RomanRenee

Villa d'Este

2009-04-29T13:35:00.000-07:00

Villa d'Este, never heard of it...
Just so happen to have read a little blurb about it when trying to find info on Hadrian's Villa. Which is were I had planned to visit (for the second time, the first time I got robbed half way there and had to go home) today.
After some mighty confusion at the train station, (I bought the ticket at Termini station but had to go to Tiburina station to catch the train) I got off to a very slow and confusing start. Damn my poor italian language skills, hey are getting better but I still end up often confused as all heck, thank God for nice Italians so patient and willing to help this stupid American (thank you Obama, for making us likable again)... Ahhhh but I digress..

So anywho.... I get off the train at the Tivoli stop and am like.., uh ok now what?? I sort of half expected I would just see Hadrian's Villa and just walk over to it. Yeah, no.. So I just started walking in a random direction and came across some signage that pointed that Villa d'Este and Hadrian's Villa where in this general direction. So I walked for about a half hour or so, twisting and turning up and down random streets, so sure I'd never find my way back to the train station. When at the end of one of the several piazzas I passed through there was Villa d'Este. I had no idea what it was but figured I go check it out because at least I found it. (never found Hadrian's Villa)

Wow!! Not only was the castle/mansion amazing totally over decorated in Baroque frescos, but the gardens, I hope I never ever forget those gardens. The gardens were full of Fountains large and small, and landscaped in such a way as every part felt like you had some how stumbled into a secret garden, It was so beautiful! At one point in time I actually felt a bit like Alice in Wonderland, it just didn't seem like a place like this could exhist. I was totally awestruck by the views of the countryside, the romantic hidden gardens the mesmerizing fountains, I wish I lived there, minus all the yard work that would need to be done. I can not explain to you how much I enjoyed it. I love water, I'm a Pisces, I'm happiest near water,today I was smiling ear to ear! There were more fountains than I could count and the roses, the roses on all the walls were THE best smelling roses I've even smelled, I wonder what it will be like when Spring finally gets a handle on Italy (its a slow start so far this year). So enjoy the pictures of my walk through Tivoli and the Villa d'Este, so romantic, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
( as usual the pictures are in backwards order, aka bottom to the top sequence)

fancy ceilings and frescos

You can see it on my face, I'm proud of myself for finding this place.
Window views from the Villa

Outside of the Villa d'Este
Random sculpture
Random cross on a mountain and castle in the center of town

The Spanish steps (now) ,St John in Chains and Moses

2009-04-29T12:11:00.000-07:00

So yes, we have established I am running out of time here in Rome so I'm trying to take in all the stuff I might not have seen before or re see stuff that I just love.

Colisseum, I love you =)Roman Forum you will be missed =/

Aspe and the relics, "the Chains"

Pope Julius the 2nd's Tomb never finished my Michelangelo, not his fault the pope died and the money ran out and the next pope wanted him to do other things... close up of the Moses. Michelangelo considered this whole project a tradgety the worst thing he ever did. Now I don't know about that, but I was sort of unimpressed, I always pictured it much larger and the original design called for over 60 figures, what's this got 10? eh it was ok, glad I saw it anyway just so I know.

Those crazy catholics and there momento mori 's = symbols of death aka the Skeletons, wouldn't you think looking at a tomb would be reminder of death enough? hahaha. I like them cause they are creepy and I find that funny in church.

What the freak is with all the steps in Europe? Can't wait to get back to Jersey which is nice and flat! But you gotto love the alleys and secret back ways to get places, I'm heading to St. John in Chains Church to check out the Michelangelo's Moses.
Via Del Corso and the big names, Prada, Gucci, Dior just to name a few, all to expensive for me =(
Spanish steps all decked out and full of people, way different looking compared to January.

costume shop for operas right next door

2009-04-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

So I have just 2 weeks left, where the heck did the time go? I'm not ready to say goodbye to my beloved Roma. I'm just getting the hang of stuff.

Sigh..... Anyway this is my next door neighbor, I live next door to a costume shop for operas, how cool is that?? I should have been taking pictures all the time as they change the windows as they have had some pretty cool stuff there, but I always felt I had more time, I'll get to it another day, didn't want to look like a tourist right in front of my own place. Oh well..
I thought the pics turned out pretty cool cause you can see me ( and my suitcase full of laundry) in the reflections of the glass.

I need a hug

2009-04-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

I had a bad day. I suppose after all these wonderful days in and about Rome it was bound to happen.

I got up early to take a day trip to Tivoli to go see Hadrian's Villa and Villa D'Este. Drug my 2 weeks worth of laundry 6 blocks to the laundry place and but when I got there, there was no one there. I didn't want to drag it back home again, so I left my laundry with a note, said a prayer that no one would steal it (had all my cloths but the ones I was wearing) was one my way to the metro. At the metro I ran into 2 classmates also doing day trips to different destinations. so we got on the Metro and chatted as best we could over the extremely annoying and loudest I've ever experienced gypsy music. The Gypsies are always on the trains begging for money with their limp (I've heard rumor drugged) babies and playing musical instruments. I've often felt sorry for them that they have such a bad rap as a people, to "what out for the gypsies"... Today I should have been watching out.

The 2 men playing the music that was almost deafening were very very close to me on a not too crowded metro, I felt my purse sway, but didn't think anything of it as I'm on a swaying train. Then the music stopped the gypsies were moving on ( thank god) and the one man leans in real close to me and says "thank you for your contribution" as he shows me his begging cup. I was like tsk I'm not contributing.. but I was and I did. The gypsies had relieved me of my wallet. They had opened 3 zippers and a snap and some how gotten my fairly large wallet out of my small purse with out me even noticing. I didn't realize this till I was at the next train station trying to buy my ticket to Tivoli. Thank God for Cece who had missed her connecting train and was still wandering around termini train station. She went with me to 3 different indifferent police officers and then to waste time with me waiting in the police station only to be told that because I have no id on me I could not file a police report, go home get your id and come back, ( huh! yeah right!!) Cece also lent me 2 euro so I could get back home, as I have no idea what I would have done if she had not been there to lend me money and moral support. Actually I would have had to walk home, it's pretty darn far,and I probably would have cried.

So I get home and decide I need a drink, and some lunch (I had planed on eating breakfast at the train station, oh but that didn't happen). The bottle opener broke off in the wine bottle, my last bottle of wine, sighhhh Oh and it get's better...

So I eat a yogart because a "friend" of mine says they will meet me for lunch at 3 near the Spanish Steps which is were I am now heading because I need to get to American Express to cash in some travelers checks since my debit card was stolen with my wallet, I finally get there and it's closed, for the holiday. I didn't know it was a holiday, heck I still don't even know which holiday which explains why no one was at the laundry place. Thank God my clothes were still there (unwashed but still there). So now I have no money till Monday when AMEX opens again. Oh and the friend, never showed up I waited till 3:45pm and cranky, hungry and frustrated I went home. All the Kids leave tomorrow morning and I'm sort of sad to see them go, heck with the day I just had, I'm just sorta sad and need a hug.

Sorrento + Positano + Capri = HEAVEN!!!

2009-04-21T03:51:00.001-07:00

I have not gone away this semester just for fun till this past weekend. All the kids I go to school with go away every weekend, but I have for the most part stayed in Rome and explored there. WOW!! I am so glad I made this last minute split decision to book this trip ( literally the day before). It was pure heaven :)

Crap! I just realized I forgot to take pictures of our hostel which was nicer than a 4 star hotel, I mean it was awesome!!! 7 hostel . I highly recommend it!!!
These are not my photos, but this really is what our hostel looked like.

http://www.sevenhostel.com/en/index.php

I stayed in Smile room :)
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The bus driver said he was not allowed to drive into the town, so we actually parked 5miles outside of the town (mind you on a cliff road), and had to walk up the cliffs, which was BS and a lie since lots of other buses passed us on the way! What a freaking hike up the mountain, if it wasn't soo ridiculously beautiful I would have been mighty pissed!

they told me my eyes matched the water :) Crystal clear and blue, beautiful.

Lemons as big A YOUR HEAD

Jealous? You should be! Even I am jealous and I was just there, it was so unbelievably beautiful!

