, other than the Biennale, the reason we went in the first place, we really did not see any major sites in Venice since we usually were walking through before or after hours. So don’t ask was the Basilic San Marco looks like on the inside, I don’t know.
We then proceeded to walk along the Grand Canal toward The Arsenale, site #1 of the Biennale. We got there about 830 (after SEVERAL stops for cappuccino) a nice respectable time for an art exhibition of this magnitude to open, we thought. BUT, we forgot one little thing: this is Italy. The Biennale did not actually open until 1000. Ah well, we walked around some more, had a cappuccino, and went back.
I must say, the running, the freezing, the waiting was all worth it. I actually cannot describe much of anything because it was all so good. But I will describe what the Biennale is, and how it is set up.
The Biennale (La Biennale di Venezia) is a Biennial (hence the name) International contemporary art exhibition hosted by the city of Venice. From Brazil to Uruguay everyone who’s anyone has some part in the exhibition. It takes place in two major points in Venice: The Arsenale (and old Arsenal on the waterfront) and the Giardini Biennale (The Gardens of the Biennial). With one ticket (8 Euro for students, thank you very much to them for that little help), you get one entrance into each of these two major points. Also with your ticket stub you get into the smaller exhibition galleries spread around Venice. The Arsenale was one major building which hosted the title, international exhibition: Think with the senses, feel with the mind. And a few other smaller “Pavilions.” The Giardini is made up of one large “Pavillion” for Italy (which, although the host country, did not for a while have a pavilion for themselves) and other smaller pavilions for the other countries. In most cases each pavilion showcased one or a few major pieces by one artist, chosen by the country’s curator, and displayed. There is one major curator who chooses the theme and the national curators. The national curators choose their artists, and set up the spaces. Now, by pavilions they actually mean permanent structures built for each country (with the name permanently built into the building). You then walk around all these major buildings and see the art. It was amazingly beautiful.
I must say, I was completely disappointed in the ethnocentric building America had since it was pretty much a miniature copy of the Capitol building. Here amidst these abstract, funky buildings most influenced by Carlo Scarpa, was this brick building which looked exactly like it belonged in Washington D.C. The US apparently made no effort in trying to be international at all. Their art was also severely lacking (although they did give out free posters and candy—my guess is to bribe international support). On this note, is was evident that there is NO international support for America and certainly not for Bush or the wars. This was a MAJOR theme in most of the countries we saw, and certainly ran through a large part of the international title exhibition. I liked it, and must say I wish Bush could have seen it, though I’m not sure we could have comprehended any art that didn’t involve putting water on the colored dots to make the paint bleed where it was supposed to go.
We spent Saturday and Sunday at the Biennale (most of the day) and then walking around Venice, getting lost both nights, though we found many a nice restaurant to Piazza which quite frankly I have no idea how they survive economically because we would never have found them if not by accident.
Our trip home was much les exciting since we went in more than enough time to get out tickets, and ended up taking a joy ride on a waterbus around the island…just to waste time. We then got on the train, found ourselves another empty room, and laid down. Two Romanian (read, at least in Italy so don’t find it offensive: Gypsy) men came into our car. After some hubbub, their attempt to steal my cookies which, even though I no longer wanted them since they had been touched by unwashed Gypsy hands, left with me when we left the car and found somewhere else to sit where we fell asleep in much less comfortable, slightly contorted shapes and awoke in Rome at 7am (oh yeah, we left at 1204 this morning).
I then came home, showered, went to school, wrote a paper, came home (with enough time to take a nap), and my alarm didn’t go off so I also slept through my first class which is okay since I have more than enough absences left in the class, and was able to get the almost non-existent notes from my friend.
And now as I am about ready to fall asleep, I’m going to go, cook something simply and fast for dinner and go to bed.
Ciao!
RomanTraveller
p.s. pictures from Athens may have to wait until Winter Break since I am now in Finals mode until the end of the semester!
So this was going to be a nice, leisurely weekend of "paper-writing" and relaxation (emphasis on the latter) until Friday evening about 8pm when a friend of mine came into the room I was in at the time (someone else's where we were having wine and dessert) and asked, "So, does anybody want to go to Venice this weekend?" My first thought was that he meant did anyone want to spend Thanksgiving break in Venice, but not sure I asked, "You mean, like Thanksgiving? Sorry I can't I'm going to Amsterdam." He replied, "No, like as in tonight." Surprised, and kind of intrigued by the spur-of-the-moment-ness of it all, my first reaction (thorough planner that I am) was to say that I just couldn't because I had so much work to do, and didn't think it through enough. But, after some hemming and hawing I knew I just had to go and packed my backpack and off we went taking the 2250 train from Roma Tiburtina Stazione to Venezia Santa Lucia Stazione--getting in about 530.
