Wow, how a month has gone by so quickly and at the same time so slowly. I have loved every minuet of it....well Almost every minuet of it. There have been a moment here and there that it was like..What in the world am I doing. but those were few and fast fleeting. Honestly I still cannot believe that I have had this opportunity and I am kinda sad that it is over already.But this is the last time that I officially have to post but I will probably post a few more times for all of you reading this. But here is what I have done the last few days here in Rome. Thursday we went to our last church and saw the tomb of Julius II and Michelangelo carved a Moses for the tomb and then for the rest of the day we did nothing we watched the kids so that our teacher and his wife could go out and that was a lot of fun. We have had a good time having the kids a long for the time. So that was Thursday. Today we went to the beach!!! Yay, I know I already went but who can pass up the beach. We went with the Mann family and it was a lot of fun. One of the other girls on the trip and I were the only ones who had been there before and so Dr. Mann made so lead the group and we did it!!! We got them to the beach. We got a taste for what Dr. Mann had to do this entire time and I do not envy him ( I know you are reading this Dr. Mann so thank you for what you did) We then got back from the beach go cleaned up and went out and had a good dinner and just hung out. We are finishing up our shopping tomorrow and doing last minuet packing and then we are going out to dinner tomorrow night and then it is over. We are leaving at 4:30 in the morning Sunday (YaY!!! NOT) and we will be getting in at 2 to Dulles. Well Ciao from Rome
Friday, June 17, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
The POPE
Ok, so I told you that today deserved a post all to itself and this is why we got to see the pope in person and were 10 to 15 feet away from him. It was one of the coolest things ever. There is a guy that has great power all over the world and I get to see him. At the same time it was a very humbling experience here are hundreds of people getting so excited to see the pope who in their eyes comes from the line of Peter and he is God's messenger on earth. I mean do not get my wrong I loved getting to see him. By the way he is very cute old man, looks nice. But as I was standing there excited myself and could not believe that I had gotten this opportunity. I mean the history that is in the papal office, he once was the ruler of the known world and I got to see the Pope. But as I was standing there and I was thinking of you (Aunt Pam.) I could not help but think what if Christ were to have a weekly audience would people be as excited would as many people show up and cheer and clap the way that people did today. I mean I know some would but what about you? I am talking to myself here as well. Would I get excited to the point of tears as seen today. When there was a shout out for your group would you cheer and yell so that Christ would see you. Or would we go and sit quietly and enjoy all of it not saying a word. I hope and pray that isn't the case. I pray that more people would be there to see Christ than there was today but I wonder? We did get bless by the pop as well and the whole thing was something that I hope I never forget. That was Wednesday of the last week. Ciao from Rome
Last week in Rome
Ok, so you got to see what I did over the weekend fun right, haha just kidding so here is what Monday and Tuesday look like I promise I am getting to today but that get a blog post of its own so just hang in there. I will get to it. Monday, wow I can't remember what we did Monday. Let me think......haha I remember (meaning I went and asked someone who did remember) We went to churches, Yes we went to more churches. We do a lot of that here, I love them but I can handle only so much art and churches and I think I have reached my max or almost. We saw the Ecstasy of St. Thersea that was an interesting piece. i wish I could explain some of these pieces in detail cause they are so unique, some of them really capture something special and I can't always put it into words. Ok, so Tuesday was the Borghese and Roman Reformation churches. I really liked the Borghese but we all agreed that it should be done before going to Florence and see the art work them cause nothing compares. It was interesting to see all of the Berini's there. I really like his work he puts life into stone. You can see skin and fur, you can see the tension on the people's faces. He truly is a master artist. So we did that and then we went and saw some Jesuit churches and the art work in there was incredible it was so over powering that in a way it was too much but that is something that will never leave me. There was one crucifix of Jesus that was different that ones seen before. He looked older and had a different look about him also it was more graphic with how the blood wad painted on and where. I don't know if I liked it or not but it was cool to see a different view of it. That was Monday and Tuesday of the last week in Rome. Ciao from Rome
Weekend