The stones actually felt amazing to lay on but really hurt our sore and tired feet, pretty funny to watch everyone struggle as they came out of the sea and literally did a crab walk or crawl as standing and walking in bare feet was not an option, LOL!

Well deserved party, yeah I was having fun! That was limoncello a crema and limoncella a chocolate!

Bus window views_ The drivers were freaking amazing! The roads are sooo tiny and hug tight to the cliffs with no room for error, it was crazy~!

On to happier thoughts :)

2009-04-09T12:11:00.001-07:00

On to happier thoughts, I am getting tired of all the earthquake talk here, we've had a total of 4 since Monday morning and it's funny how fast it gets old. I'm bored with the earthquakes already! (Please God, don't squish me under one of theses beautiful ancient buildings, LOL!!)

So anyway, tonight I made the recipe from my blog video of, " My Italian mama's cooking lesson" and Oh MY GOD, was it delicious! So easy. In case the video was to much for ya, I figured I'd write it out for you, so you can try it at home.

you need 6-10 medium sized fresh tomatoes
a 1/2 of a large head/bulb of garlic
1/8 cup olive oil
half a handful of course salt
a pound of arugula
1/2 pound of pasta

put about 2 quarts of water on to boil.

heat on low 1/8 of a cup of oil in a deep sauce pan , add sliced, chopped or whole garlic cloves whatever way you like it, I like sliced. Let the garlic cook slowly in the oil, (do not brown it or burn it) for about 5 minutes. While the garlic is cooking, cut up your tomatoes (anyway you like, it does not matter) then add them to the garlic and oil. you can turn up the heat slightly, but do not brown or burn the garlic, add salt, let simmer about 10 minutes. Thoroughly wash your arugula, and you can cut up, and remove stems or just leave it as it, add arugula to boiling water put and let boil for 5 minutes or till cooked through. Then remove arugula from boiling water with a straining spoon or fork, DO NOT dump the water, add then mix arugula into tomato, garlic and oil mixture and continue to let mixture simmer (it needs to simmer a while so it's not too watery and the flavors intensify). RE-use the boiling water now for your pasta, cook to your preference. Once pasta is done, "plate the pasta" and spoon the sauce mixture on top and enjoy!!!

Sorry there are no pictures this time. I only made a small batch and it was so good I didn't even think about documenting it before it was done, plus it's not all that pretty a dish, but I guarantee it is tasty!!

http://www.whatscookingamerica.net/garlictips.htm

oh found this cool site for all the garlic lovers out there, I needed it so I could explain how much garlic you needed to use, I did not know that the whole garlic was called a head and had forgotten that it could be called a bulb, learn something new everyday! Or at least I hope too, Enjoy!!

2009-04-07T13:00:00.001-07:00

Earth quakes? Are my fellow Italy bloggers OK??

2009-04-07T12:24:00.000-07:00

I really hope all my fellow bloggers in Italy are OK.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7987698.stm

Central Italy has been hit with 2 serious earthquakes the last 2 days and it's sorta freaky because it's so close to Rome, but we have not had much more here than a little shake. My heart and prayers goes out to the people of central Italy, whoses homes and whole cities lay in absolute ruins now. So, so sad.

Sunday night/ monday morning quake- 6.3 on the rictor scale this one was about 70 miles away from Rome.

Todays quake-

Tuesday, April 07, 2009 at 17:47:38 UTC

Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude	5.6
Date-Time	Tuesday, April 07, 2009 at 17:47:38 (UTC) - Coordinated Universal Time Tuesday, April 07, 2009 at 07:47:38 PM local time at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location	42.35N 13.41E
Depth	13.1 kilometers
Region	CENTRAL ITALY
Distances	70 km (40 miles) W of Pescara, Italy 90 km (55 miles) NE of ROME, Italy 120 km (75 miles) SE of Perugia, Italy 145 km (90 miles) S of Ancona, Italy
Location Uncertainty	Error estimate: horizontal +/- 4.6 km; depth +/- 6.7 km
Parameters	Nst=56, Nph=56, Dmin=1.1 km, Rmss=0.84 sec, Erho=4.6 km, Erzz=6.7 km, Gp=46.9 degrees

Frascati, day trip~

2009-04-07T06:11:00.000-07:00

I never upload the pictures right, they should be seen top to bottom.. O'Well!

So these lovely little ladies are just 2 of many examples found in the town of Frascati, they are good luck symbols. A 3 breasted woman who give milk and wine, aka the perfect woman... Not my idea, this is how the locals explained it to me ( as best as I could understand with my pathetic language skills)
Notice the large cookie lady I bought,was afraid she would break before I could get her back to Rome, hahahah she's one tough cookie, notice the tiny dots on her left arm and left side of her skirt. They are my teeth marks, I could not bite into her, she really is a tough cookie, I barely even made a mark!!
Got to see the sunset becasue the 7:30pm train never showed up so we had to wait till 8:45pm, not gonna lie I was worried. It's not like I know anyone back in Italy with a car that I could call and say come get me I'm stuck in Frascati..

There were hundreds of vendors in this tiny hilltop town, my camera was dying, I forgot to charge it, so all you get to see is this guy. I did by some local made honey with hot peppers in it, it's spicy and sweet, just like me
Sunday I should have been writing a paper but I wanted to go out and enjoy the day, I called Carly and she said, she was heading to Frascati for a few hours do I want to come? Sure why not? Never heard of the place, but I'm always up for an adventure.

We really did have such a nice day and as usual the people were so very sweet and it made me want to live here in Italy even more, sigh...

It's all about the presentation baby!

2009-04-04T11:50:00.000-07:00

So pretty and it tastes good too, come on over, I've got lots!

Palestreum, Pasteum and Pompeii ( and a touch of Naples to make it taste delicious)

2009-04-03T05:48:00.000-07:00

Absolutely mind blowing temples in Pastreum

Archeological Museum Naples~

I see dead people... What do you expect so close to Mount Vesuvius?

No I don't have a foot fetish, but I do like pretty feet :)

I love mosaics

2009-04-03T05:18:00.000-07:00

BTW I know it's hard to judge these from pictures but all the mosaics I am showing you are HUGE! They take up whole walls or large room floors.

Here we have some pictures, of some super cool mosiacs from the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme at the National Roman Museum.
Professor Evans~
don't forget you can click on the pictures to enlarge them :)

I can so very seriously see me sitting down with a mountain of itty bitty teeny tiny pieces of marble and trying to complete one of these massive pieces of art. I wish I knew how long it took htem to do the mosaics, it must have been madness!! and I love it!

how lucky am I??

2009-04-03T05:06:00.000-07:00

I have the best landlord. My stay in Rome would be so different and not nearly as nice with out her. She truly is my Italian mama (don't worry mom, your still my mom of the US, LOL!!)

So the other day I come home and she calls to me to come over to her apartment ( she is just across the hall) and I say hello but say I'm way too busy, I have homework and papers to write and I am sorry but I can not sit, talk and my favorite watch her cook.

Approximately an hour or two later there is a knock at my door, it is my landlord with a tray of hot fresh food she just made for her family and me!
Eat Eat! she says.
I just love her! I was so busy I would have eaten something that was either bad, boring or crap, nothing like homemade food made by a real Italian mama :)

ps yeah it was enough food to feed me for like 5 meals~

just for daddy :)

2009-03-29T14:38:00.001-07:00

Harry's Bar, I came across it just by accent while I was lost, (again) but not really, you are never really lost in Rome. It was near walls of Rome next to the Spagna metro stop that says it leads to the Borghese museum.. lies all lies, much easier just to walk from Flamino Metro stop.
Still you can always find new sites and treasures when wandering "lost" in Rome :)

zoo pics 03/20/09

2009-03-29T14:17:00.000-07:00

I didn't like the zoo, the animals looked for the most part sad and frustrated. I only posted somewhat happy looking pictures of animals. I was there for 4 hours (in the freezing cold and windy day) and this is all I can post.

Assignment: approximately 50 or more sketches of animals at the zoo
Oh and the assignment as hard as all heck, animals apparently don't hold still much or curl into a ball and just look like lumps, which makes them kinda hard to draw.

