So it's been a few days since I've updated my blog! I'll just go through the days and try and remember what all we have done...
Wednesday: Went to Vatican City. Saw St. Peter's cathedral and got a tour of the necropolis that is 3 stories beneath the church! We saw St. Peter's bones...no one knows for sure if they are Peter's actual bones, but I suppose it's the thought that counts.
Wednesday night, Nick and Justin took Erin, Courtney, Jessica, Kyle (ceramics grad) and I to the American Academy in Rome. I felt so privileged that they would want to introduce us to those who are working at the Academy! It was an open studio night, so we got to see who the best of the best in photography, painting, architecture, video art, etc today are working on. It was truly something I won't ever forget, and I'm so grateful that they would want to take us.
Thursday: Went to the Colosseum. If you can get past the thought that the reason this amphitheater was built was for Romans to watch people be humiliated and slaughtered and murdered...then it's quite beautiful!
We did not have class Friday, so me and the other grads took it easy and relaxed in the hotel and caught up on some school work. Nothing too exciting!
Today Erin, Courtney, Jessica and I went to Orvieto. It is about an hour train ride north of Rome. It is a small city that is set up on a high cliff, and it was a beautiful day! We basically spent the day sort of wandering around the city, but it was really nice to be able to lazily walk and look. A big change from chasing after Nick and Justin through Rome! One cool thing that happened was that in the Duomo (cathedral) there was a concert of string instruments and a piano. We sat and listened to them play for 20 minutes or so, and it was mesmerizing.
All in all a pretty chill few days!
Also, I have found the most delicious, wonderful, tastiest restaurant of my entire life. It is called Pinocchio and it's here in Frascati. So far we've eaten there the past 3 nights in a row, and I could eat there every day! Their eggplant parmesan rocks my world. I know I will miss that place dearly...
and yes I had gelatto today. Chocolate and Zambeino (not sure what it means but it was good) in a cone.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Euphronios Krater
I saw the Euphronios krater today in the Villa Giulia! The Villa Giulia used to be the summer home of the pope, but it is now an Etruscan artifact museum.
We were supposed to visit the Capitoline Museum today as well, but our class got cut short because one of the girls got too drunk last night and was puking today on the streets of Rome. Very classy if you ask me. I'm glad she is representing LSU and America so well!
Good news though - I ate gelatto twice today :) I plan on having gelatto at least once a day.
Speaking of gelatto, I have a short little story from today: While at dinner last night Justin taught me a few Italian hand gestures, one being "go away, leave me alone" that I could use if someone were bothering me. Well I got to put it to use today! While Courtney and I were waiting for the train to Frascati I was making out with my icecream cone because it was melting. This freaker Italian man got up in my face and said "Bella!" and started making kissing noises. I tried to ignore him and I said "No, grazie" but that did not work because he got even closer to my face and made more kissing noises and pretended he was licking my icecream cone. So I gave him the "go away, leave me alone" hand gesture and it worked! He walked away! So thank you Justin for teaching me Italian hand gestures. I feel like I fit in already.
Going to the necropolis below St. Peter's tomorrow! Can't wait!
Ciao for now.
We were supposed to visit the Capitoline Museum today as well, but our class got cut short because one of the girls got too drunk last night and was puking today on the streets of Rome. Very classy if you ask me. I'm glad she is representing LSU and America so well!
Good news though - I ate gelatto twice today :) I plan on having gelatto at least once a day.
Speaking of gelatto, I have a short little story from today: While at dinner last night Justin taught me a few Italian hand gestures, one being "go away, leave me alone" that I could use if someone were bothering me. Well I got to put it to use today! While Courtney and I were waiting for the train to Frascati I was making out with my icecream cone because it was melting. This freaker Italian man got up in my face and said "Bella!" and started making kissing noises. I tried to ignore him and I said "No, grazie" but that did not work because he got even closer to my face and made more kissing noises and pretended he was licking my icecream cone. So I gave him the "go away, leave me alone" hand gesture and it worked! He walked away! So thank you Justin for teaching me Italian hand gestures. I feel like I fit in already.
Going to the necropolis below St. Peter's tomorrow! Can't wait!
Ciao for now.
Monday, May 25, 2009
My luggage is here!!!!