That literally what it was we didn't do anything exciting for fun for the most part I am sorry to disappoint those reading this back home. We had class work that needed to get done so a lot of us worked for the most part. I had to give a presentation on the Council of Trent and the impacts that it had on the Catholic Church and then present what I am doing my independent study on, which by the way is First Century Persecution of the church for those of you interested. I am very excited about that project and then I am writing my paper on the Impacts the Black Death had on the Renaissance. YAY!!!! Sorry that was the history major coming out. hehe, but that really was my weekend. kinda boring but I told you guys that I would give you an insight to all that I do and part of that is HOMEWORK!!!! But It is hard to believe that all of this is coming to an end and soon I will be back in the States. Part of me is really excited (it could be the fact that I won't be 7 hrs ahead of my boyfriend) and I can't wait to see my family!!!! I want to publicly thank my parents who helped me get here if it were not for them I would not be here on a trip that I could have only imagined about. Well for now it is Ciao from Rome
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Florence: Art, Leather and Food
I know it has been awhile since I last posted I am sorry for all of you that have been waiting back home. I promise I did not forget all of you I was in Florence where there was no internet and therefore not blog post. You are going to have to hang in there with me cause there is a lot to cover.
Brief recap: We left Tuesday morning EARLY got to Florence had a crazy day seeing some incredible art then that night had a great night, the next morning (Wed. that is more for me that you) More art, then shopping, and a quiet dinner. Thursday had an early start (again) saw the Medici chapel and then hopped on a train to Piza (yes, we saw the tower) and then hopped on another train and made it back to Rome (finally) and had today (Friday off) Like I said that was a very brief Recap of what we did.
Here we go: I can say this I am happy to be back in Rome ( that is weird to say) but it is home or at least it has been for the past three weeks. I loved Florence and I wish I could have stayed longer it is a beautiful city and it is quieter than here in Rome, but at least here I know the city and how to get around and feel comfortable here (never thought I would say I am comfortable in Rome). Wow, how time changes things. I now after this trip feel like I can find my way around really any big European city and that goes for American city as well. But I am now just talking and you probably would rather here about the trip. I am warning now it is going to be long but hang in there.
Tuesday: Wow, that seems so long ago. We got up supper early on Tuesday morning so we could make our train to Florence. We had to be OUT the door no later than 7:30 which we managed by the way and still had time to get a coffee and breakfast quiet proud. We then get on the train and have about an 1.5 train ride to Florence which really isn't that bad. When we got there it was a new city and we didn't know where we were going, where our bus stopped so we could get on it, when we did finally find it we didn't know which stop to get off at so we ended up getting off at the wrong one and having to walk a good twenty minuets to where we were staying. It really wasn't too bad. When we finally got to the place where we were staying (which by the way is another convent) it looked more of what I thought a convent would look at. Except it had more of an hotel feeling but it had an older world feeling mixed with new world. It was beautiful. After we go there we hit Florence running. We went to the Duomo (or also known as Brunelleschi's Dome) Wow, it was incredible and what made it even neater for us is that we had to read a book at how Brunelleschi designed the dome and how he carried out his plans. The reason that it is so very important is that it was the first dome of its time to be build without the aid of scaffeling. Which was a major deal back then. It had never been done; surprisingly (even though it is sad) there were only three deaths in the construction of the dome itself. After seeing the Duomo and getting to do a little shopping (while some climb to the top of the dome. I however did not feel like paying to have a freak out moment). It was more just walking around and we found this cute little paper shop. It was where they bound all of their books themselves with the paper they make. It is a great shop and we found out that there is one here in Rome so we are going to go to it. After, we did that we went and looked around the San Lorenzo market area. This is where you can get some of that famous Italian leather. We JUST looked that day we then went to the Accademia this is where the famous Michelangelo's David calls home. I could not believe that I was standing in front of such a famous piece and getting to see it with my own eyes!!! It was something that I really will never forget. There were some other pieces that were interesting to see but really the main focus of the Accademia is the David. When we left the museum it was raining and as we would come to find out as the week went on that it rains a lot in Florence. After, getting back to the convent we were all so tired. We had left early had a train ride, did museums, did a little shopping and it was now close to dinner time. We went to this great Italian restaurant that was literally right outside our door. We walked down the sidewalk and we were there. It was some of the best food I have had since being here. I had pasta with a homemade pesto. It was fantastic; we all really got to try each other's dishes and there wasn't bad one that I had. Our teacher order us an Appetizer for all of us to share and get a taste of Italian flavors. Well, I tried this particular spread and it wasn't bad at all in fact it was really good but none of us could place the favor. When we asked what it was we found out it was liver butter. I guess that just goes to prove don't knock something until you try it. After dinner we all pretty much went to bed. We were tried and we also had a long day ahead of us.