The orangutans broke my heart, they really looked you right in the eye, like they were trying to read your soul. They were really interacting with us ( watching us draw putting hands, faces and food up to the glass for us) , I wanted to take them home, cause they looked so sad and bored.

Random pictures from 3/18/09 and so on... enjoy!!

2009-03-29T12:53:00.000-07:00

I like poppies, 3 euros and almost 2 weeks of classically beautiful flowers to brighten my kitchen here.

So I come home late one night from school, and I look up the street and I see these bright lights, so I run in to grab my camera and back down the street to see what's going on... I have no idea what was going on..LOL!! The lights were there for 3 or 4 days, I think it was to honor a Saint of a nearby church but I'm not sure, it was around St. Patty's day but it wasn't for him:)

On my way to see the lights I saw this graffiti on the ground. I thought it was sort of sweet, my Italian is pretty bad but I did recognize this. "Piccola dolce ti amo". It roughly translates to "Little Sweetie, I love you!", now yes, that is romantic, but if she/he doesn't feel the same...it's then translated into a "little Awkward" LOL!!!

There is a church that I really like, the ceilings and continuous barrel vaults and arches are just amazing I believe the name is The Basilica of Saint Mary Above Minerva near the Pantheneon.

St. Peters Baldacchino ( the 50 foot high brass canopy) is a large sculpted bronze canopy designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and located over the high altar and beneath the dome of the Basilica of St. Peter in Vatican City. The baldachin was intended to mark in a monumental way the place of Saint Peter's tomb. It was commissioned by Pope Urban VIII. Works began in July 1623 and ended in 1633.

Also in St. Peters, the main alter designed by Bernini-Cathedra Petri or "throne of St. Peter" a chair which was often claimed to have been used by the apostle, but appears to date from the 12th century. As the chair itself was fast deteriorating and was no longer serviceable, Pope Alexander VII determined to enshrine it in suitable splendour as the object upon which the line of successors to Peter was based. Bernini created a large bronze throne in which it was housed, raised high on four looping supports held effortlessly by massive bronze statues of four Doctors of the Church, Saints Ambrose and Augustine representing the Latin Church and Athanasius and John Chrysostum the Greek Church. The four figures are dynamic with sweeping robes and expressions of adoration and ecstasy. Behind and above the Cattedra, a blaze of light comes in through a window of yellow alabaster, illuminating, at its centre, the Dove of the Holy Spirit.

and a statue of a goddess I attempted to sketch in piazza del popolo.

OK lets see,(gosh I wish I could control how these pictures pop up on this blog so I could describe them better)

There are 2 pictures of a gate with cool sculpture and lamp, can not remember the museum or Palazzo at the moment, I only remember I was there for my Baroque class.

Next I took a random picture of an archway over a busy street while I waited for a bus with my classmated somewhat lost trying to find the catacombs. Yeah, no. I was not impressed with the catacombs, not much to see and I'm super claustrophobic so I wasn't diggin it. ( no photos allowed, but really nothing to see anyway, just wholes.)

The most awesome yummy salad. Around the corner from the Spanish Steps in a little outdoor cafe where I pretended to be Italian one day, I sat and ate 3 (lite) courses for like 2.5 hours and people watched :)

The fountain is Bernini's famous Triton fountain near the Barberini metro stop. Bernini executed of travertine (local marble, that looks like stone) in 1642–43, an over-lifesize muscular Triton, a minor sea god of ancient Greco-Roman legend, is depicted as a merman kneeling on an opened scallop shell. He throws back his head to raise a conch to his lips: from it a jet of water spurts, formerly rising dramatically higher than it does today. The fountain has a base of four dolphins^[1] that entwine the papal tiara with crossed keys and the heraldic Barberini bees in their scaly tails.

FYI: back to 6 hour time difference

2009-03-26T10:55:00.000-07:00

Daylight Savings Time begins in Europe this Sunday, March 29. Move clock
forward one hour at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday morning.

So for friends and family back home that means back to 6 hour time difference, if you are trying to call or skype me. Please see the clock on the lower right corner of the blog if you are confused.

My Italian Mama cooking lesson

2009-03-21T02:17:00.001-07:00

* * sorry but I had to remove the video because every time I came on the site it would automatically start and it annoyed me, and that means it may have annoyed you too, so it you want to watch the 9 short videos of my Italian mama cooking lesson you just need to click on the link below and it will take you to photobucket and after you watch the first you can find the #2-#9 videos are on the right had side.

http://s410.photobucket.com/albums/pp184/Reneestique/my%20Italian%20Mama/?action=view&current=VID00042.flv

You have to keep hitting the play button, there are about 9 - (10-30second) videos of my landlord teaching me how to cook this very simple and delicious dish.
Sorry if they may not appear in order (I hope they will though) I'm still learning how to upload my videos and again, I apologize for being a terrible videotographer, but this was such a great experience I wanted to share it with you all :)

FYI: don't bring a phone to Tunisia

2009-03-20T13:24:00.000-07:00

I just got my phone bill for last month and I just had to post this because I thought it was hysterical.

They told us it was expensive as all hell to make calls from Tunisia and I had no intention on making any. But, when I saw that I missed a call from my father, after sternly warning him not to call me while I was in Tunisia, I could not help myself but to call him back, just to make sure there was not an emergency reason behind that missed call... Everything was fine, he was just trying to catch me before I left for my spring break to wish me a good time (I guess the timezones confuse him).

The call lasted 26 seconds...

It cost 6.20 euro ,

the equivalent of $8.42 US dollars!

You can pick your mouth up off the floor.. I just laughed, after I picked up mine...

Janet must have seen my phone bill... the others look shocked at well, LOL!!!

My Italian Mama :)

2009-03-20T11:40:00.000-07:00

It might not sound all that exciting but I had a really nice day today with my landlord. I am so lucky because she is like my own personal Italian mama here, as she treats me like I am part of her family. I don't usually see her that often because she works 6 days a week 12 hours a day, so today was a treat for me.
We went to the Mercato (fresh open air market) in the morning and she instructed me one how to choose the best meats (their meat looks nothing like ours, there is usually the skinned animal head in the cases right along side of the meat, to show how fresh it is), fresh vegetables and fruit. Then she took me around and introduced me to various friends and acquaintances of hers that she thought I might like, mostly artist and craftsmen.
http://s410.photobucket.com/albums/pp184/Reneestique/my%20Italian%20Mama/?action=view&current=VID00042.flv
Back at our apartments she made me speak Italian to her so I could work on my horrible pronunciation while she taught me how to make 2 authentic simple Italian dishes (as she put it stuff you would never see in cook books or restaurants). I got some of it on video, and OMG was it delicious!! So I didn't explore any ruins, museums or new piazzas (town squares), today I got to explore and spend some personal time with true Romans and it was lovely.

Sigh... still no comments

2009-03-18T13:56:00.000-07:00

Why doesn't anyone comment?
Does my blog suck? Are you not interested in the pictures cause I'm a terrible photographer?
Does anyone read this thing???
Sigh.....

random pictures of time well spent

2009-03-16T16:21:00.003-07:00

Santa Maria Del Popolo Choir ceiling (behind the alter!!)

Mime in Piazza del Popolo

Some random temple

Saint Valentines skull, aka a catholic church relic

Finger up the nose just for Dad and Dan :)

La Bocca della Verità (in English, "the Mouth of Truth") is an image, carved from Pavonazzetto marble, of a man-like face, located in the portico of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome, Italy. The sculpture is thought to be part of a 1st century ancient Roman fountain, or perhaps a manhole cover, portraying one of several possible pagan gods.^{(Yeah for Wikipedia!!)}

Another random temple and fountain.

Circus Maximus ( the grassy part not the ruins), Chariot racing was the most important event at the Circus. The track could hold twelve chariots, and the two sides of the track were separated by a raised median called the "spina". The spina was set slightly diagonally. Statues of various gods were set up on the spina, and Augustus erected an Egyptian obelisk on it as well. At either end of the spina was a turning post called a "meta", around which chariots made dangerous turns at speed. On the spina, there were rotatable metal dolphins that were turned down to mark laps around the course. Chariot racing was an extremely dangerous sport, frequently resulting in spectacular crashes and the death of one or more of the contestants.