So, out first encounter with this weekend of firsts for me (keep in mind this is the most impulsive thing I have EVER done in my entire life) was to get to the wrong train station. My friend had misread the schedule and thought that the train was leaving from Termini Stazione whereas it actually left from Tiburtina Stazione. Getting off the Met.Ro at Termini we went to the ticket taker with 20 minutes to spare, only to find out we actually had to go to Tiburtina which was 4 Met.Ro stops away. We ripped our tickets out of her hand and ran for the Met.Ro only to miss the train. We waited almost 10 minutes for the next train. Keep in mind, by the time it arrived we had 5 minutes to get onto the train, travel four stops, get off at a completely foreign train station which neither of us had been to, find out where our train was leaving from and get there in time. We got off the Met.Ro in Tiburtina and hauled ass, movie style, to the nearest ticket seller where we scared the crap out of the dozing staff person by slamming ourselves (completely accidentally) into the counter and screaming for help. After we found out where the train was leaving from (it was now 2253) was tore our way through the train station screaming “Permesso” and “Scuzzi” to everyone and everything that got in our way. We got to the right track and sure we were going to find it empty, we made our way up the stairs to the track where to our amazement we found the train. We jumped on the nearest open door and found ourselves (again amazingly) and empty room. After hearty congratulations we passed out.
We awoke around Venezia where we got off and walked into the cold grip of Death (which we thought was just freezing cold Venice until later in the day when we finally realized that Death was actually gripping us). We found a hotel (after only a little looking) which was cheap (by Venice standards), near both the train station and a waterbus stop. Yes, Venice has no traffic, there are no cars, buses, trucks, or motorcycles in Venice, everything is by foot. Public transportation, then, is the waterbus, which runs much like an autobus, but on water. Our next rude awakening was that this is indeed Italy…at 530…am. Nothing was open (there is no such thing as 24 hours a day in Italy, and CERTAINLY not in Venice). Thus we made our way leisurely to Piazza San Marco. This is where all the really famous pictures from Venice are with people standing covered in pigeons. Don’t ask me why, every time we were there the pigeons were all sleeping.
This brings me to point number 2, other than the Biennale, the reason we went in the first place, we really did not see any major sites in Venice since we usually were walking through before or after hours. So don’t ask was the Basilic San Marco looks like on the inside, I don’t know.
We then proceeded to walk along the Grand Canal toward The Arsenale, site #1 of the Biennale. We got there about 830 (after SEVERAL stops for cappuccino) a nice respectable time for an art exhibition of this magnitude to open, we thought. BUT, we forgot one little thing: this is Italy. The Biennale did not actually open until 1000. Ah well, we walked around some more, had a cappuccino, and went back.
I must say, the running, the freezing, the waiting was all worth it. I actually cannot describe much of anything because it was all so good. But I will describe what the Biennale is, and how it is set up.
The Biennale (La Biennale di Venezia) is a Biennial (hence the name) International contemporary art exhibition hosted by the city of Venice. From Brazil to Uruguay everyone who’s anyone has some part in the exhibition. It takes place in two major points in Venice: The Arsenale (and old Arsenal on the waterfront) and the Giardini Biennale (The Gardens of the Biennial). With one ticket (8 Euro for students, thank you very much to them for that little help), you get one entrance into each of these two major points. Also with your ticket stub you get into the smaller exhibition galleries spread around Venice. The Arsenale was one major building which hosted the title, international exhibition: Think with the senses, feel with the mind. And a few other smaller “Pavilions.” The Giardini is made up of one large “Pavillion” for Italy (which, although the host country, did not for a while have a pavilion for themselves) and other smaller pavilions for the other countries. In most cases each pavilion showcased one or a few major pieces by one artist, chosen by the country’s curator, and displayed. There is one major curator who chooses the theme and the national curators. The national curators choose their artists, and set up the spaces. Now, by pavilions they actually mean permanent structures built for each country (with the name permanently built into the building). You then walk around all these major buildings and see the art. It was amazingly beautiful.
I must say, I was completely disappointed in the ethnocentric building America had since it was pretty much a miniature copy of the Capitol building. Here amidst these abstract, funky buildings most influenced by Carlo Scarpa, was this brick building which looked exactly like it belonged in Washington D.C. The US apparently made no effort in trying to be international at all. Their art was also severely lacking (although they did give out free posters and candy—my guess is to bribe international support). On this note, is was evident that there is NO international support for America and certainly not for Bush or the wars. This was a MAJOR theme in most of the countries we saw, and certainly ran through a large part of the international title exhibition. I liked it, and must say I wish Bush could have seen it, though I’m not sure we could have comprehended any art that didn’t involve putting water on the colored dots to make the paint bleed where it was supposed to go.
We spent Saturday and Sunday at the Biennale (most of the day) and then walking around Venice, getting lost both nights, though we found many a nice restaurant to Piazza which quite frankly I have no idea how they survive economically because we would never have found them if not by accident.
Our trip home was much les exciting since we went in more than enough time to get out tickets, and ended up taking a joy ride on a waterbus around the island…just to waste time. We then got on the train, found ourselves another empty room, and laid down. Two Romanian (read, at least in Italy so don’t find it offensive: Gypsy) men came into our car. After some hubbub, their attempt to steal my cookies which, even though I no longer wanted them since they had been touched by unwashed Gypsy hands, left with me when we left the car and found somewhere else to sit where we fell asleep in much less comfortable, slightly contorted shapes and awoke in Rome at 7am (oh yeah, we left at 1204 this morning).
