Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri and Napoli!

Time is ticking and there is only 2 more weeks left in Rome.  I feel like I just got here, it is insane how fast time has gone by.  With such little time left in this ancient city I want to spend it exploring everything I can...Over this last past weekend was our last class trip.  This trip consisted of Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri and Napoli.  When we got to Pompeii we did a quick tour of this ancient city.  It was crazy to see how preserved everything was and what happened to the city.  We even saw two preserved bodies in the position they were found in when Mt. Vesuvius erupted. Supposedly Mt. Vesuvius  is due to go off again within the next ten years but scientists are watching carefully so Pompeii 2 doesn't happen.  Unfortunately we couldn't stay there long and headed to our hotel in Sorrento.  The hotel was amazing, each couple of people got a big room with a balcony overlooking the beautiful view of the coast.  That night everyone went out, including Dr. Dawson, to sing karaoke at a bar.  It was the best night yet, everyone was enjoying themselves and we all bonded of Dr. Dawson's wonderful singing of "my heart will go on".  The next morning we had time for a free day so my friends and I headed to Capri.  We took a ferry over to this picturesque and beautiful place.  We got a boat tour that showed us all the important caves then we took the a train to the top of the hill.  I even saw a friend from high-school on the boat tour, what a small world! After the boat tour we went to the top of Capri.  There was little shops and restaurants overlooking the whole city.  We continue to see more great views, with white houses surrounding the crystal clear water.  At the end of the day we had to take the ferry and headed back to Sorrento.  The next day on our way back to Rome, we stopped in Naples.  Naples is very different then Rome in its lifestyle.  The people seem to be more carefree and just go about their day doing whatever they want.  People in Napoli also use their space differently then those in Rome.  One place could literally be a parking spot, a sidewalk, and a picnic place all in one.  For that reason, the city was also very dirty.  Because each spot is utilized so much, there was bags of trash everywhere.  It even made NYC seem spot clean.  When we got free time we went to "michele pizzeria".  This pizzeria is famous from the movie "Eat Pray Love", when Julia Roberts stuffs pizza down her face, realizing that she can't worry about counting calories and needs to stop feeling guilty for what she eats.  In the movie she claims to be having a relationship with her pizza and after trying it for myself, I agree. The pizza was amazing, it even tops Roman pizzas.  After eating that whole pizza I had to definitely take in the words of Julia Roberts, because I couldn't stop feeling guilty, but it was so good! After lunch we explored a few more sites and headed back to Home Sweet Rome.  I couldn't have asked for a better weekend trip, spent with all my classmates!

Benedetto!

On Wednesday, we all received tickets to go to the papal audience.  I wasn't sure what this entailed but I didn't want to give up such a great opportunity and"When in Rome".  So on Wednesday morning we got up at 630 am and headed to the Vatican.  We waited online till 8, when they opened the doors.  We had to go through quick security and then were able to sit in the fourth row (since we got there so early).  At 1030 the ceremony started. The Pope rode in on the Pope-mobile and waved his hands through the crowd, as everyone chanted his name "Benedetto".  Once the Pope took his place on the stage, he said an opening prayer. A few bishops got up to the podium and spoke in all different languages.  Then the Pope said a few prayers.  After, one bishop called different groups names out-loud if they were present.  Some groups would stand up and sing or play a song.  When he said "students from Loyola University Maryland", we all stood up and cheered and the Pope gestured the blessing hand movement towards our direction.  At the end of the ceremony, he blessed the rosaries and other religious objects we brought with us.  Seeing the Pope was such a great opportunity and I'm so glad I was able to go.

"This is what dreams are made of" Tivoli Gardens

For all of you who've seen the Lizzie McGuire movie, that movie became a reality for me this past weekend.  You know in the movie when Paolo sneaks out with Lizzie to show her these beautiful gardens with waterfalls, I was there! (Minus the Italian boy holding my hand, running through the waterfalls singing "This is what dreams are made of") Tivoli is a small town about an hour outside of Rome.  It looks like a mini version of Rome.  After getting off an hour ride train we explored the town and found the Tivoli Gardens.  The gardens were beautiful with waterfalls and fountains all over.  We walked through the park and sat down for a picnic next to one of the fountains.  Seeing the movie with these gardens in a scene, made seeing them that much surreal.  There's so many things you never think you're going to see, that when you see them its literally "like a movie".

Italian Chef for the Day

One of my favorite things I have done here was a cooking class.  Aurora (one of our program directors) approached us with this opportunity to get cooking lessons from a chef from Le Fate (meaning the fairies- an organic restaurant in Trastevere).  We had to pay 30 euro to attend, which is a lot cheaper then the 60 it usually cost.  There was about fifteen of us who signed up.