Me sketching in St. Peters Square

Ostia Lido

2009-03-15T10:44:00.000-07:00

I just had the nicest day, I took a couple of trains (3) and 45 minutes later I was at the beach staring into the sparking waters of the Mediterranean. (or at least I think that was the sea I was looking at), I spent half the day just wandering around alone and at peace with myself and the sea and then I thought I could I hear my name... One of my very cool young classmates was out there doing the same thing as I was when he spotted me, so we hung out and had an expensive and very leisurely (the only way Italians do it here) light lunch on the beach by the sea. Then walked around till it was time to go home, it was nice to be alone, but also just as nice to have someone to share it with. It was a good day:)

PS I swear I wasn't posing or trying to look mean, I had just taken off my sunglasses and it was mighty bright out and it's not easy to take your own picture, LOL but just look at how beautiful it was there~

My favorite part- Thank God I didn't have Katherine's camel!

2009-03-10T16:10:00.000-07:00

OK, I have to say I was actually scared to death, when we walked out into the desert in our way too cool turbans and robes. I was actually thinking, "no, I can't do this, camels are mean, they spit and bite" and I've had some bad horse back riding experiences in the past which added to my anxiety. Oh and these are not camels, camels have 2 humps, we rode Dromedaries, the one hump version. They took us out in groups of 3. I asked the other girls I was with to help me be brave. I had tears in my eyes and screamed as my camel stood up, I was terrified... Minutes later I had tears rushing down my face soaking my turban and robe, but they were tears of laughter. Poor Katherine, had the worst camel, it was puking, foaming at the mouth, trying to headbutt her, making all kinds of disgusting noises making me practically puke, all the while Katherine's saddle was lop-sided and her camel just looked like it was angry and gonna die. I don't think I ever laughed so hard. I could barely breath and almost fell off my own camel ( it's too hard to type dromedary each time). So much joy came from some elses misery and it helped me to not be afraid and really have fun on my camel.

We got to the desert late in the day and were able to watch the sun set, it was magnificent!

visit to a troglodyte house -

2009-03-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

The Sahara,, can you see the houses? Or caves?

An interesting visit to a troglodyte house (1. A member of a primitive people that lived in caves, dens, or holes; a cave dweller.) Be grateful I didn't take pictures of the millions of insects crawling all around, ugh I still have the hee-bee gee-bees from it. But they are there the same reason the people are, because it's cool and provides an excellent shelter. The Berber people of the Sahara have been living like this for 1000's of years but this place is no more than 300 years old. I couldn't get a clear shot of the woman grinding her grain, she as moving to fast!

More Tunisia..

2009-03-09T13:45:00.000-07:00

I took over 600 photos so trying to narrow it down isn't easy..

El Gem-

This is actually a Tunisian version of a cappuchino, and yes it was as good as it looked.

One minute we are in the desert the next I'm looking out at the crystal blue sea of the Mediterranean.

I was like really? Really? Just one size again???

Another 4 star hotel/resort

A weird zoo,with Guinea pigs, chihuahuas and dromedaries (aka the one humped camel)

Mr.Potato head meet Mr. Recycle head, LOL!

I know I look like heck but it was a long day, starting at 4AM between cold rainy Rome to stinking hot Tunisia about 6pm that night and I was still sick, but they served the most wonderful tea there with pinenuts in it and a size of fresh date pastry, yup, I might look a bit worn but I was happy.

Tunisa anyone?

2009-03-06T02:45:00.001-08:00

Ruins of Carthage with a beautiful view of the sea.

.

Incase I have never mentioned this before it is almost impossible (for me anyway) to put photos on my blog in any kind of logical order. So though I would just love to comment on each one so you know what is what I can't seem to figure out how to make that happen. CRUD!

2nd World War American Cemetery- I have to tell the truth and say I wasn't really looking forward to this part of my trip but it was actually very interesting and everyone showed a great deal of respect, in comparison to our usually cheers at every new site. I made sure to check all the names of the soldiers buried there to see if I had any relatives there and found none, but there were at 4900 soldiers from all different parts of the military burried there.

Adventures in hailing a cab after dark...
Thank you God for Derek who all out tackled this cab as I screamed myself horse, running behind him with Stephanie, the souk (is a commercial quarter in an Arab or Berber city. The term is often used to designate the market in any Arabized or Muslim city AKA enclosed scary shopping place) had closed quickly and as we rushed outside it started to rain and got real cold, we tried hailing a cab for like a half hour with no luck and the local Tunisian people kept stealing our cabs right out from under us, when it started to pour and the sky got dark we started getting crazy. "Get that F'n cab Derek get it get, it get it, knock those people down!!" Yeah for Derek being like 6'4" and fast! It's not cool to be out after dark in the Souk, especially for women so I got a bit pushy in my panic and being rained on. Then 2 minutes after we get in the cab it starts to hail, like gum/golfballs I thought I would go deaf from the sound in the cab. Then when we finally made it safely back to the hotel I realized we had left behind about 2o people back at the souk (the cabs only hold 3 passengers at a time) so I was very greatful for Derek for getting us our cab but oh so upset that I had left my classmates behind in the dark, rain and hail storm in the souk, they all survived, cold wet and annoyed, thank God!

Below is my new bff here in Rome, Lauren. We've been roomies on 3 trips. She makes sure I don't die or get lost while I'm sick on the trips and I make sure she doesn't miss the trains. (anymore,LOL)

Did I mention we stayed in 4 star hotels and resorts the whole time! It was sweet@!

The Church of Sant’Andrea della Valle

2009-02-26T01:36:00.001-08:00

Campo dei Fiori

2009-02-26T01:33:00.003-08:00

Ut oh, I just figured out how to upload my really lousy videos, LOL!!! Sorry my camera doesn't have a stabilizer, and I am quite obviously the worlds worst videotographer, hope you don't get motion sickness, LOL!!!

Baroque Class Trip to Naples

2009-02-24T03:44:00.001-08:00

Naples is Doggie City

2009-02-24T03:05:00.000-08:00

Rome is full of cats
(or so they say, I have only seen a few) but Naples is full of dogs.
There were so many stray dogs wondering around Naples it was really strange, they didn't seem to be scary packs of wild dogs, more doggies that have just become accustomed to living with the tourist crowds. They were sweet and friendly, and didn't look at all malnourished which was nice. At the end of our trip to Naples we had some free time to wander about and to our group was added two very cool pups, they hung out and followed us for hours. Of course I bought them a panini, which they picked at and ate very delicately (unlike my dog which would have swallowed it whole).
At one point we were enjoying our time down by the sea enjoying the scenery when I spotted the dog catchers, Katherine (seen above on the ground with the pups) and I made a pack those dog catchers were not taking our new furry friends and we would do what ever it might take to stop them, LOL!!! Luckily the for the dog catchers, they were after some other pups which was still sad. There was a gentle man hanging out at the square and then later joined us down by the sea view with about 20 stray dogs and I think he was also trying to get our pups to join his "pack". He is totally my hero, as he fought with the dog catchers (as Katherine and I had intended) and was able to shoo them away with only having lost one dog.
I miss my sweet pup so much, I really wish she was here with me =(

UGH!! still sick =(

2009-02-18T10:55:00.000-08:00

OK, sorry guys I haven't been keeping up with my blog but I am still sick. I was on bed-rest for a week and was a good girl and did stay home, as I was actually too weak to not comply with doctors orders. I'd like to take back the comment a previous comment that I have confidence in the doctor at the hospital, as I think all the medicine she prescribed me was basically just candy, LOL!! I'm still freaking sick!
Yup Renee is complaining, right here right now for all to hear/read. I am sick of being sick, I did everything as prescribed but still feel like crap. The thing is I had to go back to school this week. When I went back I saw that almost everyone there was also terribly sick,runny noses, hacking, glassy eyes with pale skin except for the rosy cheeks of fever. They really need to disinfect and sanitized my school, I've never seen so many sick people at once, it was kinda scary and gross,LOL!!
I would help if the weather would improve, Rome has been experiencing record breaking low temperature and raining almost every day (I swear I keep expecting to see snow) for the month and a half I have been here. CRUD CRUD CRUD