I then came home, showered, went to school, wrote a paper, came home (with enough time to take a nap), and my alarm didn’t go off so I also slept through my first class which is okay since I have more than enough absences left in the class, and was able to get the almost non-existent notes from my friend.
And now as I am about ready to fall asleep, I’m going to go, cook something simply and fast for dinner and go to bed.
Ciao!
RomanTraveller
p.s. pictures from Athens may have to wait until Winter Break since I am now in Finals mode until the end of the semester!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Forgive the Delay...
I am back (and have been for awhile) from Greece. And yes, I have many pictures and stories to tell. However, besides stories and pictures I also brought an ear infection with me back from Athens.
Therefore, please forgive the delay in updating the blog, but I have had several doctor's appointments and farmacia runs to fulfill on top of starting classes back up. By next Tuesday (hopefully by Friday afternoon) I will have updated you all on my Athenian fun!
Grazie,
RomanTraveller
Therefore, please forgive the delay in updating the blog, but I have had several doctor's appointments and farmacia runs to fulfill on top of starting classes back up. By next Tuesday (hopefully by Friday afternoon) I will have updated you all on my Athenian fun!
Grazie,
RomanTraveller
Thursday, October 18, 2007
The Weekend
I have hit the last day of my mid-terms. Which means as of 230 today (after my Italian exam) I will be free to enjoy ten days of Fall Break (something which main campus does not give us). I will be in Athens the first four days (leaving around 9am on Monday). I will then be in Bella Roma for the rest of my break. But Don't Cry for Me Argentina, I will have the time I seem to lack during the semester to see Rome, embrace the city, let it embrace me. Plus, get a butt-load of pictures that I have not taken. As well, I think that I will be spending a good amount of time in the hill-towns such as Assisi where I have wanted to go for some time now but just lacked the time or ambition to go.
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
Monday, October 8, 2007
The Marino Wine Festival
Yesterday, the first Sunday of October, was the 84th annual Marino Wine Festival (Sagre dell'uva). It commemorates a Medieval occasion after the Battle of Lepanto when the fountains in the town ran with wine instead of water. Everywhere has cheap (if not free) fresh wine newly vintaged. Red and Wine it flows freely. There is a sacred procession of the Madonna, as well as a commemorative parade of costumed players who reinact the victory parade of the victor of the battle. Then at 530/6/630 (depending who you talk to, and keeping in mind nothing starts on time in Italy) the main fountain in the town (which is shaped like prisoners from the battle, literally flows with wine, from which everyone can fill their cups, bottles, jugs, etc. with new wine (which, though free--and therefore, by college definition good--was severely lacking in taste and coolness (considering is was white wine). But it was free nonetheless. I left before the "real" fun began. That is, as with any type of festival where alcohol runs freely there is bound to be a little mischief. Inevitably after a few rounds of the free wine, there is a grape fight in the main square. Ah well, at least my clothes stayed clean!
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Jan Gadyen Death March: Day 2
Breakfast at 7.30. Cornetti (croisants...these ones had jam inside), capuccino (sp?), etc.
Pompeii by 9. We got off and walked around for 8 hours. I love classics, Pompeii was amazing, but I can only do so many wall paintings in one day. I learned a lot, and it was amazing to walk in history.
Jan Gadeyne's two rules for touring Pompeii: (1) Kill any tourist you see, bonus points if you kill a whole group of them from a cruise ship; (2) Go into any open building because it may never be open again. The latter was very true, there were several buildings (I think between 3 and 5) that he had taken his other class to the previous weekend that were not open when we were there--only 7 days later. HOWEVER! We did get to go into a house (The House of the Vettii) that is closed to the public. It has been recently renovated and is now off limits (I'm not sure if it's permanent or not). It was SO cool. First of all, the paintings were the best preserved, and also, we had to call a guard who opened the gate with this key, let us in, came in himself, the locked us in (so no one else could get in) then had to unlock the gate to let us out. It was very cool to be touring this house and have people standing at the gate wondering how the hell they were going to get in. A tour group even started to enter as we were leaving and got kicked out (rather sternly, as well) by the guard. It was cool. They were jealous. More wall paintings.
We then went on to two more villas (of which you will see no pictures because my camera battery died). Finally completely exhausted we returned to the hotel.
Dinner and very deep sleep.
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
p.s. pictures won't be up until Monday--possibly even Tuesday--when I can get to school to use the real internet.
Pompeii by 9. We got off and walked around for 8 hours. I love classics, Pompeii was amazing, but I can only do so many wall paintings in one day. I learned a lot, and it was amazing to walk in history.
Jan Gadeyne's two rules for touring Pompeii: (1) Kill any tourist you see, bonus points if you kill a whole group of them from a cruise ship; (2) Go into any open building because it may never be open again. The latter was very true, there were several buildings (I think between 3 and 5) that he had taken his other class to the previous weekend that were not open when we were there--only 7 days later. HOWEVER! We did get to go into a house (The House of the Vettii) that is closed to the public. It has been recently renovated and is now off limits (I'm not sure if it's permanent or not). It was SO cool. First of all, the paintings were the best preserved, and also, we had to call a guard who opened the gate with this key, let us in, came in himself, the locked us in (so no one else could get in) then had to unlock the gate to let us out. It was very cool to be touring this house and have people standing at the gate wondering how the hell they were going to get in. A tour group even started to enter as we were leaving and got kicked out (rather sternly, as well) by the guard. It was cool. They were jealous. More wall paintings.
