Arrivederci Roma

Now that I am home, back in the States, in my air conditioned home, I long for the cobble stoned streets of Rome, crowded with tourists, with the sun pounding down relentlessly. I loved Rome and I miss it already. This experience was everything I could of imagined it to be and more. I fell in love with the city and I loved being immersed in the Italian culture. It was an eye-opening experience for me, seeing how people live in another country, soaking up all the history around me. And I couldn't of asked for better people to spend my time with. I enjoyed myself so much, I am already planning other places that I want to travel to.

Too Much Food

I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to taste all of the delicious food throughout Italy and in Spain. I have loved it all and I fear that once I return home, nothing will be able to compare. From the plate fulls of pasta to the huge pizzas and the fresh vegetables in salads and paninis, I will miss it all. I am usually a very picky eater so I was surprised at home much I enjoyed trying new foods while I was here. Now that I have experienced authentic Italian food I don't think I will enjoy the Italian food at home nearly as much.

So Long Garden Dream

Today I bid farewell to the beautiful Pincio Gardens, a place I have come to know very well through the past seven weeks. It is a place where both natives and tourists come to relax and roam the peaceful streets. From the charming water clock to the dignified obelisk, people are taken with this unique place. I enjoyed exploring this lovely place and to say goodbye I walked the tree lined and marble statue lined streets one last time, taking in the beautiful weather and people watching as I walked. I have become very familiar with the gardens and I have loved the peaceful getaway from the city. I will miss this romantic place very much as there is no place like this in western Pennsylvania.

That's Amore

"When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie that's amore." I always want to sing this song when we order pizza here. The pizza is delicious, whether we are grabbing a quick slice at the pizzeria down the street from the Sede di Roma or ordering a huge pizza at a retaurant, it is always good. I like the pizza here much better than at home. The crust is very thin and flaky and the cheese is always fresh.

Coffee Culture

Italy is known very well for its coffee. While I don't usually drink coffee at home, I have tried a cappucino and an espresso. Italians are very particular about their coffee. They drink their cappucino in the morning but not after 11:30, they think that milk is bad for the stomach after the morning. But an espresso is okay at any time of day. Today when we walked into the bar to get our cappucino, it was crowded with men in suits quickly drinking their espresso before jetting back off to work. I actually liked the cappucino which surprised me.

"The only word Elizabeth knows in Italian is Bvlgari" -Richard Burton

Today we went to the Bvlgari exhibit at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni. It was fabulous. The exhibit was set up in a series of rooms, each devoted to a certain time period. Each room displayed the jewels famous for that time period. There was even an entire room devoted to Elizabeth Taylor's collection of jewels. In one room there were small televisions set up showing the stars wearing Bvlgari jewels on the red carpet. I liked seeing the jewels that Anna Magnani wore. She was a famous Italian actress that we have seen in a few movies as part of class on neorealist films. I had no idea she was so famous and so fabulous. She wore a 25 karat Bvlgari ring on her pinky finger. The jewels were amazing to see. It was by far my favorite museum I have seen in Rome.

Back to Roma

Today we began our journey back to Rome. We walked to the bus station, taking in the last of the city as we walked up the Rambla. From the bus station we took an hour and a half long bus ride to the airport in Girona. From there we boarded our RyanAir plane back to Rome. The plane was late taking off and as we tried to land at the Ciampino Airport we encountered a thunder storm. So we circled the city for over an hour, experiencing some rough turbulence the entire time, upsetting a few stomachs. Finally, after an hour of circling, they decided to land in Rome's other airport- Fiumicino. From there we were able to take a train to Termini and then walk home. Our short plane ride turned into a rough experience for all us and it took much longer than expected but we finally arrived back in Rome. I was happy to return to the cobblestone streets and quaint Italian shops and cafes, a stark contrast from Barcelona.

My time here in Rome is nearing its end. We only have four full days left here before we return back to the States. I am already sad at the thought of leaving this amazing city and anxious as to how much I can cram into the next four days!!

Paella

Spain is also known for its paella. It was on the menu at every restaurant. It is rice in a thick yellow sauce often served with seafood. But while we were in Spain they also had vegetable paella which is what I tried. It was served with peas, artichokes, asparagus, peppers, and carrots. It was delicious and very filling.

Pass the Tapas

Spain is known for tapas so while we were in Barcelona, we ordered a lot of tapas. Tapas are like appetizers and are small portions so you can order a lot of them. There was every kind of tapas imaginable- seafood (mussels, octopus, shrimp, squid), vegetables, potatoes, chicken, omelets. For dinner, everyone ordered a few tapas and we passed them around so everyone could try it. It was a great way to try the different foods in Spain.