For those of you who I have not told yet I have offical plans for spring break now. I have never done a "spring break" before, and if this oppertunity had not presented itself I would have once again just spent spring break at home as I have no interest in drinking my face off, sleeping with strangers and ending up on a girls gone wild video, as many of the springbreakers do LOL!!! So here it is..... I am going to AFRICA for spring break!!! What do ya think of that?? I'm pretty freaking excited~! One of the professors from my school here in Rome also teaches in Africa, Tunisia to be exact and she is leading a small tour of the country for a few of us non-party hardy students. Tunisia has some of the best preserved ruins ( not even ruined!!LOL!!) from the Roman empire. *** Tunisia is the tiny green colored country between Algeria and Libya, right off the tip of the toe of Italy's boot***
Tunisia isn't the Africa I was expecting ( lions, grass lands, gazelle, elephants, tribes in huts) but it does apear to be a fascinating PEACEFUL and SAFE Islamic country. The landscape is pretty much barren with the occasional oasis, we will actually be visiting the places they used to film Lukes childhood home in Star Wars, LOL!! We will also be visiting the Sarhara desert, riding camels, wraping our heads up in turbans the whole bit and for those of you who know me, you know I'm always up for an adventure and this is one I am definately not gonna miss out on!!

this will probably be me :)
See? Ruins, not ruined!!
Excited for me?>? I know you are!!

I love sculpture

2009-02-10T07:06:00.000-08:00

A long weekend class trip to Florence

2009-02-10T06:15:00.000-08:00

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is the cathedral church (Duomo) of Florence, Italy, begun in 1296 in the Gothic style to the design of Arnolfo di Cambio and completed structurally in 1436 with the dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi. The exterior of the basilica is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink bordered by white and has an elaborate 19th century Gothic Revival facade by Emilio De Fabris.

Such a shame. I was too sick to enjoy it. I have been over the moon with all the "real live" just inches from my finger tips art history here in Rome and was very excited to be going to Florence to see the actual original 1504 Michelangelo's David and the Duomo, but by the time I got there I was delirious with fevers and couldn't have cared less. Also a shame is you are not allowed to take pictures in most museums and churches, usually I try anyway with out a flash but again to sick to snap. Bummer, but it is OK because I live in Italy now and Florence is only an hour and a half train ride away I'll just have to go another weekend. Oh yeah and the shopping and the leather, man it just makes me wanna cry that I couldn't participate. You know how it smells when you walk past a bakery and the smell of fresh baked goods just surrounds you and makes you drool? Well Florence is like that only with the smell of Leather, fresh leather smells just float out of every store and it smells fantastic.

Neptune is like, "You talking to me?"

Here is my "crazy" Renaissance Professor at dinner, the man is so inteligent and loves to say what ever he likes politically, sexually, about religion the world and it's history, nothing is too taboo. Now I (and most of the students) often don't agree with him but he definately keeps us on our toes and thinking even more about world affairs and politics than art history.

Even the taxis and doctors are wonderful here

2009-02-09T15:49:00.000-08:00

So I am sick as a dog. ( that is such a stupid expression!) I went to the hospital today and was diagnosed with severe flu causing acute bronchitis and possibly strep throat. nice huh? And I thought I was really being a baby with all the crying and complaining I've been doing these last couple of days.
The up side to being on deaths door in Rome ( so dramatic!!) is I took my first taxi ride to the hospital, which was nice and fast and not to expensive and then I got to check out the local hospital. Salvator Mundi International Hosptial is not very modern looking, but the staff and doctors were extremely nice and I have confidence they know what they are doing.
So I'm supposed to be on bed rest for a week and take a ton of medication, so hopefully I'll be better in a few days if I am a good girl and rest up. It's hard to rest here though, I mean I can nap for a few hours but then I wanna go do/see something even if I am too weak to walk down the street, LOL!!

I have something to add to Annoyances in Rome blog

2009-02-05T09:41:00.000-08:00

OK, I am living la vita dolce here it's true, but I have a problem. One thing Italy is known for it is shopping, unfortunately I am unable to partake in this joy of shopping here because as I have been told by many a sales person, "one size".

Huh? What do you mean one size? I have picked up probably hundreds of sweaters, shirts, jackets, even pants and tights only to thoroughly inspect them and find no size labels. When I ask the sales person about the size they reply, "one size". Then I ask do you have anything that will fit me? As I am not this "one size" which looks to me to be about a size 6. Sometimes they shake there head no, sometimes they try to convince me that I can squeeze myself into this tiny article of clothing. Yes, I have tried, only to end up feeling retched and repulsive and if i can get it on, then fearful I might have to buy it as I might not be able to get it back off, LOL!! Stupid Italy and their stupid one size!!

Yes, Rome is the home of la figura bella and looking fantastic is a way of life, and but these people are just small, not just around the waist either they are short too, I am 5'6" and I often tower over men and women. I don't usually feel that bad about my size at home but here I feel sad that I can't buy Italian clothes. I am loosing weight with all the walking I do every day, but not that much and not quickly enough to get in on the good sales. =/

Day trip Via Cassia

2009-02-03T15:03:00.000-08:00

Ever seen such pretty coffees?

I signed up for the day trip Via Cassia. I had no idea what it was or what I would see but I want to take advantage of any and all opportunities the school is offering.

VIA CASSIA, an ancient high-road of Italy, leading from Rome through Etruria to Florentia (Florence). It is currently being closely followed by the modern highroad from Rome to Florence. The date of its construction is uncertain: it cannot have been earlier than 187 B.C., 2 when the consul C. Flaminius constructed a road from Bononia to Arretium (which must have coincided with the portion of the later Via Cassia). A milestone of A.D. 124 mentions repairs to the road made by Hadrian from the boundary of the territory of Clusium to Florence, a distance of 86 m.

Ron Huber a professor here in rome lead the tour, yeah he kinda looks a bit like Johnny Dep, only he is way more interesting because of his vast historical knowledge.
The first place we stopped at was an area called Sultri where there were ruins of a coliseum/roman amphitheather, not as big as the one in Rome obviously but impressive no the less.

Then is little town on the top of another mountain, the inclines and angles these streets were totally intense and you huff and puff your way up them while tiny little old Italian ladies stroll by with ease with their grocery carts in tow.

Then we went to The Villa Farnese, also known as Palazzo Farnese or Villa Caprarola, is a mansion in the town of Caprarola in the province of Viterbo, Northern Lazio, Italy, approximately 50 kilometres (35 miles) north-west of Rome. It should not be confused with the Palazzo Farnese and the Villa Farnesina, both in Rome.

WC break at the Coliseum

2009-02-03T14:40:00.000-08:00

It is truly amazing here, again and again I am just blown away. I didn't think the coliseum would be that big a deal, it is just ruins of an old stadium. So after a few hours of sketching the outside of the coliseum for a class I decided to just pop inside as I needed to use a bathroom. I had a ticket left over from seeing the Roman Forum the day before and they are good for 2 days at 3 sites so I figured why not? At least I'll get to use the potty.
Holy smokes is this place huge and something about the way the sun was shining down and highlighting the arena gave me chills, and called to mind the quote from Gladiator, " For those of you about to die, we salute you!" I only spent about 15 minutes inside as I had to get to my next class, but one could probably spend the day there, I will be sure to go back and take my time next time.

Nutella will be my downfall

2009-02-01T03:40:00.000-08:00

Oh man, this is bad...
I wish had ignored how everyone here raves about Nutella. I wish I had never tried it. I thought I had tried it in the past, maybe when I was in Europe 2 years ago. I was pretty sure I didn't like it. I know they sell it at home in the US but it never even caught my eye, as I do not consider myself a chocolate lover. Unfortunately my curiousity got the best of me as all the students here, some of the professors and mainly the Italians are always eating it and saying how wonderful it is. So I bought a small jar yesterday, smallest one I could find about 200 grams. It's half gone.
Like I said before, I don't usually like chocolate, could take it or leave it really, but this stuff is addictive. I haven't even put it on anything, I'm just savoring it on tiny spoons (I have tiny 3"spoons for coffee). It's thinner in consistancy than peanutbutter but thicker than say a nice pudding, maybe the consistancy of something like icing/frosting from a can of duncan hines. Its just creamy chocolately goodness (don't taste any hazelnut) and it will be my downfall as now I am addicted
.