We then went on to two more villas (of which you will see no pictures because my camera battery died). Finally completely exhausted we returned to the hotel.
Dinner and very deep sleep.
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
p.s. pictures won't be up until Monday--possibly even Tuesday--when I can get to school to use the real internet.
The Jan Gadeyne Death March: Day 1
On the bus by 6.45, we were on our way to Sperlonga--the Villa of Emperor Tiberias.
It was amazing. He apparently lived right on the water (like the ocean was a "water feature" in major parts of his home). At least one of his dining rooms was situated practically surrounded by water. But what was most amazing was the Grotte (cave). It was a naturally formed cave that was plasterd and turned into the landscape to display sculpture. There were three groups in all: Odysseus and Wounded Achilles, the Scylla Group, the Polyphemus Group, The Stealing of the Statue of Athena from Troy, and the Rape of Ganymedes. You'll see pictures of the Scylla Group and the Polyphemus Group in the photo album. The others weren't worth putting up since they are like half a leg and a hand and somehow they recreated what the sculpture looked like--very interesting for Jan Gadeyne, very important (apparently) for me to know for class, not so interesting for me to send out to y'all.
We then hopped back on the bus to go to Baia. After having stopped all the traffic in the half-horse town of Baia (ancient spa-city for Rome...very hotty totty) we arrived at the archaeological museum. Here we saw (I'll have to describe it since we were not allowed cameras here) several cult statues from the cult of the emperors statues of the emperor, paid for by patrons, to be placed in the temple of the deified emperor for worship. Very cool. Several thousand (literally) plaster cast pieces which meant that a statuary workshop existed in Baia. Again, very ineteresting in the class-sense, not so interesting to pass on to you.
Back on the bus, we made our way to Pozzuoli where we saw an ancient amphitheater (the oldest in the Roman empire--even before the Colosseo--and best preserved). I didn't take any pictures above ground because, well, to be honest, you've seen amphitheaters. If you haven't rent Gladiator and you'll see a better version than what we saw. What was cool and what I did take a million pictures of was the underground of the Amphitheater. It is the only preserved undeground of an amphitheater that people can go in...very cool.
We then walked (hiked) down to the shore in the town of Pozzuoli to see the meet market. There are pictures of the market (note temple in back of temple--probably for Hercules, the hero/god of commerce). Also of the men's room--one of two. Sorry ladies, you had to hold it.
We then stumbled onto the bus and road to Paestum (ancient: Poseidonia) where our hotel was. Nice hotel. We were the only group there, besides the architecture seniors from Waterlook University (Canada). So that was nice...dinner and breakfast was included...good food even if they thought that we students would only want fried food and pasta...whatever.
Back to the room, shower and bed. Up early tomorrow for Pompeii!
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
p.s pictures as soon as photobucket will upload them...slow internet at the Residence...
It was amazing. He apparently lived right on the water (like the ocean was a "water feature" in major parts of his home). At least one of his dining rooms was situated practically surrounded by water. But what was most amazing was the Grotte (cave). It was a naturally formed cave that was plasterd and turned into the landscape to display sculpture. There were three groups in all: Odysseus and Wounded Achilles, the Scylla Group, the Polyphemus Group, The Stealing of the Statue of Athena from Troy, and the Rape of Ganymedes. You'll see pictures of the Scylla Group and the Polyphemus Group in the photo album. The others weren't worth putting up since they are like half a leg and a hand and somehow they recreated what the sculpture looked like--very interesting for Jan Gadeyne, very important (apparently) for me to know for class, not so interesting for me to send out to y'all.
We then hopped back on the bus to go to Baia. After having stopped all the traffic in the half-horse town of Baia (ancient spa-city for Rome...very hotty totty) we arrived at the archaeological museum. Here we saw (I'll have to describe it since we were not allowed cameras here) several cult statues from the cult of the emperors statues of the emperor, paid for by patrons, to be placed in the temple of the deified emperor for worship. Very cool. Several thousand (literally) plaster cast pieces which meant that a statuary workshop existed in Baia. Again, very ineteresting in the class-sense, not so interesting to pass on to you.
Back on the bus, we made our way to Pozzuoli where we saw an ancient amphitheater (the oldest in the Roman empire--even before the Colosseo--and best preserved). I didn't take any pictures above ground because, well, to be honest, you've seen amphitheaters. If you haven't rent Gladiator and you'll see a better version than what we saw. What was cool and what I did take a million pictures of was the underground of the Amphitheater. It is the only preserved undeground of an amphitheater that people can go in...very cool.
We then walked (hiked) down to the shore in the town of Pozzuoli to see the meet market. There are pictures of the market (note temple in back of temple--probably for Hercules, the hero/god of commerce). Also of the men's room--one of two. Sorry ladies, you had to hold it.
We then stumbled onto the bus and road to Paestum (ancient: Poseidonia) where our hotel was. Nice hotel. We were the only group there, besides the architecture seniors from Waterlook University (Canada). So that was nice...dinner and breakfast was included...good food even if they thought that we students would only want fried food and pasta...whatever.