Wednesday: It again was an early morning for us. Today we were going to the Uffizi. This particular museum probably has one of the largest collections of famous works of arts. It has everything from: Da Vinci's, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Botticelli, Giotto's and so many other works of art that is was almost an overload of famous pieces. It was hard at least for me cause I knew that I was looking at something famous; that I had seen it in history books but wasn't sure exactly what I was looking at. For me some of my favorite pieces were the famous painting that is in very history book of Martian Luther and his wife and a piece by Caravaggio of Medusa. After that incredible mind blowing experience we walked through were the vanity burning took place on our way to San Croce. This is where Michelangelo and Galileo are buried. That was cool to see their tombs but for me the cool part was when I was sitting there resting my teacher was like, "Kat, you need to go and check out that tomb over there. It is Machiavelli's tomb." I thought he was joking at first. I could not believe it I GOT to see the tomb of Machiavelli. For those of you who don't know who he is SHAME on you. (just kidding) He was the one who wrote the book, "The Prince" as a former government student I had to read his book and I loved it and now four years later I am standing at his tomb. I know, I am going on about it and I promise to stop I was just really excited to get to see it. After the church we were all so tired and hungry. We separated for a bit to go and find lunch. We were on our way to one restaurant when we were all so hungry that we walked by one looked at the menu and it wasn't priced back at all so we stopped there and had lunch. We made a good choice the food again was excellent and our waiter took really good care of us. After we finished lunch we were on our way to meet our teacher cause it was time to get down to business, yes shopping, if you go in is a group you tend to get better deals on your leather. We went to one store and were there for an hour trying to get the prices down to were we wanted them and the guy was not working with us so we left that is what you have to be willing to do. We then went to another store that our teacher had been to the day before and when we came in we were introduced as his family, cousins, and the guy that had worked with my teacher was there and he worked with us as well. It was a really good experience at least better than the first store. I finally decided one a beautiful messenger bag. Shopping for our leather took at least two hrs but in the end it was well worth it. After a little bit more shopping we went back to the convent. That night Rachael, one of the girls on the trip, and I had dinner together and it was really nice.
Thursday: It was time to leave Florence but before we did we went and saw the Medici chapel it is here that many of the power, and big family is buried. It was cool to know that we have talked about these people and now we are getting to see their tombs. Michelangelo carved two of the tombs and part of a third one. We then left the chapel got back to the convent, hopped on a bus to get to the termini so we could get on a train to go to Piza. It was while we were on the bus that we met a couple from Auburn. Now, for those of you don't know my family and I are Alabama fans and Alabama and Auburn are big Rivals. So, we were giving each other a hard time but in all honest it was fun to meet someone from the States and not only that but from the great state of Alabama. We got to the termini and had a bit of time before we had to leave so we got lunch and then got on the train for an 1.5 hr. train ride. I really enjoyed getting to see Piza and the leaning tower was interesting. It was not as big as I thought it was going to be. My teacher also gave us this question, "why are we so fascinated with a failure." Cause it is true, the leaning tower is a complete failure. I don't know the answer to that yet. We got dinner and some of the best gelato that we have had yet. We then got back to the train station and got on the train that would finally take us back to Rome. I can honestly say I was glad to get back to were we have called home.