It's a miracle! ( that the climb didn't kill me, LOL!!)

2009-01-28T13:11:00.000-08:00

Do not try to adjust your screen, and this is not just another example of my bad photography skills, the walls actually do tilt and curve and the passage is very narrow.

that 320 steps... felt more like 32,000 steps
I was way way up at the top, you can't even see it here.

the view was amazing!! ( I need so new adjectives, LOL!!)
Man were these stairs rough and scary, no room for error and no way to quit once you start, you just gotta go all the way.
more tilted walls
Inside the vatican, I even sat in on a few minutes of mass.

I was on the level right under the ball.
I was so proud of myself for making it up there, but I don't think I would do it again, the journey really is insane.

The Roman Forum

2009-01-28T12:40:00.000-08:00

If I haven't explained this already the way my classes work is every class meets 2 times a week, one time in the classroom one time onsite aka field trips. This is fantastic of course because you learn so much more from being able to see works of art in person. The trick is you have to find your own way to the designated meeting point which could be a monument, a museum, a church or an address anywhere in Rome. So not only do I learn about art, I also get to learn about Rome's public transportation system. (I'll leave that topic to another blog). Today's field trip was to the Roman Forum. It cost 12euro to walk around in there and according to the ticket guy there are no discounts, we really tried but he was firm on the price. Of course it was totally worth it. Every site I go to I just love and hope to be able to find the time to return again as a brief (3-4hours) tour just is not enough for someone like me who could spend all day just studying one statue.

The tiny town of Tuscania not to be confused with Tuscany

2009-01-28T10:29:00.000-08:00

I was really looking forward to my day off from school. Just living in Rome is exhausting, add school to the mix and I'm ready to just about drop dead at the end ( sometimes in the middle) of the day. So when I found out that we had an all day mandatory field trip to the little Town of Tuscania, I just about cried. I know, I know, I should have been thrilled but seriously I have never been this tired and sore in my life and just really wanted a day of rest. In the end and as usual here in Italy I just loved it! Tuscania was beautiful, what a lovely trip!
Final picture is of my sketchbook Professor and our host in this most wonderfully frescoed church.

Let's catch up

2009-01-28T09:21:00.000-08:00

I'm a bit behind on my blogging, there is just so much to see and do here and the days just fly by.
So you are gonna get the brief version again with pictures. Don't forget if you double click on the pictures they enlarge so you can see them better. Shame I am not a better photographer, I'm taking almost a 100 pictures a day, so this is only a small sampling of what I am seeing. I recommend coming to Rome at any cost, it is completely worth it~!

My trip to the Vatican museum:
St. Peters from the rear; my professor and possibly Apollo, Vat Mus courtyard, Lac...(forgot the name of this awesome statue),
marble dogs guarding the entrances

Then my visit to the Musei Capitali, my pictures don't give you any idea of scale, the big head of Constantines son or grandson for example is like 20feet tall and so is once all gold state of Marcus Arellius on his horse, the ceilings and gigantic rooms of these buildings are just fantastic.

here are some pictures of the Roman Forum from one of the balcony's on the Musei Capitali, showing another lovely rainy day here in Rome.

the little things

2009-01-22T11:46:00.000-08:00

Little things are a big deal when you are in a foreign country. I'm doing a lot of little things here that take a good deal of courage on my part, 1. trying to find things then 2. trying to be understood.
I took 2 semesters of Italian at Temple University last year and have completely forgotten every bit of it. Language is one of those things that if you don't use it, you loose it, and so I am often lost now. I can muster a few words in Italian with my Philly accent but the main problem is not being able to understand Italians when they speak to me. For instance I can ask a question but can't understand the answer. So, like I said, accomplishing simple day to day tasks can be a bit of a challenge.
I do feel confident ordering food and drinks but asking directions doesn't always go that well. I really want to go shopping for boots (till the end of the month there are big sales, and supposedly they only have sales here 2x a year so I don't wanna miss out), I really want another pair of boots as I noticed my crappy ankle feels better when I wear the one pair I brought with me here. Anyway..... I worked up the courage to go into a shoe store ( PS the set up is nothing like ours at home, the shoes are outside in a glass case and you need to go inside where there are no shoes and tell them what you want, UGH!) so I go in and attempt with my very poor Italian to explain I want boots, with a wide calf........ and got shot down with a strange look and a simple but firm "No". I'm not sure if it was my poor language skills or that she just didn't feel like waiting on me. I really can't blame her, I know I never liked waiting on foreigners who had trouble expressing what they wanted. More often than not though the people of Rome have been very helpful, and patient with me and I am so very grateful for that.
Small accomplishments: going to the grocery store, getting my nails done, finding my way to various historic sites, buying hair products in a really too fancy for me hair store. Making friends/ acquaintances with the flower and outside shoe vendor guys. Doing laundry at the laundromat. Buying an ankle brace at the pharmacy and ordering custom made food, like pizza with extra garlic and black olives, hahahaha yummy! All these things may seem like no big deal but trust me it's really challenging to accomplish even the smallest task when you don't speak the language .Thank God the people are for the most part very kind, very different than Americans but much more helpful.

hmmm...a twinge of homesick

2009-01-21T12:29:00.000-08:00

I miss TV. I love Rome, but my brain is constantly on overload trying to take it all in and I really do miss watching mindless happy TV shows like the Simpsons, Familyguy and TMZ. Heck I even miss watching the news. I don't even have cable at home in the US, I just like turning on the tube and unwinding from my day, I am not even paying attention half the time to whats on, just some how tv relaxes me and sets my tightly knotted brain back to mush and I like it, LOL.

Italian TV sucks, because 1. it's in Italian and 2. the programing or shows seem to be copying the United States shows from 10 or more years ago.

I tried to watch live episodes online but got the message that I have to be in the United Stated to view these, I got the same message for renting movings " on demand" at amazon.com.

Sigh, I know I shouldn't complain, but I miss TV =/

Don't need to see anything else...

2009-01-20T08:11:00.000-08:00

So I went to the Vatican museums today. OK..... I am done.. I seriously don't need to see anything else for the rest of my life. I was there for 3 hours and didn't even get to see or truly appreciate a millionth of what there is in there it is AMAZING!! No picture of the Sistine Chapel even slightly does it justice, I didn't take pictures ( you are not allowed, but everyone does) nor did I buy postcards, books pictures, because film CAN NOT capture/ show/ explain/ imitate all this beauty. It's just beyond words. Of course it's completely exhausting too, lots and lots of walking.

lots of first time stuff for me

2009-01-19T16:06:00.000-08:00

My firsttry at making Italian caffe', my landlord taughtme how, a little strong but not bad, she makes it better though.

My first bottle of wine in Rome, I had some people over the other night to hang out and drink wine and eat cheese and crakers, forthose of you who know me well you know I love to entertain like that. The wine was excellent and only cost 2.99euro not bad, not bad at all.

My first crack at making authentic Italian pasta and gravy/sauce/ Completely from scratch, with fresh pasta from the market. I surprised myself at how easy it was to make and how wonderful it tasted. They gave a short cooking demo at school along with some recipes to cook the Italian way and so i had to try it out. I made so much I envited over my landlord and her friend and they seemed to really like it, they both had seconds ( and there is still leftovers!) they gave me the nicest compliment, they said something like I have the cloth of a chef, which I think means I'm made of the same stuff great chefs re made of, which was pretty sweet!

Umbria's midevil town of Todi

2009-01-19T15:37:00.001-08:00

yeah this one stopped me dead in my tracks but it's not what you think..

Sunday January 18th

So we had a big trip to Umbria to visit the mid-evil mountaintop town of Todi. I'm a bit too tired to give details right now, maybe I'll fill them in later.. here are my pics

Italians love their food and so do I =)

2009-01-19T15:17:00.000-08:00

Yeah we look beat again, but you have to understand we are walking like 5-12 miles a day, we really are sort of worn out, LOL!!

