My ears continually popped as we traveled by train to Rome. Within an hour we arrived at the station and then took the subway to the Coliseum. Their train station and subway reminded me of my trips in Chicago and New York. Once we emerged from the underground, BAM!, there it was the famous Coliseum, gigantic with all kinds of stone textures and colors on the surface and details. As we approached I began to feel tiny and unimportant. Have I ever done anything so amazing, will I ever be able to? The whisper units are an awesome way to do tours; I didn’t feel like I was on a tour. I could walk ahead or stay behind taking pictures letting it sink in and not miss any of the interesting facts. There is so much history in Rome, everywhere you look. In awe at these structures and how they were built. At eat location I could envision what it was like from the ruins and remains. The Pantheon was amazing. I would love to just lay on the ground directly in the center in silence and watch the shadows change as the sun moved across the sky and see the night sky full of stars. The art at every site, especially the churches just blows my mind. Just like poetry; so many interpretations, symbolism, and hidden meanings and every time we look at them we will never see them the same way. Squeezing by all the other tourists making our way to the Trevi fountain was interesting. Multiple languages, clothing, cameras, smells, etc all interested in the very same things. With the taste of delicious pizza in my mouth, the smell of cigarette smoke, the sound of rushing water and excited conversations enveloped me as I sat on the steps in front of the fountain in awe of the beautiful sculptures. The liveliness of all the people around it making there wishes as they toss the coin over their shoulder was a sight to see all on its own. There was a different feeling altogether here than at the Pantheon and the Coliseum, joy. Every face was lit up with excitement. Walking up to the Spanish steps as I savor the last spoonfuls of gelato could not have been more perfect, minus all the buzzing traffic. Layers upon layers of steps extend high into the sky to bring the church closer to God. The small chapel devoted to the Virgin Mary was elegantly done. The long day ended at a friend’s cousin’s apartment, with a proper Italian welcome, food, wine and good conversation. Saturday morning turned into a long walk to St. Peter’s because the weather could not make up its mind; sunny, cloudy, sprinkling, raining, pouring and a combination of them all. Luckily I was able to find a walking street vender selling umbrellas to replace my broken one and keep at least half of myself dry. The square and cathedral was glorious, I could have spent a whole day just looking at all the art. Again the only draw back was the amount of tourists everywhere. Definitely going back to get a better look and see the Vatican museums. We ate another good home cooked meal while we dried off and prepared for another window shopping tour down the Corso. There I was able to reconnect with one of my Italian relatives over a cup of coffee, it was the perfect ending.
Sunday
Il Vin Caffe - 27.1.2010
Jazzy café music playing, warm lighting, gentle sounds of people conversing and the subtle smell of coffee invading my senses as I enter the Vin Caffe. Marina’s husband recognizes us immediately from our first day here. He catered our lunch at the Centro Studi. We ordered two desserts and caffe lattes. As we waited we popped open our laptops and began to connect with family and friends at home. My first dessert in Italy was fabuloso! Italians aren’t really known for sweets of any kind but these were great. Messaging friends and updating my blog which was long over due according to our jealous friends. There just is not enough time to fully enjoy the experience and keep up contact with those we left 7 hours behind. I love the atmosphere here and will definitely be coming back here a lot during the semester.
Orvieto Underground - 27.2.2010
There is a whole other city under the modern one. The views on the way to the underground entrance were breath taking on this sunny day. So much history and reuse of these spaces overtime is fascinating. The way they carved spaces is amazing and difficult for me to wrap my mind around. So intelligent and advanced, the Etruscans truly impressed me. Gable roofs, wells, and olive oil production were some of what went on down there in the beginning. They panned out the use of the spaces well. Later in time cellars were added under homes on a different level where they carved out dwellings for doves they would raise. Most recently was a space under the hospital during WWII in case of a bombing, luckily they never needed it. This tour expanded my understanding of layers, literally multiple layers under the city, layers of different times and uses. We can all learn from the past.
SOCCER!