So good news.....I can now wear something different! I have been wearing the same clothes for 3 days now. Ick!
I feel as though I am living in a Rome-themed amusement park. It is SO surreal to be seeing things like the Roman Forum and the Colosseum in real life, and being able to walk on the ancient ruins where people like Julius Ceasar and the apostle Peter walked blows my mind!
Today we walked along the Appian Way which is the oldest road in Rome. It was "the I-10 of Rome if you will" as Nick Camerlenghi put it. We visited the catacombs of San Sebastiano and San Callisto with Nick where we saw underground tombs and frescoes. With Justin Walsh we visited the Roman Forum, which was the political, civic and religious center of ancient Rome. I felt like I was in a column graveyard! So amazing to see these buildings that have been standing and have been preserved (as best as can be preserved) by Italians for over two thousand years....so much history!
All for now....Ciao!
I feel as though I am living in a Rome-themed amusement park. It is SO surreal to be seeing things like the Roman Forum and the Colosseum in real life, and being able to walk on the ancient ruins where people like Julius Ceasar and the apostle Peter walked blows my mind!
Today we walked along the Appian Way which is the oldest road in Rome. It was "the I-10 of Rome if you will" as Nick Camerlenghi put it. We visited the catacombs of San Sebastiano and San Callisto with Nick where we saw underground tombs and frescoes. With Justin Walsh we visited the Roman Forum, which was the political, civic and religious center of ancient Rome. I felt like I was in a column graveyard! So amazing to see these buildings that have been standing and have been preserved (as best as can be preserved) by Italians for over two thousand years....so much history!
All for now....Ciao!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Update from Rome!
This has simultaneously been the best and worst trip of my life!
BEST: Saw a lot of Frankfurt - went to 2 museums, saw the Myron's Athena sculpture from the Athena and Marsyas group, went to the top of the Maintower that overlooks the entire city...now the best part. We ate dinner at an Irish pub near our bus stop since we were planning on calling it an early night for our flight the next morning to Rome. Change of plans! We met two hottttt Army guys fresh out of Baghdad who started buying us drinks and icecream. Did I mention how HOT they were?! As we were leaving at about 9pm we ran into a rowdy group of Irish guys in Frankfurt for a bachelor party, or stag party as they called it. More drinks were shared! Further on in the night we met two MORE Irish guys who introduced us to Baby Guinesses (little shots of Kahluah and Bailey's) and sang karaoke. So fun! We returned to our hotel only to meet two Air Force guys whom Courtney and I stayed up until 6am talking to in the lobby. My favorite were the Army guys...So long story short we didn't sleep AT ALL that night. There were too many interesting people to meet!
WORST: Malev Hungarian Airlines. Awful. The flight from Frankfurt to Budapest was the worst flight I've ever been on. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster! We arrived late in Budapest and had to rush to our flight from Budapest to Rome, and our luggage did not arrive to Rome with us. It is Sunday at about 8pm and we have yet to get our luggage. I will be wearing the same clothes for the next couple of days. Gross! Say a prayer that my luggage gets here tomorrow, please!
Ciao!
BEST: Saw a lot of Frankfurt - went to 2 museums, saw the Myron's Athena sculpture from the Athena and Marsyas group, went to the top of the Maintower that overlooks the entire city...now the best part. We ate dinner at an Irish pub near our bus stop since we were planning on calling it an early night for our flight the next morning to Rome. Change of plans! We met two hottttt Army guys fresh out of Baghdad who started buying us drinks and icecream. Did I mention how HOT they were?! As we were leaving at about 9pm we ran into a rowdy group of Irish guys in Frankfurt for a bachelor party, or stag party as they called it. More drinks were shared! Further on in the night we met two MORE Irish guys who introduced us to Baby Guinesses (little shots of Kahluah and Bailey's) and sang karaoke. So fun! We returned to our hotel only to meet two Air Force guys whom Courtney and I stayed up until 6am talking to in the lobby. My favorite were the Army guys...So long story short we didn't sleep AT ALL that night. There were too many interesting people to meet!
WORST: Malev Hungarian Airlines. Awful. The flight from Frankfurt to Budapest was the worst flight I've ever been on. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster! We arrived late in Budapest and had to rush to our flight from Budapest to Rome, and our luggage did not arrive to Rome with us. It is Sunday at about 8pm and we have yet to get our luggage. I will be wearing the same clothes for the next couple of days. Gross! Say a prayer that my luggage gets here tomorrow, please!