Sweet Sangria

Sangria was something we just had to try while in Spain. It was offered at every restaurant and was relatively inexpensive for the large pitcher that you received. It is red wine, club soda, chunks of fruit, and a few other ingredients. The fruit was so fresh and delicious. It is much sweeter than red wine alone and is more like a punch.

Barcelona

We decided to spend our last weekend in Europe in Barcelona, Spain and we had a blast! It was so different from any place in Italy. There were American chains like Burger King, Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, Subway, and of course McDonald's. It was a much more modern city, the complete opposite of Rome with its ancient ruins where we have spent the last 6 weeks.

Aimee and I on the bus

Today we decided to take a bus tour. It was the perfect thing to do for our short stay in the city. We got to see all of the major sites of Barcelona in one day. It was a big double-decker bus that you could hop on and hop off as you pleased, complete with audio guide telling you about each site that we stopped at and the various things and districts that we passed through.

My favorites were the buildings by Antonio Gaudi. They were so unique and so different from anything we have seen in Italy. We got to see La Sagrada Familia, Gaudi's most famous work, a church dedicated to the Holy Family, still under construction. We saw the Casa Mila, also by Gaudi, and also Park Guell where we got off the bus and explored the park that overlooked the city.

La Sagrada Familia and Casa Mila


Park Guell and Gaudi's famous mosaic dragon statue

Walk on Water

For class we had to design an hour long walk and select places that we wanted to see on the walk. For my walk I chose a theme of water because Rome is known for creating the aqueduct and for bringing fresh water to all parts of the City. So I chose to stop at the Aqueduct of Nero built in the first century AD, then to the Villa Celimontana to see the various fountains there and the pond, and then on to the Baths of Caracalla, ending in the Park of Porta Capena.

-Starting at the Aqueduct of Nero
-Walking down Via Statilia, make a left onto Via Emanuele Filiberto
-Make a Right onto Via Della Fontana, past San Giovanni in Laterno
-Via Della Fontana turns into Via Dell’Amba Aradam
-Walk through the Piazza del Porta Metronia and make a right onto Via del Navicella
-Make a left onto the Villa Celimontana
-Leaving the Villa make a right onto Via del Navicella
-Walk back through the Piazza del Porta Metronia
-Make a right onto Via Druso
-Make a right onto Via del Terme di Caracalla where you will pass the Baths of Caracalla
-Leaving the Baths of Caracalla, make a left back onto Via del Terme di Caracalla
-End at Parco di Porta Capena

Vatican Museum

Today we went to the Vatican Museum. We went about midday and it was very crowded. People in large groups were pushing through and it made slowly meandering through slightly difficult. We bought the audio guide and it was totally worth it. My favorite things to see were the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel. When we were there people we being a little disrespectful in the Sistine Chapel. You are supposed to be quiet and pictures are not allowed but people were ignoring that. The Sistine Chapel was incredible. There is so much to look at. The ceiling has very detailed paintings, the walls are painted, and one entire wall, The Last Judgment, was also done by Michelangelo, all depicting scenes from the Bible. You could spend hours in just the Sistine Chapel.

School of Athens by Raphael

Surrey Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble

In Pincio Gardens, there are places where you can rent bikes or a surrey- a four person bike, covered with an umbrella. Today we decided to give it a try. It was 5 Euros a person for an hour. We had so much fun riding around the Villa Borghese and Pincio Gardens. The bikes even had a small motor on them that made pedaling much easier, especially up hills. Unfortunately ours turned off periodically and at one point we had to get out and push ours up a hill. But either way, it was fun and it is definitely the best way to see the park.

Galleria Borghese

Today we went to the Galleria Borghese in the Villa Borghese. You had to make a reservation ahead of time and you could only be in the museum for two hours. The museum was absolutely beautiful inside, the floors were elegant marble and the ceilings were frescoed, depicting different scenes. Most of the museum held different sculptures. My favorites were the Bernini sculptures. They looked like they were in movement, especially the Rape of Persephone where you could see the strain in Pluto’s muscles, his finger indentations in Persephone’s leg, and her hair blowing in the wind.

Villa Borghese

You can enter into Pincio Gardens through the Villa Borghese. Both are large parks with tree lined streets filled with people, adjacent to each other. Villa Borghese tends to be a little bit busier because it is larger, better known, and has other attractions like the Galleria. People wonder through both all day long, especially on their bikes. You know you have entered into Pincio Gardens when the streets become lined with the familiar marble busts.

