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
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
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...
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