Back to the room, shower and bed. Up early tomorrow for Pompeii!
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
p.s pictures as soon as photobucket will upload them...slow internet at the Residence...
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Recuperation
I am now home from the Jan Gadeyne Death March. It was nice, and I will give you the full blow-by-blow (which may take a few pages to write)...but tomorrow, or the next day. Right now, I need to sleep, crash, pass out...
Pictures and stories soon...I promise...
ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
RomanTraveller
Pictures and stories soon...I promise...
ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
RomanTraveller
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Travelling...
So besides Rome, here are the places I will be visiting on my various breaks from my school work:
October 19-22: Athens, Greece
November 29-December 2: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
I am still looking into where I will be from October 23-October28 which is the second part of my "Fall Break." Any ideas? Let me know. But we do know the following are OUT: London (too expensive--1 pound=like 2 Euro=2.5 USD); Paris (Lauren--who's coming in the Spring--will probably want to go there, and it's pretty far); Israel. Here's what's a possibility (because I know people going): Cairo/Tunisia; Barcelona/Berlin-Munich; Croatia; Budapest/Berlin; Prague/Barcelona. OR my plan may be to just stay put, enjoy having the room to myself, and explore Rome and her hill-towns more in-depthly.
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
October 19-22: Athens, Greece
November 29-December 2: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
I am still looking into where I will be from October 23-October28 which is the second part of my "Fall Break." Any ideas? Let me know. But we do know the following are OUT: London (too expensive--1 pound=like 2 Euro=2.5 USD); Paris (Lauren--who's coming in the Spring--will probably want to go there, and it's pretty far); Israel. Here's what's a possibility (because I know people going): Cairo/Tunisia; Barcelona/Berlin-Munich; Croatia; Budapest/Berlin; Prague/Barcelona. OR my plan may be to just stay put, enjoy having the room to myself, and explore Rome and her hill-towns more in-depthly.
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
"The Jan Gadeyne Death March"
Please don't be offended by this title. My Flemish-Belgian Classicist/Classical Archaeologist/Art History Professor, Jan Gadeyne, so terms the up-coming weekend excursion.
Just so you know, here is where I will be this upcoming weekend (expect pictures only if I ever have enough energy to press the flash button):
FRIDAY, 28/9/2007
6.45: Meet at Buss
9.00 Arrive in Sperlonga. Breakfast (20 minutes) and visit to the Villa of Tiberius and the Archaeological Museum.
11.00 Leave Sperlonga to Baia. Lunch on Road
13.30 Arrive in Baia. Visit to Archaeological Museum.
15.00 Leave Baia to Pozzuoli.
15.30 Arrive in Pozzuol. Visit to Serapeum and Amphitheater.
17.00 Leave Pozzuoli to Pestum.
19.30 Check into hotel. Dinner.
SATURDAY, 29/9/2007
7.30 Breakfast
8.00 Leave Paestum to Pompei.
9.15 Arrive in Pompei. Visit Ancient City.
16.30 (7 hours later, no lunch or pee breaks) Leave Pompei to Stabiae. Visit Villas of S. Marco and Arianna.
18.00 Leave for Paestum.
19.30 Arrive in Paestum. Dinner.
SUNDAY, 30/9/2007
7.30 Breakfast
8.00 Depart for visit in Paestum.
10.00 Leave Paestum to Naples.
11.30 Arrive in Naples. Visit Archaeological Museum
13.15 Lunch in Naples (Pizza for 10 minutes). More tour of Naples.
14.45 Leave Naples to Rome.
18.00 Arrive in Rome.
His only advice (besides to bring good walking shoes, two notebooks, three pens, and something for the rai)? Pee before 6.45 on Friday because we won't be stopping to pee until we get back to Rome.
What a hoot!
See you all on Sunday Night, if I survive!
Just so you know, here is where I will be this upcoming weekend (expect pictures only if I ever have enough energy to press the flash button):
FRIDAY, 28/9/2007
6.45: Meet at Buss
9.00 Arrive in Sperlonga. Breakfast (20 minutes) and visit to the Villa of Tiberius and the Archaeological Museum.
11.00 Leave Sperlonga to Baia. Lunch on Road
13.30 Arrive in Baia. Visit to Archaeological Museum.
15.00 Leave Baia to Pozzuoli.
15.30 Arrive in Pozzuol. Visit to Serapeum and Amphitheater.
17.00 Leave Pozzuoli to Pestum.
19.30 Check into hotel. Dinner.
SATURDAY, 29/9/2007
7.30 Breakfast
8.00 Leave Paestum to Pompei.
9.15 Arrive in Pompei. Visit Ancient City.
16.30 (7 hours later, no lunch or pee breaks) Leave Pompei to Stabiae. Visit Villas of S. Marco and Arianna.
18.00 Leave for Paestum.
19.30 Arrive in Paestum. Dinner.
SUNDAY, 30/9/2007
7.30 Breakfast
8.00 Depart for visit in Paestum.
10.00 Leave Paestum to Naples.
11.30 Arrive in Naples. Visit Archaeological Museum
13.15 Lunch in Naples (Pizza for 10 minutes). More tour of Naples.
14.45 Leave Naples to Rome.
18.00 Arrive in Rome.
His only advice (besides to bring good walking shoes, two notebooks, three pens, and something for the rai)? Pee before 6.45 on Friday because we won't be stopping to pee until we get back to Rome.