We're Just Ordinary People

People are everywhere in Pincio Gardens. You find the ever frequent tourist, taking in the sites, especially the fabulous views of the city. You see the always pushy salesmen, searching for the vulnerable tourist. You even see a few groups of small children, running the streets and playing in the fountains. But mostly, you find the romantic couple, sitting on the benches, strolling down the streets hand in hand, unabashed in the public displays of affection.

Special Kind of Something

Venice is a truly amazing city that you must experience for yourself. No picture can display the uniqueness of this city. As soon as you walk out of the train station, you are greeted by the Grand Canal and all of Venice’s grandeur. The air is filled with the scent of ocean water, salt and fish, the birds fly overhead, and a cool breeze is a welcome relief to the intense heat. The few sidewalks were crowded with tourists, all with their cameras out trying to do the impossible and capture Venice’s unique elegance in a picture. The houses were all painted bright colors of pinks, yellows, reds, and blues, with their doors opening right on to the water. Gondoliers dressed in black and white striped shirts pushed along tourists all craning to soak up Venice’s grand sites and enjoy the romanticism of the ride. Water taxis and buses filled the canal, carting people back and forth, as they weaved around the few locals, also in their boats, maneuvering around the chaos. People crowded the many bridges trying to get across the many canals, especially the Rialto Bridge, famous for its numerous shops.


We started our journey off with a gondola ride down part of the Grand Canal and then winding through the smaller canals. It was quite an exceptional experience.

After our gondola ride we took a water bus down to San Marco Piazza. The Piazza was straight out of the movies with its wide open, picturesque grounds filled with pigeons, tourists, and vendors. The church was massive and so intricately designed, every square inch carefully planned.

We took in the sites at the Piazza and then spent the rest of the day meandering through the maze-like sidewalks of Venice, stumbling upon little shops filled with beautiful glass statues, picture frames, and jewelry. My favorite things to look at were the Venetian masks. They were so beautiful and exotic ranging from small simple masks to large masks made to cover your entire face covered in glitter. We made it to the Rialto Bridge and stopped in many of the shops lining the bridge. It was a lot of travel for a day trip but it was well worth it.

Want Some Seafood Mamma?

Venice is known for its fabulous, fresh seafood. With its excellent location so close to the sea, the menus at every restaurant were filled with seafood dishes, most of the fish coming straight from the morning fish market or pescheria. One of the main seafood dishes found at most of the restaurants was baccalá Mantecato, creamed cod. It was first introduced in Venice by Pietro Querini and has remained a staple of Venetian food ever since (Venetian 1). It is softened, dried cod cooked in olive oil, parsley, and garlic, then pounded into a cream served with slices of polenta.

*Photo taken from www.italianfoodnet.com/uploads/img/news-dired...
"Venetian cuisine: venetian food, traditional recipes, venetian recipes, cuisine in Venice, Venice Traditions, Art and history - Meeting Venice." Venezia, Hotel Venezia, Meteo Venezia, Mappa Venezia, Foto Venezia - MeetingVenice.it. 14 June 2009 http://www.meetingvenice.it/en/venice-art-and-history/venice-traditions/venetian-cuisine.html.

Boys' Town

Today for class we went to La Cittá dei Ragazzi, the Boys’ Town of Rome. It was founded by an Irish Priest, MonSignor John Patrick-Abbing. He started his outreach in 1945 in an effort to help the orphans of the war and Boys’ Town became incorporated in 1951 (Boys’ 3). It is a town for boys that have no family and it is a place they can go to live and go to school. The boys are taught everyday life skills from cooking and cleaning to having their own form of government, with a young boy as their mayor. They have their own football, or soccer, team and play games every Sunday. The boys are from all different countries including Italy, Afghanistan, Egypt, and many countries in Africa. They grow up in this town, graduate from high school, and then they can move on to get a job outside of the town but can remain living in Boys’ Town until they can afford to be on their own. We had the privilege of meeting the current mayor of the town, a young man of seventeen from Afghanistan who has been living here for almost two years now. The mayor is elected by the boys and serves two month terms. It was really amazing to see the town and how the boys live and function within the town and especially to learn about their form of government. It is a great organization and there is even a Girls’ Town of Rome and other Boys’ and Girls’ Towns throughout Europe and even in the US.

The Boys holding court in their building that served as a court house/town hall. The boy in the center with the black shirt is the mayor.