Ciao!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Made it to Frankfurt!
5/21/09
Guten Tag!
We made it to Frankfurt, Germany! It's 12:15 pm here which means it's 5:15 am in the States. We just got to our hotel, and I am in desperate need of a nap! Our plane from Philly to Frankfurt was delayed for 3 hours so it has been a very long day...been traveling for about 17 hours so far. So glad to finally be here! And so glad that Courtney speaks German!
Ein bier bitte!
7:00 pm
We just got back to our hotel after wandering the street of Frankfurt for a few hours (after taking about a 2 hour nap of course). Frankfurt is a unique city that combines old buildings with really modern skyscapers and architecture. Beautiful! We stopped at a little sidewalk cafe, and I had a bratwurst, and it was delicious! I also ate some German chocolate ice cream...yummooo! It's been raining on and off all day, but we are still having fun. We're going to relax for a bit (still really jet lagged!), then go out for dinner and then who knows!? More to come...
Auf Wiedersehen!
5/22/09
9:00 am
I had weinerschnitzel for dinner last night and to my surprise it was not in weiner shape! It reminded me of chicken parmesan without the marinara and cheese, and it was made of pork instead of chicken. It was simply pork that had been breaded and fried. It was pretty tasty! With my weinerschnitzel I had Hefeweizen, a type of German beer, and it was tasty as well! Today we are planning on seeing a few museums, going to the top of the Main tower to oversee the city and maybe do a little shopping. Auf Wiedersehen for now!
Guten Tag!
We made it to Frankfurt, Germany! It's 12:15 pm here which means it's 5:15 am in the States. We just got to our hotel, and I am in desperate need of a nap! Our plane from Philly to Frankfurt was delayed for 3 hours so it has been a very long day...been traveling for about 17 hours so far. So glad to finally be here! And so glad that Courtney speaks German!
Ein bier bitte!
7:00 pm
We just got back to our hotel after wandering the street of Frankfurt for a few hours (after taking about a 2 hour nap of course). Frankfurt is a unique city that combines old buildings with really modern skyscapers and architecture. Beautiful! We stopped at a little sidewalk cafe, and I had a bratwurst, and it was delicious! I also ate some German chocolate ice cream...yummooo! It's been raining on and off all day, but we are still having fun. We're going to relax for a bit (still really jet lagged!), then go out for dinner and then who knows!? More to come...
Auf Wiedersehen!
5/22/09
9:00 am
I had weinerschnitzel for dinner last night and to my surprise it was not in weiner shape! It reminded me of chicken parmesan without the marinara and cheese, and it was made of pork instead of chicken. It was simply pork that had been breaded and fried. It was pretty tasty! With my weinerschnitzel I had Hefeweizen, a type of German beer, and it was tasty as well! Today we are planning on seeing a few museums, going to the top of the Main tower to oversee the city and maybe do a little shopping. Auf Wiedersehen for now!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
When in Rome
Hey Everyone!
I have set up this blog for everyone to keep up with me while I'm in Italy!
I leave May 20 and come back June 30. I will be in Frankfurt, Germany for a couple of days, then I will take a train to Italy and will be living in Frascati, Italy (about a 30 minute train ride from Rome) from May 25-June 26. During that time I will be taking weekend trips to other cities in Italy, and I plan to keep you all updated! June 26 I leave for Athens, Greece where I'll stay until June 30.
I won't have a phone while I'm there so please email me, skype me, facebook me, blog me (that a verb?) so I can keep in touch!
More to come....
Love, Shannon
I have set up this blog for everyone to keep up with me while I'm in Italy!
I leave May 20 and come back June 30. I will be in Frankfurt, Germany for a couple of days, then I will take a train to Italy and will be living in Frascati, Italy (about a 30 minute train ride from Rome) from May 25-June 26. During that time I will be taking weekend trips to other cities in Italy, and I plan to keep you all updated! June 26 I leave for Athens, Greece where I'll stay until June 30.
I won't have a phone while I'm there so please email me, skype me, facebook me, blog me (that a verb?) so I can keep in touch!
More to come....
Love, Shannon
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