What a hoot!
See you all on Sunday Night, if I survive!
Friday, September 21, 2007
Sorry 'Bout That
The Vatican pictures are where they should be now. In "The Vatican" album.
Sorry 'Bout That...
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
Sorry 'Bout That...
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
There Up!
The Pictures are loaded at Photobucket. Look into my account for the following albums:
"The Vatican" and "Whats That The Aurelian Wall."
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
"The Vatican" and "Whats That The Aurelian Wall."
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
The Vatican
So, here's a great tip for all of you planning a trip to the Eternal City anytime soon: if you're going to go to the Vatican, go after 1630 any day of the week. I went on Saturday about 515 or so. There are virtually no lines, and very few people between you and whatever you want to see. I'd tell you a story, but there's very little to tell: a friend and I went to the Vatican, walked around, they rang a bell to say they were closing (one down-side to going after 430pm is that they do close at 7pm--but it's plenty of time) and then we came home and ate dinner.
I'm going to post photos soon at Photobucket. Be warned, though. Even though you have seen these pictures, go to the Vatican yourself. Walking into the Basilica is described be one Tour-Guide writer (Rick Steves if you've heard of him) as one of (if not THE) great "WOW!" experiences in Europe. And it is. Photos do not do it justice.
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
I'm going to post photos soon at Photobucket. Be warned, though. Even though you have seen these pictures, go to the Vatican yourself. Walking into the Basilica is described be one Tour-Guide writer (Rick Steves if you've heard of him) as one of (if not THE) great "WOW!" experiences in Europe. And it is. Photos do not do it justice.
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
The Wall Walk
Temple University Rome has a wonderful (if deadly) tradition: The Jan Gadeyne Wall Walk. Jan Gadeyne is a Classicist and Classical Archaeologist. He teaches at several programs in Rome, but important for this story, he teaches at least two classes per semester at Temple in Rome. This semester I am lucky enough to be taking both of his classes: Latin Writers in Translation, and Art and Culture of Classical Rome.
Anyway, The Jan Gadeyne Wall Walk is a 13 mile, 8 hour, all-day walk around the Ancient Wall of Rome--The Aurelian Wall. I found it very informative, and interesting to see parts of Rome very much off the beaten path where most tourists don't even know exist! However, I do have my battle scars: three blisters. Ah well, it's the price we pay. There will be photos at Photobucket soon. I'll let you know when they're up. The Album will be called "What's That? The Aurelian Wall." Just know--since I know right now--if a photo does not have a title or caption, it is because the wall is in it, and that's that only focus of the picture. Look for the wall. It shouldn't be too hard to find. Because, even after 8 hours and 13 miles, the wall still looked like the wall.
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
Anyway, The Jan Gadeyne Wall Walk is a 13 mile, 8 hour, all-day walk around the Ancient Wall of Rome--The Aurelian Wall. I found it very informative, and interesting to see parts of Rome very much off the beaten path where most tourists don't even know exist! However, I do have my battle scars: three blisters. Ah well, it's the price we pay. There will be photos at Photobucket soon. I'll let you know when they're up. The Album will be called "What's That? The Aurelian Wall." Just know--since I know right now--if a photo does not have a title or caption, it is because the wall is in it, and that's that only focus of the picture. Look for the wall. It shouldn't be too hard to find. Because, even after 8 hours and 13 miles, the wall still looked like the wall.
Ciao,
RomanTraveller
Monday, September 10, 2007
Pictures!
There are pictures from Todi at photobucket!
There are no pictures of the feast at Titignano because my camera ran out of batteries. However, I will have them next semester!
My Schedule is as Follows (remember, if you are going to try to call me during my off times, I am 6 hours ahead):
Italian Language 1001: M T W R 1300-1400
Literature of the Italian Renaissance: M W 1500-1630
Latin Writers in Translation: M W 1800-1930
Art and Cutlure in Classical Rome: W 1630-1800 and R 900-1200
Ciao!
RomanTraveller
There are no pictures of the feast at Titignano because my camera ran out of batteries. However, I will have them next semester!
My Schedule is as Follows (remember, if you are going to try to call me during my off times, I am 6 hours ahead):
Italian Language 1001: M T W R 1300-1400
Literature of the Italian Renaissance: M W 1500-1630
Latin Writers in Translation: M W 1800-1930
Art and Cutlure in Classical Rome: W 1630-1800 and R 900-1200
Ciao!
RomanTraveller
"...revision in the text!"
Just wanted to let you all know that there is a definite reason there are no overweight people in Todi. And, I'm guessing they all have thighs of steal. I woke up this morning and could barely stand up. Great exercise, though, so I'm not necessarily complaining. I think they do Todi before Titignano for two very good reasons: (a) We'd never feel like climbing up the mountain after twelve courses; (b) We burned off the fat we added back on at the meal.
Pictures still to come!
Classes start today. My earliest Monday class is at 1 (poor baby, right?). I then go until about 1930.