Friday-Yesterday, we were off and boy did we need it. For the most part we didn't go anything yesterday except work on our papers and other projects that are due soon. After dinner we went out for a bit and saw the Colosseum at night which was a lot of fun.
Man, so there you have it, that was our few days in Florence and Piza. I hope that you are enjoying reading so far and as this come to an end I am looking forward to seeing all of you reading this back home. It is hard to believe that we are going into our final week. well, Ciao from Rome
Brief recap: We left Tuesday morning EARLY got to Florence had a crazy day seeing some incredible art then that night had a great night, the next morning (Wed. that is more for me that you) More art, then shopping, and a quiet dinner. Thursday had an early start (again) saw the Medici chapel and then hopped on a train to Piza (yes, we saw the tower) and then hopped on another train and made it back to Rome (finally) and had today (Friday off) Like I said that was a very brief Recap of what we did.
Here we go: I can say this I am happy to be back in Rome ( that is weird to say) but it is home or at least it has been for the past three weeks. I loved Florence and I wish I could have stayed longer it is a beautiful city and it is quieter than here in Rome, but at least here I know the city and how to get around and feel comfortable here (never thought I would say I am comfortable in Rome). Wow, how time changes things. I now after this trip feel like I can find my way around really any big European city and that goes for American city as well. But I am now just talking and you probably would rather here about the trip. I am warning now it is going to be long but hang in there.
Tuesday: Wow, that seems so long ago. We got up supper early on Tuesday morning so we could make our train to Florence. We had to be OUT the door no later than 7:30 which we managed by the way and still had time to get a coffee and breakfast quiet proud. We then get on the train and have about an 1.5 train ride to Florence which really isn't that bad. When we got there it was a new city and we didn't know where we were going, where our bus stopped so we could get on it, when we did finally find it we didn't know which stop to get off at so we ended up getting off at the wrong one and having to walk a good twenty minuets to where we were staying. It really wasn't too bad. When we finally got to the place where we were staying (which by the way is another convent) it looked more of what I thought a convent would look at. Except it had more of an hotel feeling but it had an older world feeling mixed with new world. It was beautiful. After we go there we hit Florence running. We went to the Duomo (or also known as Brunelleschi's Dome) Wow, it was incredible and what made it even neater for us is that we had to read a book at how Brunelleschi designed the dome and how he carried out his plans. The reason that it is so very important is that it was the first dome of its time to be build without the aid of scaffeling. Which was a major deal back then. It had never been done; surprisingly (even though it is sad) there were only three deaths in the construction of the dome itself. After seeing the Duomo and getting to do a little shopping (while some climb to the top of the dome. I however did not feel like paying to have a freak out moment). It was more just walking around and we found this cute little paper shop. It was where they bound all of their books themselves with the paper they make. It is a great shop and we found out that there is one here in Rome so we are going to go to it. After, we did that we went and looked around the San Lorenzo market area. This is where you can get some of that famous Italian leather. We JUST looked that day we then went to the Accademia this is where the famous Michelangelo's David calls home. I could not believe that I was standing in front of such a famous piece and getting to see it with my own eyes!!! It was something that I really will never forget. There were some other pieces that were interesting to see but really the main focus of the Accademia is the David. When we left the museum it was raining and as we would come to find out as the week went on that it rains a lot in Florence. After, getting back to the convent we were all so tired. We had left early had a train ride, did museums, did a little shopping and it was now close to dinner time. We went to this great Italian restaurant that was literally right outside our door. We walked down the sidewalk and we were there. It was some of the best food I have had since being here. I had pasta with a homemade pesto. It was fantastic; we all really got to try each other's dishes and there wasn't bad one that I had. Our teacher order us an Appetizer for all of us to share and get a taste of Italian flavors. Well, I tried this particular spread and it wasn't bad at all in fact it was really good but none of us could place the favor. When we asked what it was we found out it was liver butter. I guess that just goes to prove don't knock something until you try it. After dinner we all pretty much went to bed. We were tried and we also had a long day ahead of us.