Sunday are known for futbol games at least to fans of the sport. Since I am one of those fans I wanted to see today’s game. Luckily I met a nice girl who told me where I could go to watch the game, Café del Corso. A group of us arrived and the game is just beginning and all the good seats are already taken by the local fans. EXCITING! The only emotion I had room for when I saw them. I ordered a glass of wine as kick off started. This is good futbol, especially when it was between the two Milan rival teams. I gathered from the sounds of the fans in the bar that they were mostly AC Milan fans. Later that assumption was confirmed by a nice older gentleman standing next to me at the bar. Everyone was quiet, intensely watching the game. There were hardly any side conversations except of course when as usual the refs made a bad call. Half time hit and most of the crowd went outside for a smoke break. At first I thought I had missed something, was the game over, where is everyone going, what awful fans. Then I realized they just needed a smoke, their team was down by one(0-1). Everyone came back in reclaiming their seats and I was still trying to finish my glass of wine. Well, it lasted me the whole game. I was thoroughly enjoying the generally quiet company of the local people who shared a love of mine. The game ended 0-2. Grumbling groans added to footsteps, chairs sliding, glasses clinking was the sound of the defeated fans accepting what they saw and beginning to move on. They were definitely real fans in my book. Loud yelling, screaming, cussing, throwing things etc does not change anything and only shows how immature you are, a child throwing a temper tantrum. I think I could get used to handing out with such incredible people.
Duomo: My First Mass - 24.1.2010
This morning was hard to get out of bed. The night before a group of us went to our favorite bar, the Blue Bar, for appetizers and drinks. A good time practicing our Italian, well trying to, and meeting new people. Knowing today was Sunday, my first Sunday here, got me out of bed. Today I would attend mass in the Duomo. I have dreamed about what mass in a Historic church in Italy would be like and today it will no longer be a dream, I will know. It was gorgeous inside, lighting made the frescos glow, the music bouncing around filling everyone’s ears with calm sweet music, the smell of incense in the air as people took there seats. The mass was what I was used to only in another language which I hope and pray by the time I leave I will be able to fully participate knowing what the priest says in his homily. Once it ended it was nice to turn around and walk out the massive doors thinking about all the other Catholics before me who attended masses here and walked through those doors.
First Trip to the Market - 23.1.2010
A completely new market out the door to the piazza; way more food stands and less clothing ones. Rotisserie is the first stand we go to and I buy a whole chicken. Barbra a wife of a Presbyterian minister from the states in Orvieto helped me order. She was extremely nice and we talked about getting a glass of wine together sometime. Then I stopped by a stand and ordered oranges. Before I knew it I was gong to town checking out the other stands buying veggies then even flowers. I can’t wait to see them bloom as spring arrives. Later that day a group of us went down the funicolarie to the Coop supermarket. It was only 1euro. The walk was not too long at all and the market looked just like ours practically. The similarities gave me a sense of ease walking up and down the aisles shopping for some basic things I needed. I was a little nervous when I went to go check out , but did not let on or acknowledge it because then I would not have the courage to do it. I bought some bread, crackers, jam and juice for under 10 euros. When I was done I realized there was no reason to be nervous, all went well.
Ripe Route - 21.1.2010
Some fellow students and I wondered to the edge of the city and found an entrance to the path that wraps around the hill town. We descended down a stone zig zagging path then it changed to a wood bridge cantilevered out from the side of the cliff as it continued down. The view out from the trail to the town at the base and out to the unsettled hills was beautiful. A red train speeds through to Rome. The cliff was massive, out of human scale. We past some Etruscan tombs and areas where tuffa was carved to create space for previous inhabitants to live and protect themselves from the weather. Fascinated with how they did it. What was it like? People all over the Earth are the same. New Mexico and the Grand Canyon there are the same kind of dwellings. Traveling here has definitely furthered my desire to see many other countries to compare the ancient inhabitants living quarters and cultures. Gaining a better understanding of the similarities of man kind all over the world though out history. Where should I go next?