week seven tuesday

Hello blog followers. I am sorry but I fell behind in my blogging. Partly because of time constraints, but mostly because I lost my camera so I have no more pictures to share. And really that's why you all came to the blog anyways. Wednesday during the seventh week was a great day. We did a walking tour of Bernini's Rome. We started as usual by taking the train to Rome. We decided to take the bus to the start of the tour and work our way back up hill to Termini train station. While on the bus, a woman vomited on the floor right behind me. Splashing emesis all over the place. There was nothing we could do except exit the bus and wait for the next one. There was no time to return to campus, the tour must go on. We started in Piazza Navona, wandered to the Pantheon and Santa Maria sopre Minerva. Then on to the parliament building to Trevi Fountain. We decided to eat lunch at the McDonald's near Trevi. We haven't been to a McDonald's since we arrived. I could not believe the food tasted exactly like the food in the states. Not sure how they managed that, but it was fun. Then on to the Presidential palace, watch the changing of the guard, and heading down via Quirnale to St. Andreas, the Quatro Fontana, over to piazza Barberini and its fountains. And finally the great finale at Santa Maria Vittorio for the Ecstasy of St. Teresa. Long day but worth every minute.

week seven monday

Turns out the Monday after Easter is a national holiday in Italy. Everything is closed except for the restaurants. It is not a day for planned activities. We will have to reschedule our excursions scheduled for today till another day. The students were crestfallen to hear this. Everyone enjoyed the day off. But, as it turns out, the cook has the day off. Danilo informs me that it is traditional to have a BBQ on this day. I'm looking around for the gas grill, but no, Italians do it the old fashioned way with charcoal. This means that dinner will be at least an hour late because the charcoal wasn't started early enough. Then, once the fire is ready Danilo announces that he and Sara have to run and pick up the rest of the food. So, guess who becomes the chef. We had BBQ chicken, sausages and some beef steaks cooked on the charcoal. It was very nice, but I was too busy cooking and eating to take any pictures. It has been seven weeks since any of us tasted BBQ chicken. I forgot how good it tastes.

venice part 5

The last of the pictures from Venice. I want to publicly thank my friend Danilo Mori for his excellent guidance on eating, shopping, and just hanging out in Venice. As well as all the other sites on this trip. I also want to thank the University and my boss for this opportunity. It has been plenty of hard work, but also plenty of fun. I threw in the picture of the shop with Canton in the sign. No idea what it was selling! Just thought the sign was cool.

venice part 4

There were so many people on the Rialto bridge taking pictures, I was convinced it couldn't hold the weight. But somehow it did! Danilo said that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were in Venice to make a movie. Tried to find them, but no luck. I don't think they were staying at the Lido! There are cars on the Lido island, and every time I got back from Venice I would forget and just walk out into traffic. Because there were no cars on Venice to worry about. And after visiting some high traffic areas of Italy (even Assisi had cars and very narrow streets), it was refreshing not to worry about traffic.

venice part 3

Venice was people and water. People and water everywhere. I have not seen so many people in one place, not even at the papal audience as there was in St. Mark's square. There were people lined up to visit the palace. There were people lined up to climb the cathedral. There were people lined up to climb the tower. And this isn't even counting the people just milling around. Every time I took a ferry somewhere I was convinced that it couldn't stay afloat with all those people on board like an over crowded subway!

venice part 2

Our hotel was not on the island of Venice. Our hotel was on a neighboring island called Lido. I think this was an advantage because we had a quiet place away from the crowds. It was very peaceful on our island, and after spending the day fighting the crowds in Venice itself, it was a peaceful place to return to, eat dinner, and sleep.

venice part 1

This last weekend we had the opportunity to travel to Venice. I had heard so many bad things about Venice, I didn't know what to expect. First, I found it to be clean and odor free. I also found it easy to walk around because there was no traffic. I also found the best gellato I have had in Italy so far. I also found the streets very confusing and found myself traveling the same route more than once. Each bridge over the canals start looking exactly the same. And there were a lot of tourists as some of the photos will indicate. The second picture is our view of Venice from our hotel.

week six cemetery

We had the opportunity on Thursday of week six, our "Vatican" Holy Week, to visit the military cemetery near Anzio in Netunno. The cemetery is one of many around the world maintained by the US government in foreign countries. This was a moving experience. I visited Arlington cemetery in Washington before, but this was different being in a foreign county and seeing all those white markers. We all started talking about our favorite war movies, especially Saving Private Ryan. We were also able to look up names of all personnel that were buried anywhere overseas. We found John's (one of the students) grandfather. He is buried in Belgium. John knew he was killed in action, but he didn't know where. The cemetery is a beautiful place, a very spiritual place. The meaning hit home for me when Danilo said how proud Italians were to host the cemetery. And how important it was to them. How meaningful it was to them. And, how grateful they were to the Americans who liberated them from the Germans. He was very eloquent and moving in his description. I wish all the students had been with him and I to hear him speak about the meaning of the cemetery to Italians.

papal audience part three

After awhile one becomes caught up in the experience of the papal audience. People are chanting and surging forward. One can't help but start snapping pictures, sometimes of no one in particular except that I have a good view of the pope. Then he hops in his pope-mobile and drives by almost close enough to touch him. Following through with that last idea probably is not a good idea, given the level of security around the pope.
As a side note, after the audience I went into town to arrange a haircut. You can imagine me explaining what I want done to someone who doesn't speak any English, and my Italian is minimal. A very interesting, but somehow successful experience.

papal audience part two

The early morning begins to look worth it as we are able to see everything that is happening.

papal audience

Wednesday is the day to attend the papal audience. We have to arrive at the Vatican by 8A to achieve the best seats. We arise at 5A, leave campus around six, arrive in Roma Termini at 7:30, hop on the metro, and we still manage a caffe before 8A. It is all worth it because we obtain front row seats, and now all we have to do is wait until 10:30A when the pope actually arrives. The arrival of the pope causes quite a stir and people behind us surge forward like a rock concert. At least they do sit down during the actual papal address. Our group is announced and that is very exciting when the pope turns and waves to us!

week six vatican tuesday

We have a tour guide for the Vatican museums this afternoon at 2:30. So our plan is to get to the Vatican at 12N, climb the dome, then visit the museum and Sistine chapel. Great idea except the line for the dome is more than two hours long. Danilo and I have a strategy meeting. We decide to eat lunch and have a caffe. The plan is to visit the museum earlier than planned, right after lunch, and then the line for the dome will be gone. I am doubtful, but hopeful.
Surprisingly, everything went according to plan. We had a great visit to the museum. A great tour guide. And we were able to visit the Sistine chapel. They have a no picture rule in the Chapel now, and a request for silence. It would have been fairly quiet if they didn't keep yelling at people with cameras, "NO PICTURES".
The students then climbed the Dome. I passed, not because of the steps, but because there is this little catwalk you have to walk around the inside of the Dome. Just not possible. Instead Danilo and I picked up the tickets for the papal audience on Wednesday. That is Danilo passing by the Swiss Guards. Danilo is thrilled because we received the VIP passes, meaning we will be the closest civilians to the pope during his address.