Wednesday: It again was an early morning for us. Today we were going to the Uffizi. This particular museum probably has one of the largest collections of famous works of arts. It has everything from: Da Vinci's, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Botticelli, Giotto's and so many other works of art that is was almost an overload of famous pieces. It was hard at least for me cause I knew that I was looking at something famous; that I had seen it in history books but wasn't sure exactly what I was looking at. For me some of my favorite pieces were the famous painting that is in very history book of Martian Luther and his wife and a piece by Caravaggio of Medusa. After that incredible mind blowing experience we walked through were the vanity burning took place on our way to San Croce. This is where Michelangelo and Galileo are buried. That was cool to see their tombs but for me the cool part was when I was sitting there resting my teacher was like, "Kat, you need to go and check out that tomb over there. It is Machiavelli's tomb." I thought he was joking at first. I could not believe it I GOT to see the tomb of Machiavelli. For those of you who don't know who he is SHAME on you. (just kidding) He was the one who wrote the book, "The Prince" as a former government student I had to read his book and I loved it and now four years later I am standing at his tomb. I know, I am going on about it and I promise to stop I was just really excited to get to see it. After the church we were all so tired and hungry. We separated for a bit to go and find lunch. We were on our way to one restaurant when we were all so hungry that we walked by one looked at the menu and it wasn't priced back at all so we stopped there and had lunch. We made a good choice the food again was excellent and our waiter took really good care of us. After we finished lunch we were on our way to meet our teacher cause it was time to get down to business, yes shopping, if you go in is a group you tend to get better deals on your leather. We went to one store and were there for an hour trying to get the prices down to were we wanted them and the guy was not working with us so we left that is what you have to be willing to do. We then went to another store that our teacher had been to the day before and when we came in we were introduced as his family, cousins, and the guy that had worked with my teacher was there and he worked with us as well. It was a really good experience at least better than the first store. I finally decided one a beautiful messenger bag. Shopping for our leather took at least two hrs but in the end it was well worth it. After a little bit more shopping we went back to the convent. That night Rachael, one of the girls on the trip, and I had dinner together and it was really nice.
Thursday: It was time to leave Florence but before we did we went and saw the Medici chapel it is here that many of the power, and big family is buried. It was cool to know that we have talked about these people and now we are getting to see their tombs. Michelangelo carved two of the tombs and part of a third one. We then left the chapel got back to the convent, hopped on a bus to get to the termini so we could get on a train to go to Piza. It was while we were on the bus that we met a couple from Auburn. Now, for those of you don't know my family and I are Alabama fans and Alabama and Auburn are big Rivals. So, we were giving each other a hard time but in all honest it was fun to meet someone from the States and not only that but from the great state of Alabama. We got to the termini and had a bit of time before we had to leave so we got lunch and then got on the train for an 1.5 hr. train ride. I really enjoyed getting to see Piza and the leaning tower was interesting. It was not as big as I thought it was going to be. My teacher also gave us this question, "why are we so fascinated with a failure." Cause it is true, the leaning tower is a complete failure. I don't know the answer to that yet. We got dinner and some of the best gelato that we have had yet. We then got back to the train station and got on the train that would finally take us back to Rome. I can honestly say I was glad to get back to were we have called home.
Friday-Yesterday, we were off and boy did we need it. For the most part we didn't go anything yesterday except work on our papers and other projects that are due soon. After dinner we went out for a bit and saw the Colosseum at night which was a lot of fun.
Man, so there you have it, that was our few days in Florence and Piza. I hope that you are enjoying reading so far and as this come to an end I am looking forward to seeing all of you reading this back home. It is hard to believe that we are going into our final week. well, Ciao from Rome
Monday, June 6, 2011
Weekend Recap
I know that it has been a few days since I last posted anything and to all of you reading I am sorry I figured I would just recap the whole weekend. So, here we go.