I'll send out my class schedule and pictures of Todi before I got to bed today...
Ciao!
RomanTraveller
Pictures still to come!
Classes start today. My earliest Monday class is at 1 (poor baby, right?). I then go until about 1930.
I'll send out my class schedule and pictures of Todi before I got to bed today...
Ciao!
RomanTraveller
Sunday, September 9, 2007
What a Day!
So last night was White Night in Rome. And that is a whole other story which I do not want to go into right now (it is somewhat lengthy, and a very touchy subject right now).
This morning I got up and went with the rest of my friends to the buses waiting in the local square and got on bus headed for Todi, a hill town about two hours north of Rome in the Ubria region of Italy (Rome is in Lazio). It was a lovely day (though a VERY long hike up a mountain to get to). Coincidentally for any of you who like Zefferelli's Romeo and Juliet, Todi is the town in which the public areas, at least, were filmed. I will have the pictures up tomorrow of the square and it is readily recognizable as the square for the famous "Do you bite your thumb at me, sir..." schpeel. After shopping at the flea market, and looking at the local churches (of course), we headed back to the buses to take about an hour ride to Titignano.
Titignano is a medieval castle/fortress which has been restored and made into a sort of resort. Here, he had a fantastic (and quite long--3 hours) meal. The menu follows:
IN ORDER:
a. Various pizzas and crustini in the square--with acqua fizzante (sprakling water)
b. Cheese and salame and prosciutto (from local products).
b2. Cheese/crust melty thing
c. Risotto with asparagus
d. Pasta (not sure on the name, but wide and long) with Boar sauce
e. Venison and green beans
f. Grill of Chicken, Venison, Lamb, and/or Boar with roasted potatoes
g. Salad
h. Tramisu (with ALOT of kahlua)
i. Vino Santo (sweet white dessert wine) with biscotti for dipping.
j. Peaches and Strawberries.
k. Caffe (NOT cappuchino--NEVER drink cappuchino after a meal, very much un-Italian)
Don't worry, I bought a bottle of the Vino Santo and some biscotti and amaretti cookies to remember the meal--although lucky me, I get to do it all again next semester!
Ciao!
RomanTraveller
This morning I got up and went with the rest of my friends to the buses waiting in the local square and got on bus headed for Todi, a hill town about two hours north of Rome in the Ubria region of Italy (Rome is in Lazio). It was a lovely day (though a VERY long hike up a mountain to get to). Coincidentally for any of you who like Zefferelli's Romeo and Juliet, Todi is the town in which the public areas, at least, were filmed. I will have the pictures up tomorrow of the square and it is readily recognizable as the square for the famous "Do you bite your thumb at me, sir..." schpeel. After shopping at the flea market, and looking at the local churches (of course), we headed back to the buses to take about an hour ride to Titignano.
Titignano is a medieval castle/fortress which has been restored and made into a sort of resort. Here, he had a fantastic (and quite long--3 hours) meal. The menu follows:
IN ORDER:
a. Various pizzas and crustini in the square--with acqua fizzante (sprakling water)
b. Cheese and salame and prosciutto (from local products).
b2. Cheese/crust melty thing
c. Risotto with asparagus
d. Pasta (not sure on the name, but wide and long) with Boar sauce
e. Venison and green beans
f. Grill of Chicken, Venison, Lamb, and/or Boar with roasted potatoes
g. Salad
h. Tramisu (with ALOT of kahlua)
i. Vino Santo (sweet white dessert wine) with biscotti for dipping.
j. Peaches and Strawberries.
k. Caffe (NOT cappuchino--NEVER drink cappuchino after a meal, very much un-Italian)
Don't worry, I bought a bottle of the Vino Santo and some biscotti and amaretti cookies to remember the meal--although lucky me, I get to do it all again next semester!
Ciao!
RomanTraveller
Saturday, September 8, 2007
More Pictures!
So last night, after our dinner (salame and cheese and bread and olive oil for appetizers, fresh pasta and sauce from scratch for entree, some packaged Italian cookies for dessert), a few friends and I decided to go see an event at the Colosseum. I can't tell you exactly what it was because I don't we actually ever got there. Someone said we did, but since it was over we left. Later, someone called us and said they were still at said first event. Anyway, we walked around the Colosseum (about midnight), walked to the Pantheon (about one o'clock), and then to the Trevi Fountain. We then decided to take a bus back since we were SEVERAL Piazzas away from home (about thirty-forty blocks--New York Style). We sat at the bus stop for about twenty minutes before getting on a bus we weren't sure would take us anywhere and being told to transfer at the hub. Which we did and found the bus was actually needed. Be proud of me...I knew it all along.
Anyway the pictures in my album from the night-time walk are of some of the sights we saw. I took a lot of the Trevi Fountain. This is for several reasons: (1) There was NO ONE there, as you'll be able to see. This is a rarity. Ths is one of the great art/fountains in Rome, and always crowded. We got right up to it, took pictures, sat on the steps. We even got to throw our coins in without having to push our way to the front of the line. This is the fountain where throwing coins originated. Tradition says, if you throw a coin (backwards, over your left shoulder) into the Trevi Fountain, you will return to Rome. Two coins (the same way) and you will return to Rome and fall in love. Three coins (the same way) and you will return to Rome, fall in love, and have a child.
