Thursday May 19th, 2011
I finally got to skype with Dave and catch up on some emails. I think I slept a total of 3 hours, was up at 5:45 to shower, I even picked out my clothes the night before, and made my bed the next morning. I was so excited though…the Vatican tour is today!!!
I have really looked forward to this for a long time. We all met at St. Peters to tour the Museum, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peters Basilica.
I can’t put words with how I felt, what I saw, or even the scale to the size of the structure and architecture or statues inside. My jaw stayed on the floor as I drug it behind me.
The School of Athens in the Museum, the Last Judgement, and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo is too beautiful for words. The restoration was done by Japan and their gracious 4.2 million dollars. There was a lot of “shhhushing” in that chapel as well as me being fussed at twice for trying to get pictures, yet the asians behind me took pictures and got away with it. Bologna! St. Peter’s Basilica was by far one of top BEST places I have experienced. I recorded some scripture and chanting by one of the priests. This was the best example of “Hunny I shrunk the kids”. I felt like nothing but a speck in that church. The most luxurious color palette and architecture that was created from the outside to look like 3 or 4 stories tall when the basilica itself stands about 30 stories tall. The church is of course still used. The famous Pieta Michelangelo statue of Mary holding Jesus after the Crucifixion had so much of the attention. This piece is the only one Michelangelo did sign.
So glad we went early, the line was a mile long after we left.
Jeremy and Zach Ross
School of Athens
Sistine Chapel Photos not included
St. Peter’s Basilica
That evening Adrienne, Tahesha, and myself were asked to join the leaders and sponsors at the Classical Opera. This case study belonged to Adrienne and I so to actually not just study the exterior but to experience the music, I am so grateful for. The Opera was in the Piazza Navona at the Church of St. Agnes and was built in 1642 by Girolamo Rainaldi. The 5 person ensemble consisted of a flute player, a Spanish guitar player(amazing!), another guitar player, 2 female and 1 male opera singers. The acoustics worked beautifully with their sound throughout the chapel. The first half of the concert was in one smaller chapel then we were moved to the larger chapel. On the next post is a recording of one song.
Watched some street artists perform, bought a painting, and found my favorite shop, which is a hand blown glass shop on a little back street, I bought a couple items before we headed back home that evening.
Every corner looks like this. SCOOTERS!!!
Friday May 20th, 2011
FREE DAY!!! Woke up early to meet everyone in St.Peter’s to walk to Jeremy and Lauren Ross’s place for breakfast. Their apt is owned by a well known politician of Rome, more like an Oprah of the area, and gave them his place for their entire stay. So you can imagine how nice this apartment was. Afterwards we decided to all go to the Beach, instead of only a few, and the 25 of us went to enjoy a relaxing day in the sun. Buried Alexa in the sand and turned here into a mermaid, got some rays, and after 4 hours headed back on a packed full bus, train ride, then the metro. As soon as we got back we finally went to dinner close by our apt at this small cocktail bar. Came back and didn’t mean to pass out but eventually woke up at 2am, stayed up for a couple hours, then back to bed to sleep into the next day.
Just a side thought-some of our group members are ignorant and it really hit me today how disrespectful some of them can be towards Italians, just blatantly loud and almost embarrassing for me to be around them. There was no consideration. Need I remind them that we aren’t in America anymore, this isn’t our place, most of them do know what we’re saying, and even in America when other foreigners visit they are respectful, some more quiet, and just understand common sense. No wonder Italians practically hate us. You can’t come into their home acting like you own the place and that’s what happened today. I felt like the adult and backed away from it all, even some of the older ones should have known better. We all want to have fun and enjoy this, but grow up and have some decency.
Saturday May 21st, 2011
I think we all just needed one day to sleep and we all did until about lunchtime. My body clock is finally adjusting. Worked on postcards, my journals, went to the grocery store, did some laundry, got ready and the 5 of us girls went shopping down Via Candia. I have apparently had a problem with only buying jewelry-rings mainly, bags, and cobalt blue is my color of the month I suppose. I have found some great things, yesterday a couple more rings-including this octopus ring, a cardigan, and these saucy camel colored heels. The shoes here beat any other place! One store I only want to order shoes from from now on in the states. I’ve got most my gift shopping done as well, just a few left and a few more postcards. We ended up having Chinese food for dinner tonight…I hope that chicken wasn’t actually puppy though, it was sooooo good ;)
Via Cipro
Sunday May 22nd, 2011
Have done nothing but snack, fill out postcards, catch up on my journal, my blog, and about to wonder the streets in search of my next case study to write on-Parco della Musica which is a large concert complex. A metro stop and bus ride away, quiet a bit of walking, but I should get some great notes and pictures especially here in the cool evening. Finding it will be like a game of Where’s Waldo I’m sure.
Tonight searching for hostels and train tickets for my side trip to Cinque Terre. Possibly Florence on the train ride back.