Thursday: After our extremely long and productive day at the Vatican we had a classroom day for part of it and then we were off from Thursday at lunch until Monday when we meet for class. Class is always interesting not in a bad way at all just interesting. There are only 4 history majors here so it is cool to here what so of the others are thinking and feeling as they are on this trip. Even within the history majors we have different ideas of how history should be viewed and we normally don't get through all that we are meant to talk about but that is ok. We are critically thinking about what we are seeing and how should things be viewed as a Christian first and foremost and then as a history major or whatever. That night we went out and just explored. If you haven't noticed we do that a lot and we get lost a lot. Not the bad kind of lost where we don't know how to get back but the bothersome kind. Where you kinda know where you are not not totally sure. Either way it was a good night and we had a lot of fun.
Friday: BEACH TIME!!!!! Yes, on Saturday some of us went to the beach here in Rome. It is about an hour and a half metro ride from where we are and man was it Totally worth it. We left about 10 in the morning and took a bus to the metro station and then from there took one metro to the end of the line and then hopped on another metro and rode that one to the end of the line. From here we were exactly sure where the water was so we walked in the general direction that we thought it might be in and we go lucky, ok so we did ask once if we were going in the right direction and sure enough we were. So, the beach was a little bit different that anything that I would have imagined. It was a blackish sand. Yes, I said a black sand beach and man was that neat. I can't say cool because it wasn't in fact it was really, really hot. I am talking having to put shoes on to water only a few steps. Also, I have never been more thankful that we don't allow people to try and sell things on the beach back in the states. They were everywhere and would not leave us alone. Except when the guy who was with us was there. There were four of us girls and one of the guys. It never failed as soon as the guy would leave we would get pestered to kingdom come and then Brandon would come around and say no and they would leave. I will say that the lady giving massages was my favorite. Yes, hehe I got a back massage right there on the beach for about 8 American dollars and man oh man was it totally worth it. So, we got back from the day on the beach and just chilled for the rest of the day.
Saturday: We all slept in well at least most of us did. After lunch we decide that we were going to go to this di Vinci museum and then a crypt with 4,000 dead monks bones made into art. The museum was really interesting. We all know that di Vinci was a painter and we all know that he was an inventor but man it was really cool to see some of the things that he came up with.He truly was ahead of his time. He had invented really one of the first underwater breathing machine and a ton of other things. I don't think I will think about him the same way ever again. After we left there we were on an adventure, once again, to find out where this church was where these bones where. When we got there the lady at the front door was giving us a hard time, all in jest, so there were 6 different rooms and each room had different bones and bodies of monks. all of the art work on the walls were the bones as well. It was one of the weirdest things I think I have ever seen. I loved it and wish I could take all of you there. The statement at the end reads things, "What you are Now we use to be; What we are Now you will be." Wow, so true that kinda put things into perspective and they is what they wanted. After that some us went back to the Convent to chill for a bit cause it was a bit warm outside. We later went out to eat and up until that point it really had not been bad to eat out well.......we were in for a surprise at the price and the Mexican restaurant that we went too. The prices were crazy and it kinda put a damper on the meal, but you live and learn.
Sunday: It was a lazy day besides going to church we really did nothing and it was really nice after going the rest of the weekend. So, that was the second week here in Rome. This week we will be in Florence, then we have our final week. Wow, it is hard to believe that we have been here two weeks and we only have two more weeks. Well, it is Monday, and I have class in a bit but I will be back later and tell you what we did today Ciao from Rome
Thursday: After our extremely long and productive day at the Vatican we had a classroom day for part of it and then we were off from Thursday at lunch until Monday when we meet for class. Class is always interesting not in a bad way at all just interesting. There are only 4 history majors here so it is cool to here what so of the others are thinking and feeling as they are on this trip. Even within the history majors we have different ideas of how history should be viewed and we normally don't get through all that we are meant to talk about but that is ok. We are critically thinking about what we are seeing and how should things be viewed as a Christian first and foremost and then as a history major or whatever. That night we went out and just explored. If you haven't noticed we do that a lot and we get lost a lot. Not the bad kind of lost where we don't know how to get back but the bothersome kind. Where you kinda know where you are not not totally sure. Either way it was a good night and we had a lot of fun.