*Boys' Towns of Italy, Inc. 14 June 2009 .

Orange Blossom

Today we went to the Caffѐ Delle Arance, Café of the Oranges, for some fresh squeezed orange juice. The café is located in Trastevere in the Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere. The outdoor seating looks out onto the piazza’s fountain and the grand church, Santa Maria in Trastevere. Oranges line the shelves inside and outside the café. The orange juice was delicious. It came in large fancy glasses with a slice of orange. The café serves other food items and drinks, but orange juice is clearly their thing.

Life of a Salesman

Like most of Rome, the streets of Pincio Gardens are lined with random vendors, pushing their goods onto the many strolling tourists. Since Pincio Gardens is known as a tourist destination, the vendors flock here. There are the vendors selling their fake Gucci, Prada, and Louis Vuitton handbags. They set their bags on a blanket on the ground and then roam the streets, walking up to you asking you to buy from them. In Florence this is against the law, but in Rome, it is seen everywhere. Men holding large bouquets of roses walk up to you and give them to you saying they are a gift, then once you are holding it they ask for money, when you refuse, they take the roses back. The vendors are rather pushy. People selling cheap, braided bracelets go so far as to put the bracelet on your wrist and ask for money. You see this all over the city, but especially in the gardens.

Villa Medici

Sitting on Pincio Hill is the Villa Medici, which is now home to the French Academy. It became property of the ruling house of Florence once the Medici family died and Napoleon Bonaparte made it part of the French Academy. It is now host to guided tours, cultural events, exhibits and concerts. Its beautiful gardens are much like Pincio Gardens with tree lined streets and many statues. It was rebuilt like this in 1540. Galileo took shelter here when he was under house arrest during the the Inquisition. It was founded by Ferdinando I de'Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany and has housed the French Academy since 1803. The beautiful sprawling gardens cover most of the area with the Palace overlooking St. Peters.

Pisa

Today we made a day trip from Florence to Pisa. Pisa is such a quaint, small town. We enjoyed the scenic walk from the train station to the leaning tower. The tower really does lean. I know they call it the leaning tower of Pisa, but it was still amazing to see. You couldn't help but wonder how it is still standing. The 187 foot tower was built in 1173 as a bell tower. The lopsided settling began when construction reached the third story. The architects then tried making the remaining floors slightly taller on the leaning side. Unfortunately, the extra weight only made it lean even more. By the 20th century, after further settling and leaning, people feared that it would eventually topple over. In 2000, restoration began to restore the tower to its original tilt from over 300 years ago. It is now firmly anchored to the ground. The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed spending time walking around the tower, duomo, and battistero.

Fiorentina

Florence is known for the way that they cook their meats, especially steak and chicken. Tonight for dinner I got the Pollo alla Fiorentina. It was grilled chicken served on a bed of ruccola and was cooked perfectly. The chicken is sliced very thin and in small pieces, then grilled. Florence is not known for sauces or foams so the chicken was just lightly seasoned. It was delicious.

Firenze

I loved Florence. It was a much smaller city than Rome and had a more laid back feel to it. We wandered the streets all day Saturday, strolling through markets, shopping, and visiting the sites.

My favorite place in Florence was the Duomo or the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The cathedral was originally designed by Arnolfo da Cambio. Construction started in 1296 but continued throughout the 14th and 15th centuries. The incredible dome was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. We climbed the 463 steps to the stop. It was exhausting but from the top of the dome you can see all of Florence and the surrounding hills.

The inside of the dome is a huge fresco depicting the Last Judgement and was painted by Vasari and Zuccari. You can see the different levels of the Last Judgement. The bottom level was hell, followed by Earth, then the people waiting to get into Heaven, and then at the very top, Heaven. It was a very visual depiction and was unusual but beautiful to see.

After climbing the Duomo we visited the Battistero or Baptistery which is known for the bronze doors that were crafted by Lorenzo Ghiberti. The doors facing the Duomo depict scenes from the Old Testament and the doors at the northern entrance depict scenes from the life of Christ. The original doors are on display at the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo and replicas stand in their place. They were removed to protect them from the harsh effects of pollution and acid rain.

We then visited Ponte Vecchio, old bridge, which is famous for being devoted solely to jewelery. The entire bridge, on either side, is flanked with 41 goldsmiths and 8 jewelers.

