Buonanotte (Good-evening), from Italia! It is about 11:30 in the evening here and I thought I should probably bring my blog up to date with what has been going on in Roma. To start where I left off we went to the Vatican this past thursday with my art history class and it was so neat. I had seen it years before but for some reason I had such a greater appreciation for what it is really all about. We started off in one of the sculpture wings and saw the real Emperor Augustus statue and Polyklietos the start of "contrapposto" a type of typical stance sculptures used in those times. After seeing these sculptures many times in previous art history classes it was great to finally see them up close and personal. We saw many other wonderful artwork as well before we headed to the Sistine Chapel. On the way to the Sistine Chapel we stopped to see one of the famous corridors and what to my surprise I turn to see "The School of Athens" a fresco by Raphael. It literally gave me goose bumps to see this piece of work after studying it for so many years. But the feeling I had when walking into the Sistine Chapel is one I can't describe, our instructor had given us a briefing on the history and background on the Chapel while outside since you are not allowed to give explanations while inside because it is such a quite viewing area and sorry to say there are no pictures allowed. What really got me is that one man Michelangelo painted the whole ceiling by himself in four years! It was an incredible sight and the fact that now I know the explanation of the things displayed in the Sistine Chapel made is even more spectacular. The Vatican itself I have to say is probably one of my favorite sights I have visited so far in the city of Rome.
Friday night I headed out with a few classmates and ended up at Scholars once again... obviously one of our new favorite hangout places. That night they were having an Oasis cover band and it was great, nothing like screaming Wonderwall at the top of your lungs with all your classmates, what great times, memories I will never forget.
Saturday we took a class trip to Assisi, Italy a small village on a mountain top in the countryside of Italy. It was great to get a change of scenery and see something different than the city. We took a double decker charter bus early Saturday morning, and it was about a 3 hour trip to the village. When we arrived we hit up a nice little restaurant first for some lunch and it was Kelly and I and 7 other guys, it was a very interesting lunch let me just say that Ha! After lunch we headed to the church and what the town is most famous for, the Saint Francis of Assisi Cathedral and where St. Francis is buried. The cathedral was different than other churches I have seen so far while in Italy, the colors were so vibrant and every surface was covered with frescos many by Giotto a famous painter of the time. The tomb was erie but very captivating, the most interesting part was to watch people around you praying, kneeling, observing all kinds of different activities and interpretations. The visit to the church was breathtaking in so many ways and a definite new cultural experience. After the church we ventured out on a short hike to a great viewing spot and then up to the top of the village to a Castle and an even better view. It was so beautiful and like I said before a total change of scenery. We had to meet back at the bus by 5:30 that evening so we headed down through some shops and the rest of the village to the meeting place. On the way through the village we stopped in the most delicious pastry shop ever. There were so many choices but I think my final choice was a great one, I had a wafer type cylinder filled with pistachio cream/frosting and then it was coated with some sort or chocolate layering YUMMM! It was tasty! We made are way back to the city center and hopped back on the bus to head home to Rome. The bus ride home was great reminiscing old songs from middle school and earlier, classic... outbreak in song was not uncommon ha! Talking about family traditions for holidays and food we are sooo excited to have when we get back stateside. It was great and definitely made the time pass quickly. This week and weekend was full of adventure and there are more to come this weekend when I get back from our southern field trip to Naples, Sorento, and Pompeii. Until then Ciao!!!
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