My friend Whitney and I went out to eat at a very nice restaurant down the street from my apartment, the service was unbelievably wonderful. Every day I experience more and more of the warmth and friendliness of the people of Rome. There seems to be little bits (and sometimes really big bits) of kindness all over and I love the people of Rome.

Ok, so I did say this wasn't a food blog, but hey, when in Rome.. The food is just so fresh, different, pretty and tastes amazing. I needed to show you this as it was something I have personally never heard of or tried before but it was quite good. The waitress recommended some authentic Roman food, eggs and bacon spaghetti, ( forgive my spelling) ei. spaghetti carbonara.

Even though we were both stuffed and couldn't finish our meals we still managed to save room to share a typical Italian desert of Tiramisu.

yum yum yummy

Tevere River and Piazza Navona

2009-01-16T17:05:00.000-08:00

Today I hung out with my new friend Whitney and we simply followed the River Tiber ,(which by the way is very ugly, dirty and polluted, my pictures make it look nice but trust me it's not.)
from our school towards the Piazza Navona Piazza Novana was amazingly beautiful, I got to check out Bernini's fountains mentioned in Angels & Demons a bestselling mystery novel by American author Dan Brown. My pictures can't really give you an idea of the scale or size of these sculptures they are just HUGE!

by the way I am taking 100's of pictures but can only post so many, so if ya wanna see more come visit me here =P
Whit and I sat and ate lunch outside in the sunshine, serenaded by the music of wandering musicians. It was a little expensive but not really in terms of we paid for atmosphere, entertainment, good service with a smile and beautiful meals, the host was very friendly and took his own picture before taking ours, LOL!

Death closes the gates of time, and opens those of eternity - The Crypt of the Capuchins

2009-01-16T14:48:00.000-08:00

NEVER , I mean never have I seen anything like this. Some may say it is creepy, scary, or gross. I am not even sure if I can find the words to explain how I felt about it. I thought it was awesome, and beautiful and something I will never forget. You may think I'm a bit twisted but I don't care. The 0ver 4000 monks who dedicated their remains to their church and those who have assembled them had a message to send us all. There was a quote at the end which I wish I had written down which went something like this..As you are now we once were.. As we are now you will be.. ( it was actually longer, but I just don't remember it all.)
What I got from the quote was life is short, you can't take material possessions with you, leave something behind to inspire and beautify the world in your own way.

"All praise be yours, my Lord,
for Sister Death,
from whose embrace no mortal can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Happy those She finds doing
your most holy will:
by you, Most High, they will be crowned".
(St Francis of Assisi).

2009-01-15T23:43:00.000-08:00

for 5 minutes it stopped raining, we were all soaked but still happy!
front: Kate and crazy fun Lauren
back row: Ann, Jalessa, quiet chickie, Me, Carly and Laurie

My favorite picture so far!! A typical Roman drinking faountain, they are everywhere and the water is good!
Trevi fountain, again but in daylight

the Piazza infront of the Spanish steps ( don't know the proper name for it yet) Rain, Rain and more Rain =/

The Spanish Steps.. ok I know not that impressive maybe it will look better once the weather gets better.

Something familiar in the supermercato, LOL!!

2009-01-14T16:12:00.000-08:00

too tired to blog
top: Trevi Fountain
Middle: Via del Corso a cool looking church
bottom : Piazza del Popolo and the entrance to the Borghese (park?)

Breakfast??

2009-01-14T00:32:00.000-08:00

Don't worry I promise won't be talking about every meal I eat, ( just my first experiences) LOL!!!

Today I made myself a lovely breakfast of 1 diced potato, 1/2 and onion and a sliced up clove of garlic. I don't know what Italians eat for breakfast here but I do know it's not eggs and bacon or my favorite creamed chip beef. I did the coffee and a pastry thing for 2 days and not really a pastry everyday kinda girl, I mean they were delicious but I need something more substancial to get me through the mornings not to mention I don't wanna eat out every meal.

Cooking here isn't all that easy so far. I have a couple of (3) small pots and a teeny tiny frying pan and a large wok like frying pan. It's hard to cook in anyone else kitchen normally but it's double hard when you don't have the right equipment. I guess I need to go on a quest for stuff like foil, saran wrap (I have a cut onion, now what??) maybe something like a tupperware container, if I had known there were no containers I could have brought some of the chinese food containers from home, LOL.( oh right like you don't have some in your house) Now this might sound like no big deal to you guys but there is no, wal-mart, or thrift store or kitchen cappers or boscovs here, were I can just pop by and pick up a spatula, frying pan and tea pot. Don't even ask me about making Italian coffee I have no idea. So today I have a long list of things I'm going on a scavenger hunt to find. Yup, I should be searching for works of art but instead I'm searching for cleaning products and kitchen-ware to make my life a bit easier.
Wish me luck!

Mercato!

2009-01-13T15:34:00.000-08:00

OK, it might sound silly but I am mighty proud of myself. Today, I woke early and ventured into the mercato around the corner. The Via Andrea Doria Mercato are blocks and blocks of fresh produce and all sorts of stuff for sale in an out door setting only open in the mornings.

Until you are here, you have no idea how hard it is to venture outside and interact with people who for the most part do not understand you and you don't understand them and so far seem more indifferent than friendly (when you smile at them, they don't smile back). Contrary to popular belief or from what I have experienced in the last 3 days the everyday people of Rome do not speak/understand English. In fact I've had the strange suspicion that because I am American I could not buy a bus pass at one place and a phone card at another, both vendors told me they didn't have them, when my landlord told me specifically that was where to buy them. I'll tell her tomorrow and I know she will help me, but anyway back to more interesting stuff.

It was big deal for me to go to the open market and buy produce then go back to the rude (or maybe just extreme indifference/ cultural differences, apparently my big tip yesterday didn't win her over) waitress at la florentini and ordered my cappuccino and pastry and stood there and ate with all the other Italians. By the way standing and eating cost about half of what sitting and eating costs but I really don't like it.
So the produce pictured is what I got, it ran me about 4 or 5 euros, at two different stands. I then went back to the first stand and did the whole escusi escusi and showed them my camera to ask if it was ok to take their picture, and to my relief they hammed it up and gave me a big ol' CHEESE!! and we all laughed and I took the picture. Then the woman said with a serious face 5euro! I was like oh crap!! They saw the shock on my face and laughed, they were messing with me and it was all in good fun and I was happy to have finally seen Italians smile back at me.

PS In case you did not know, you can double click on the pictures to enlarge them as I know they are sometimes hard to see.

2009-01-13T02:33:00.000-08:00

January 12,2009
My first pizza, about 12-14 inches in diameter, cheese sauce and basil for 8,50 euro... Gotta say, kinda unimpressed. was a bit soupy and not as tasty as I expected. The caffe e latte I had while waiting was wonderful though. ( sorry no pic of that which actually needs a pic to correctly show how pretty and delicious it was) had a cappucino the next day, not as good.

My journey to Roma

2009-01-13T01:30:00.000-08:00

January 11,2009

The journey to Rome from Philadelphia was not bad. A 7 hour flight took me to London and then after a 2.5 hour layover, another 2 hour flight took me to Rome.