*Added information from Fodor's Essential Italy

Siena

Today on our way to Florence we stopped in Siena, a beautiful, small, medieval town in Tuscany. Driving is extremely difficult and in some places impossible in this small town so it was nice to stroll down the narrow streets and take in the sites. We saw most of Siena's top sites while we were there: the incredible Duomo, the Cripta, the Battistero, and the Piazza del Campo. The Duomo was incredible. The outside was pink and white marble and the inside had black and white checkered floors and black and white pillars- unlike any church I have been to so far in Italy.

The Cripta was interesting because it was just discovered and recently opened to the public in 2003. It laid unseen for over 700 years beneath the floor of the Duomo. You can still see the beautiful frescoes by an unknown artist painted on the walls.

The Piazza del Campo was unlike most piazzas in Italy. It was huge and open with shops and restaurants circling the piazza, which was created around the town's bell tower. People just sit and hang out in the center of the piazza.

Some Things are Better Left Unknown

Once we got to Florence today we went out to dinner. At dinner we started out with a few antipasti. We ordered something that we expected to be bread with various spreads. It came with two bruschetta and two "miscellanous". We had no idea what the different spreads were and after tasting one, we were still baffled as to what it was. It was served on warm, toasted bread and was a gray color. The spread was more like a paste and left a fishy aftertaste. After we returned home I was looking at my guide book and found out that it is called Crostini di Fegatini which is a chicken liver spread made with chicken livers, carrot and onion, and mashed anchovies and capers. Being that we don't usually eat liver or anchovies, we were slightly disgusted at what it was made with and decided that we were probably better off not knowing what exactly we had eaten.

Looking From Above

Pincio Garden sits on a hill overlooking Piazza del Popolo. This piazza was turned into the oval shape that it is today in the 19th century by Giuseppe Valadier which is the same person that designed the Pincio Gardens. The piazza is very large and open with an Egyptian obelisk in the center and fountains at either end of the piazza. It is spacious and welcoming but has been the host to rather brutal events. In the 18th and 19th centuries it was the site of brutal executions and inhumane riderless horse races. The horses would race from the piazza down Via del Corso wrapped in nail-studded ropes after being fed stimulants and having fire crackers set off at their feet. Executions of condemned men took place here as part of the celebration of the Carnival. An execution has not taken place in this piazza since 1826. The piazza is rather beautiful but does not have a pleasant history.

*Added information from DK Eyewitness Guide to Rome

Melancholy Rose

Today for class we went to Roseto Comunale on the Aventine Hill. It is a huge rose garden with around 1,200 varieties of roses, filling the air with their fresh, fragrant smell. It used to be a Jewish cemetery and the walkways form the shape of a menorah. It is separated into two areas, both extremely beautiful. There was every color rose imaginable- plain white, pink, and red but also bright oranges, purples, and pinks as well. The park was quiet and peaceful, escaping the busy sounds of the city. We picked a perfect day to go too, it was sunny but not scorching hot so you could walk through the gardens, looking at the different roses and picking out your favorites. My favorite was a bright orange rose, pictured above.

Castles and Dreams

Today Aimee and I visited the Castel Sant'Angelo. To get to the castle you have to walk across a bridge over the Tiber River. The bridge is lined with huge statues and the castle looks majestic from far away. I loved walking through the castle and imagining the events that took place long ago, especially when we saw the old cannons and the weapons. You could see the holes in the castle's wall where the cannons would be in times of fighting.

The castle started out as Emperor Hadrian's mausoleum in 139 AD. But by the middle ages, it had become a fortress protecting the city's northern entrance. There is even a long hallway that connects the Vatican Palace to the Castle for the Pope in times of danger. Now it is a 58 room museum that details the castle's history.

Italy's Republic Day

Today was the parade to celebrate the day that Italy became a republic. It is a nation wide holiday and today was the 63rd anniversary. Until June 2, 1946, Italy was run by a monarchy, the House of Savoy. Then began the facism reign of Benito Mussolini which resulted in Italy becoming engaged with Germany in World War II. After World War II Italy was a mess. It was occupied with foreign soldiers and no central government and was suffering the loss of the empire they had worked so hard to gain. So in a nationwide referendum, the Italian people rejected the monarchy and chose a republic form of government in June of 1946.

It was an awesome parade that lasted about an hour with a grand finale of the fighter planes flying overhead, leaving a trail of green, white, and red smoke behind it. The parade was mostly a display of Italy's different branches of the military and also the police, red cross, and fire departments. It started with the President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, and then the different international armed forces including the United States. The crowd's spirit was infectious! Every branch of the military was greeted with applause and many shouts of "Brava!" especially the military nurses.