Enjoy!
Ciao!
RomanTraveller
Anyway the pictures in my album from the night-time walk are of some of the sights we saw. I took a lot of the Trevi Fountain. This is for several reasons: (1) There was NO ONE there, as you'll be able to see. This is a rarity. Ths is one of the great art/fountains in Rome, and always crowded. We got right up to it, took pictures, sat on the steps. We even got to throw our coins in without having to push our way to the front of the line. This is the fountain where throwing coins originated. Tradition says, if you throw a coin (backwards, over your left shoulder) into the Trevi Fountain, you will return to Rome. Two coins (the same way) and you will return to Rome and fall in love. Three coins (the same way) and you will return to Rome, fall in love, and have a child.
Enjoy!
Ciao!
RomanTraveller
Friday, September 7, 2007
More Photographic Updates
I have included two new albums at my account one which is my WALK HOME after a WALK AROUND ROME on 5/9/2007. The latter is just the highlights but I'm sure there will be more later.
Ciao!
RomanTraveller
Ciao!
RomanTraveller
Photographic Update
I am quite sorry that an update took so long. I started the other night to update after my walk around and when I realized how long it would take (and how late it was--0030!) I decided to wait until I had an afternoon (now) to update y'all on my adventures.
I tried to upload to my blog here, but it was sort of a disaster and very much a jumble of randomness. So, I created a photobucket account and you can view my photographs there.
Check it out. This will be updated as best I can when I update the blog. So look here for stories, and then look at the pictures (if there are any--I'll say in the blog updates whether there are picture updates).
I'm sorry for the confusion, but, believe me, this is far easier than trying to figure out the pictures I posted in my blog!
Let me know if you have any problems, and maybe I'll try a different supporter for my photos!
Much Love,
RomanTraveller
I tried to upload to my blog here, but it was sort of a disaster and very much a jumble of randomness. So, I created a photobucket account and you can view my photographs there.
Check it out. This will be updated as best I can when I update the blog. So look here for stories, and then look at the pictures (if there are any--I'll say in the blog updates whether there are picture updates).
I'm sorry for the confusion, but, believe me, this is far easier than trying to figure out the pictures I posted in my blog!
Let me know if you have any problems, and maybe I'll try a different supporter for my photos!
Much Love,
RomanTraveller
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
I'm Here!!!!!!
Okay, so everything was fairly uneventful. Although having four people (even though promised a triple) in our room, we do have a nice large room, and a HUGE balcony (larger than all but one that I have seen) with a table, basin/running tap, and clothes lines (there are only three washers for our four buildings (eight floors each) and no dryers...so looks like I'll be going back a little to do laundry like the locals.
here is a picture of the campus (as seen on our walk across the Tiber river). Yes it's that building with a Temple "T" billowing in the wind. And yes, we're right on the Tiber.
here is a picture of the campus (as seen on our walk across the Tiber river). Yes it's that building with a Temple "T" billowing in the wind. And yes, we're right on the Tiber.
Gotta go, we have lunch and a meeting at campus...
I'll have an address soon!
Ciao!
JCM
Friday, August 31, 2007
...And Counting...
So my flight leaves on Monday evening. And the list of things to do is still a mile long. As well, I find that each little mole hill is becoming a mountain. Every little speed bump is making me crash into things. I am in a constant state of worry/anxiety/fear/dread/cold feet with a little dash of excitement thrown in (thought I wish there was more excitement to anything else).
Just wanted to let you all know, that things are hectically busy here (no, that is not redundant) so I will probably be out of touch until I leave, and once I'm there it will probably take a few days for me to settle down/in and start updating y'all on my ordeal.
Keep your fingers crossed and your prayers said for me.
Love y'all...
Roman Traveller
Just wanted to let you all know, that things are hectically busy here (no, that is not redundant) so I will probably be out of touch until I leave, and once I'm there it will probably take a few days for me to settle down/in and start updating y'all on my ordeal.
Keep your fingers crossed and your prayers said for me.
Love y'all...
Roman Traveller
Sunday, August 12, 2007
"...A Very Good Place to Start..."
I figured I should start at the very beginning. I am going into my junior year of college at Temple University in Philadelphia. This year, however, I will be studying in Rome (where Temple University has a campus).
Since I am still in the States my journey is really beginning with many lists: lists of things to do, documents to get, clothes and supplies to buy, items to pack, etc.
I find it terribly chaotic and often nerve-racking.
I'm slightly nervous (then again, if you know me at all, you know I get nervous about EVERYTHING). But after getting the last on-line posting from International Programs about just hat is going on the first few weeks, I am slightly more excited.
Ciao for Now...
JCM
Since I am still in the States my journey is really beginning with many lists: lists of things to do, documents to get, clothes and supplies to buy, items to pack, etc.
I find it terribly chaotic and often nerve-racking.
I'm slightly nervous (then again, if you know me at all, you know I get nervous about EVERYTHING). But after getting the last on-line posting from International Programs about just hat is going on the first few weeks, I am slightly more excited.
Ciao for Now...
JCM
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