Friday: BEACH TIME!!!!! Yes, on Saturday some of us went to the beach here in Rome. It is about an hour and a half metro ride from where we are and man was it Totally worth it. We left about 10 in the morning and took a bus to the metro station and then from there took one metro to the end of the line and then hopped on another metro and rode that one to the end of the line. From here we were exactly sure where the water was so we walked in the general direction that we thought it might be in and we go lucky, ok so we did ask once if we were going in the right direction and sure enough we were. So, the beach was a little bit different that anything that I would have imagined. It was a blackish sand. Yes, I said a black sand beach and man was that neat. I can't say cool because it wasn't in fact it was really, really hot. I am talking having to put shoes on to water only a few steps. Also, I have never been more thankful that we don't allow people to try and sell things on the beach back in the states. They were everywhere and would not leave us alone. Except when the guy who was with us was there. There were four of us girls and one of the guys. It never failed as soon as the guy would leave we would get pestered to kingdom come and then Brandon would come around and say no and they would leave. I will say that the lady giving massages was my favorite. Yes, hehe I got a back massage right there on the beach for about 8 American dollars and man oh man was it totally worth it. So, we got back from the day on the beach and just chilled for the rest of the day.
Saturday: We all slept in well at least most of us did. After lunch we decide that we were going to go to this di Vinci museum and then a crypt with 4,000 dead monks bones made into art. The museum was really interesting. We all know that di Vinci was a painter and we all know that he was an inventor but man it was really cool to see some of the things that he came up with.He truly was ahead of his time. He had invented really one of the first underwater breathing machine and a ton of other things. I don't think I will think about him the same way ever again. After we left there we were on an adventure, once again, to find out where this church was where these bones where. When we got there the lady at the front door was giving us a hard time, all in jest, so there were 6 different rooms and each room had different bones and bodies of monks. all of the art work on the walls were the bones as well. It was one of the weirdest things I think I have ever seen. I loved it and wish I could take all of you there. The statement at the end reads things, "What you are Now we use to be; What we are Now you will be." Wow, so true that kinda put things into perspective and they is what they wanted. After that some us went back to the Convent to chill for a bit cause it was a bit warm outside. We later went out to eat and up until that point it really had not been bad to eat out well.......we were in for a surprise at the price and the Mexican restaurant that we went too. The prices were crazy and it kinda put a damper on the meal, but you live and learn.
Sunday: It was a lazy day besides going to church we really did nothing and it was really nice after going the rest of the weekend. So, that was the second week here in Rome. This week we will be in Florence, then we have our final week. Wow, it is hard to believe that we have been here two weeks and we only have two more weeks. Well, it is Monday, and I have class in a bit but I will be back later and tell you what we did today Ciao from Rome
Friday, June 3, 2011
Vatican
I know this is a few days late and that is my fault to all of you who are reading the blog back home. So, Wed. we went to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's with a guided tour and Man oh man was it a long day, but a good one at that. So, we left the Convent at 8:15 trying to bet rush hour and that did NOT happen. The bus that we needed was so packed each time that we ended up having to take a different bus, we then tried to take the tram that we needed and we waited and waited and that never came so we hoped on a ANOTHER bus and got to the metro station were we got on the subway that finally got us near to the place where we were meeting our tour guide. That was just the start of the day. hahah, I know you have to love Rome and all the things that one must go through to get to one simple place. So, we finally meet up with the guy who is going to give us our tour and get into the museum get our audio sets so we can hear our tour guide among all of the other people that were there that day. I can't even begin to tell you all the different pieces of art that we saw that day. From tapestries that were so detailed that it looked like the eyes were following you, to pieces from Greece that were brought back, to tombs of people that you only ever think that you will read about. I will try my best to describe some of the major pieces that we saw and some of my "feeling" about them. As my teacher saying, "I really don't like the words feelings but I really don't know another word." Some of the first major art work that we saw were done by Raphael. The work that he did was incredible and breathe taking some of the best that I had seen up until this point. He used colors and shading in ways that we very unique to his style. Raphael has about four rooms that he painted. Most of it is done by him but I think the