Leaving the airport was a cross between a little scary and little weird. I didn’t go through customs and sure hope I didn’t have to because I never found it and next thing you know I was outside being harassed by drivers all wanting to be my taxi. I was firm said NO to all and they backed off. I went to the shuttle service that I had previously contacted and told them who I was and that I needed a ride and right away they started to give me a hard time about the price. I had already negotiated a price of 40 euros with them by email. Now when they asked if I had been given price already I stated yes, 30 euro (I lied because I could tell they were creepy jerks who were going to mess with me.)(plus it was only 20 euro per temple to go to the residence which if a bit farther) So then they tell me I must wait for more people to come on the shuttle or it will be 60 euro and wait for 15 minute to an hour. So I got my back up and told them 30 max or I go with someone else and he yells at me that it is what it is, we argue like true Italians (LOL), but for some reason I feel strong and confident and am not bothered by this (at home I might have cried,LOL). The taxi business is very competitive at the airport and the man arguing with me guards me from hundreds of other very aggressive taxi drivers like a pitbull guarding a bone, it was sorta funny. Finally he says to come with him and he takes my cart with all my bags and takes off speed walking I had to practically jog to keep up with him. As we run I state my price is 30 euro and he snips- yes ( yippy!! I won, LOL!!).As I trot after him I imagine this guy might be stealing all my stuff, so I grab the handle of my cart as we round the corner outside and he looks at me funny (annoyed) and I just say I don’t wanna loose you and laugh nervously. (note to self= don't do that, they don't do that here)

I get in the mini van in the front seat and a young European couple on holiday gets in the back. My first experience in Italian driving, OMG do they drive crazy, everyone speeds, rides the bumpers and drives all over the road, lines mean nothing and traffic lights are truly only looking like a suggestion. So the rude dude drops me off and I tell him I am worried cause I was unable to reach my landlord by phone and he presses the doorbell and when I look up he is already back in the van and speeding away. So I’m like crap!! I’m on this yucky street with these insanely heavy bags, luckily I ring the buzzer again and my Landlord Aurora answers and comes to let me right in. This lady is so sweet and friendly, just a real dear she helps me in with my crazy heavy bags that don’t even fit through the doors, shows me my lovely apartment which is smaller than what she had stated but I already expected that and it’s not too small and it’s sorta really cute, so I’m happy. My only concern is the super teeny tiny shower which looks to be about 2 feet by 2 feet and the door slides over to let you enter it through a 12 inch opening!! UHhh hmmm that should be interesting, yipes//

So after I rest for about 15 minutes my landlord, who lives right across the hall, sits me down to talk with me about Rome and goes over a map and then we go out for a walk. She walks me around so I can find my way to important things like the mercato and just one block away and I can see St Peters dome. She shows me the empty mercato, restaurants, cafes, bars, and such then I look up and we are there, I’m at the Vatican!!!!! Holy crap!! I was so over whelmed by it all I almost cried. I was standing in St. Peter’s square staring up at the 100 foot Christmas tree and life sized nativity scene the same one I used as a picture on some of the Christmas cards I sent out. I am truly in awe and crazy happy and proud of myself for setting this goal to go school in Rome.

Sorry the pics are so lousy and dark, I was too tired and over whelmed to photograph more carefully, yes I look like crap here and my landlord is much prettier in person, it was a very long day for both of us and you can see it on our faces.

OMG!! I'm leaving tomorrow!

2009-01-09T07:01:00.001-08:00

Hi guys, like I told most of you before this is my blog about my adventures in Rome. I haven't posted much lately because I am not there yet, so stay tuned cause once I'm there I will be writing/blogging like every other day or so and posting lots of pics and videos so you can experience Italy with me.

Right now I'm in sorta panic mode, I really need to pack. Now usually I love to pack,(weird right?)I take great pride in my packing abilities. I love packing and repacking, folding and rolling clothes so they fit just right, using my lists to make sure I have just about everything I could possibly need under any circumstance (this is sorta funny cause one of my all time favorite books which I am reading now for the hundredth time is Max Lacado's Traveling Light, but it's not so much about packing though he uses it as a metaphor, but about giving up the burdens we were never meant to carry, ah but I digress..) and usually I will do this weeks in advance of my trips and usually over and over again as it's one of my many oddities that usually makes me happy and brings me comfort. This time is different though. I've never packed for 4 months before. How does one pack for 4 months, 2 seasons, school, exploring museums, country sides and cities and for fancy dinners and hopefully dates with beautiful Italian men? So packing light as suggested by my school and all I've read on different travel sites is proving to be a challenge. My goal is to be packed today and with one large suit case and a carry on, (since I will be alone I need to think about that fact that i need to be able to carry/ handle my luggage by myself). Yeah I know, I know I probably won't get it all in one suitcase but I'm gonna try.

ps
Pray for me that I don't get stuck tomorrow in the airport for like 10 hours as it's supposed to snow UGH!!! If I do get stuck though your gonna get one heck of a started blog for my trip,LOL!!

*Notice I'm still avoiding packing by writing this blog, LOL!

Dreams of my Roman apartment (in Italia)

2008-11-10T14:35:00.000-08:00

OK, Let me explain this one. This is how I see Italy working out for me.
1.First, there's my sad little apartment, but I'm happy to be there even with my little Italian mice friends and neighbors.
2.Then there will be times when it's all just a bit too much for me not understanding anythig and being so poor my clothes will be in rags.
3.Then I'll find the most fabulous Italian shoes
4. And all my dreams will come true when I meet my handsome Italian prince!

An arm & a leg will get you a nice place to stay = )

2008-11-10T10:21:00.000-08:00

OK, well I finally took the plunge, said a prayer (you better pray for me too), and put a hefty and scary deposit down on an apartment in Rome. I've been searching almost every day for a few hours a day for over a month now and just wasn't coming up with anything affordable that was much bigger than a bread box. Most Italian apartments consist of a single room about 10'x12'which has your bed, a kitchenette and your bathroom all in the same room! For those of you who know me well (or you will if you don't after reading all my blogs) you know I'm pretty claustrophobic and a 10x12 room just wasn't gonna cut it, nor was sharing a 2 bedroom apartment with 3 other girls.

So found this apartment call Jessy's Rooms, which actually had 14 positive reviews online and the only negative was from one person who said the shower was a bit slow but they still liked it. The price was great, until I asked the landlord to fill out the special contract so I can get my "Permit to Stay" in Rome. This didn't go over that well, because most landlords rent under the table and don't want to register there contracts because then they have to pay taxes. So the landlord wasn't too keen on this but finally agreed, but the contract is costing me an extra 900 euro which sucks but now makes it pretty much equal in price with the other nicer apartments (bigger than a bread box) I saw.

My apartment is about 500 sqft (I can deal with that size), 1 mile or 20 a minute walk to school which isn't bad and everything is included in the price (I specifically asked in like 10 emails over and over again are there any more expenses or costs). A lot of places, charge extra for heat, electric, phone, internet and so I'm feeling pretty good about this.

I'll show ya some pictures of the place and you might think ewh, but trust me when I tell you this is very nice in comparison to most of what I was looking at. I've definitely seen nicer but I couldn't afford the beautiful places that look like our every day regular homes here in America for 4 months a place like that would cost me almost 12-20thousand dollars. So appreciate your home, cause if we all lived in Italy we'd be living in a box.

Italy verses the rest of the world...

2008-10-27T21:43:00.001-07:00

This video was shown to me by both my Italian 1 and 2 teachers, who are from Italy and swear this is exactly how it is in Italy, verses the rest of the world. YEah can't wait for the insanity to begin, LOL!!!!!!

Enjoy!
Ciao!

bummer, beware of craigslist scammers

2008-10-26T07:46:00.000-07:00

OK, so as many of you know I am moving to Rome to study art history with Temple University. I'm am so freaking excited I can barely stand myself. I am THE art history museum geek and proud of it! Rome is just the place for me to experience in person some of the greatest masters of art.

So I'm now trying to get myself ready and prepared for this major trip and the one thing I have to do is find somewhere to live.

This by the way has not been so easy, Italy is very very (very) expensive, so on the advise of the school counselor at Temple I've been searching Craig'slist.org. which she noted other people have used to find apartments in the past. I have been searching other sites for long term rental in Rome but like I said it is insanely expensive. So at first I was thrilled to see how cheap some of the apartments were on Craigslist.

So here are my findings. In short, refer to the old saying if it seems to good to be true it probably is. I really wanted to believe the people who wrote me back about their cheap apartments for rent and that the money wasn't as important as finding someone reliable and clean to care for their homes. I truly almost fell for this, but they are all scams.
Sighhhhh. I'm so sad now as I was so excited and was feeling so smart that I was going to save a bunch of money on these cheap places and have my own beautiful apartment in Rome.

Renting sight unseen is so darn hard and scary, but I have no choice and will probably have to pay a lot more than I want to and go with reputable well know possibly touristy place, unless I can find someone who knows someone who lives in Rome and is willing to find me a place. Anyone have any close friends or family in Rome, who will help me find an apartment??

I'm goin to Rome!!!! woooowhooo!

2008-10-21T17:22:00.000-07:00

Hi all!! This is my very first blog, courtesy of my good buddy Dirkey who just set me up here.