We got there, put on our aprons and headed to the kitchen.  The chef's name was Andrea and he told us that we would be learning recipes that are all do-able at home.  We made home-made pasta with Bolognese sauce, a meat dish and a strudel.  Everything was so easy to make, with the exception of the home-made pasta.

During the class, Chef Andrea really emphasized that the most important thing to do is to get fresh ingredients.   He told us that instead of going to the grocery store, we should get our ingredients from the markets.  In Rome you can really tell the difference between grocery store products versus the market products.  All of the produce from the markets taste so much fresher.

The day after the class, I actually made the strudel again for my host family.  They loved it and thought it was better then the strudel they have eaten before.  I was so excited because I was nervous to impress them.  We even had extra dough and were also able to make cookies and a pie.

I’m glad I had the opportunity to learn about Italian cuisine and how they cook here. After the class, chef Andrea emailed all of us with the recipes so that we could try them again.  I plan on impressing my family with the same exact meal when I get home.

“…But I can’t even touch my toes!"

On Thursday I went to a Yoga class with Michele.  Our host brother Niccolo is a yoga teacher and invited us to come to a class.  He teaches free classes at this anti-government establishment.  I was really nervous to go to the class because I had no idea what I was doing.

He gave us directions and we ventured out to this place called the “cinodrome”.  From the first impression this didn’t seem like the safest area in Rome.  We got to the building and there was artwork hanging all around.  We went outside, where there was a field and gardens in the process of being created.  Nicky is planting a garden to grow vegetables and fruit.

There were about 10 other people there.  We began the class outside with the sunset, then we moved inside when it got a bit colder out.  Inside we did the yoga accompanied by some Indian music and incense.  It was similar to a yoga class I attended at home but without the music and incense.  It was an interesting experience to see the difference between this class and one at home.  

Is this real life?!?!

This past weekend Michele, Angela and myself went to Venice.  Venice is really expensive, so instead of booking a hotel we got two overnight trains.  We left Friday from Rome at 10 pm and arrived in Venice at 530 am…yikes right?  This obviously wasn’t the ideal situation but when on a budget, you do what you have to.  We got there and were delirious (to say the least).  We walked around for a bit then found a café to get coffee.  After coffee we walked around for a bit.  Once it hit 9 am, more things started to open.

The way the streets were narrow and windy reminded me of Tuscany.  It is such a quaint area, but surprising is also very populated.  Venice is also very touristy, hence the really expensive prices.

Around mid day, we took a ferry to Morano (a small island that specializes in glass making).  The island was so beautiful and full of so many glass shops.  I bought a few pieces of jewelry as gifts for my friends.  One shop we went into let us watch how the glass was made.  I had no idea how much work and craftsmanship has to go into even just a tiny glass ring.

After Morano we went to St. Marks square and saw the Basilica.  St. Mark's Basilica somewhat reminded me of the basilicas we see in Rome.  It was very elaborate and beautiful, decorated with gold structures and frescoes.

After the Church, we took a gondola ride.  Even though they were expensive, it was an opportunity we couldn't give up.  Our gondola driver (Andrea) took us around St. Marks area and showed us some of the interesting sites to see. The water was calm and the streets were quiet, it was a very serene and relaxing experience.  After the gondola, we got dinner and then got back on the night train at 11 pm and arrived back in Rome in the early morning.

I’m really glad I had the chance to go to Venice.  Even though it was very tiring, it is one of those things you have to see in Italy.  The whole environment felt like it was out of storybook.  When I was sitting on the gondola looking at everything all around me, I realized that I was actually on the canals of Venice. It is still (3 months later) so hard for me to realize that I am actually in Italy.

BRRRRRR....

Recently I went to “Ice Bar” with a few of my friends.  We heard about this place and it obviously sparked our interest.  So many bars in Rome are very similar to ones back in Baltimore on York Road.  We wanted to try something new and different.  We took the metro to the Coliseum and walked from there.  We walked down a tiny side street and eventually found it (I have a tendency to take an hour to get somewhere that should only take 10 minutes).  We paid 25 euro to get in and have one free drink.  They gave us these coats and gloves to wear, which were made special for the bar’s environment.  The bar was about 15 degrees Fahrenheit.  Everything was made out of ice; even the drinks were given to us in ice cups.   I couldn’t stay there too long because it was getting too cold, but it was definitely a new experience. 

I want to find places like “Ice Bar” to go to.  I want to stay away from places that I could find in the U.S. and live like the Italians do.  So many of us here go to Irish pubs and American bars.  "Scholars" is the most popular Irish Bar, they even have a Loyola tee-shirt hanging up on the wall.  While "Scholars" is fun, there's always opportunities to go places like it. From this point on I want to explore other options... "When in Rome...Do as the Romans do" Right?