tour guide said that at least one of the rooms were finished by his students and you could see a difference in their work and the work of the master. It was in of these rooms that the famous "School of Athens" is painted in. I walked into the room and walked right past it and didn't even realize that it was that particular painting until the tour guide told us to look up and we would see the "School of Athens" on my goodness, no picture can do it justice. It was cool to be able to look at it and realize that the people that are in the painting are meant to look like someone of that particular time that Raphael was painting. Our teacher told us that he thought that Raphael's paintings looked perfect almost too perfect and I didn't understand what he meant by that statement and after seeing Raphael's work and the work of Michelangelo I can see what he meant. Raphael has a unique style of painting that I don't know if I completely like. Don't get me wrong his work is incredible and it blew my mind at the details and the way that he had things look but I think that I like Michelangelo a little better. Now, you as the reader have to understand that as I am writing this I am really having to work because art really is not my thing. I can appreciate it cause I know that it has been around a really long time and I know that it is famous. I know the history behind why it was painted and some about the painting itself. I like it for the fact that I have read about it in my history books for years and now I am getting to see it, but that is about it. I don't normally stand in front of a painting and say oh this moves me this way or that way, and a lot of other things that people say when they see art. Saying all of that gives you a little bit better understanding of how I view art. The next major thing that we saw was the Sistine Chapel. Now, there was so much there that we went through it twice and I know for a fact that I was not able to take everything in. It was so overwhelming. The colors and the different scenes and everything wow. I got to see the "Hand of God" in person and I think that was one of the coolest moments for me. The Last Judgment which is painted at the front of the chapel was incredible was well. It is interesting when you know a little about the background of the painter and who some of his enemies were and friends how you can see them in the paintings in different positions. It is interesting that Michelangelo did not want to paint the Sistine Chapel and I think that comes out in the work with the way that he paints certain people of he gives them clothes or not what kind of positions they are in. Someone who didn't know certain things would never pick up on it but knowing a little of the background you can see it. There was so much more that we saw that day but in all honest I really blurred together at some point. We saw all sorts of famous artist that I could never begin to imagine that I would get see their original works of arts. I wish I was more into it so I could better explain to you all that I saw, but I can tell you this that I was amazed and in awe of all that I saw there. I hope that you enjoyed this post it is a bit different but I did my best to try and explain what I "felt" as I went the the Vatican museums. Ciao from Rome.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
An interesting Day on the Bus
So, yesterday we had an interesting and LONG day on the bus. So, we had a classroom day in the morning which everything was fine. We were talking about the Renaissance and humanism. Which was interesting cause a lot of time when we think of humanism we don't think of it in the context that we are talking about in class. but any way I know most of you don't want me to get all philosophical and historical thoughts so if you want to talk about it you can find me or message me on facebook. But anyway enough of that, so we go an assignment that we were to go to two different churches and compare the different art in them. ok, that seems simple enough, right. Well, the first church that we went to we got there fine and it was beautiful the art was incredible and we had to do some comparison work. This is where it gets interesting. Oh so I need to add one more thing right as we were getting ready to leave the church we met up with our teacher and he and his family decided that they were just going to come with us to the second church. Well, we missed the bus that we needed to get the second church by literally a minuet. Well we waited and waited and waited some more. We finally decided to take a completely different bus cause we thought it would take us where we needed to go well we could not have been more wrong. We got on the bus it went stop after stop after stop. We were on the bus for over and Hour!!! Yes we were on the same bus for over and hour. It was just by luck that one of us looked out the widow of the bus and realized that we were close to the catacombs that we were at the other day. We Finally got of the bus and we had to walk a little farther and get on another bus which finally took us back to the convent that we were staying at. Needless to say we have yet made it to the church that we were might to go to. Yes, I know it isn't some great historical site but it still was an adventure and a half. Tomorrow I will share about our adventures today as we explored the Vatican. Ciao from Rome
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