Villa Pieve

After experiencing the lively and extremely noisy culture of Florence we traveled by train to Perugia. Upon our arrival we were greeted by Rossella Vasta, a bubbly and exuberant Italian woman gleaming generosity and hospitality. Rossella loaded Ellen and I and our luggage into her tiny car and we soon learned that her driving was just as full of energy and speed as she was. As we got further away from the Perugia train station we began to notice more and more untouched land that was filled with nature, much different than we had previously seen in Rome and Florence. The winding road took us over hills and around sharp corners, eventually ending up on a rocky driveway.

The driveway led our vehicle into an even denser part of the countryside and to the very top of one of the many rolling hills. We parked the car and were immediately greeted by other members of the Vasta family and staff, offering us vino, hugs, and great big smiles. As we walked around we were overly impressed and in denial that we had arrived at our destination for the next six weeks of our Italian stay. The Vasta house, more similar to a castle, was beautifully designed with a balcony, a dining patio, and large decorative doors. In spite of its vast size, the building and the nature surrounding it seemed to compliment one another so well that it seemed as if they had grown out of the earth simultaneously, sharing the same source of water and sunlight. To the right of the house is a long pathway marking the division between two of the other property buildings. Our rooms we soon discovered were on the right, and classrooms and conference area to the left. Just in case you were having trouble distinguishing whether the Vasta building was really just an extremely large home, past these two buildings, but visible from our initial arrival point, stood an actual castle built near the year 1000.

Once everyone had arrived we were given our room keys and began unloading our bags. That evening we gathered on the outdoor patio and were served a three-course dinner. I assumed that our meals would be somewhat like the cafeteria in our college at home, but instead we were treated like customers at a nice restaurant. The fine dining included an appetizer, main course, and dessert, accompanied by bread, water, and wine. We were quite surprised when we discovered that this dinner was not for special occasions, but instead, the way all of our lunches and dinners would be served for the remainder of our stay. Throughout our stay we have grown extremely fond of the Vasta staff which includes Iban, Rosa, and Paola. They are such gracious people, so giving and helpful. They have definitely enriched our stay here and made us feel at home.

Authenticity

One evening, a group of us decided to splurge on a wonderful and authentic Italian dinner in Rome. The dinner was 20 euros a plate and included several courses, wine, water, and dessert. First we were served plate of salami and ham, olives, some type of breaded rice ball, fennel, mozzarella, bread, wine and both sparkling and mineral bottled water (which we were tremendously excited about since we rarely purchased water.) Then we had a pasta that had a creamy white sauce on one half and a light creamy marinara on the other. Next we had seasoned pork and some other type of meat (maybe beef?), green beans, and homemade potato chips. For the dolce course we were given a slice of pie similar to lemon meringue paired with a shot glass of diluted lemon juice. It was absolutely delicious and the small staff was extremely efficient. The woman in the photo was so lovable and gave out a few rounds of hugs and kisses to our group. The combination of a delicious dinner and such gracious hospitality made for an amazing evening, or as they say in Italy "Notte meravigliosa!"

9/27 Vatican, Florence, Opera

The Vatican is a world-renowned attraction for a reason. In spite of being herded like farm animals, through hallways crammed full of people with an assortment of body odors, pushed, shoved, stepped on, and “shhhh’d,” the Vatican is a one-of-a-kind location. If I gave the impression, which I think I did, that the museums I previously spoke of were filled with art, then I must emphasize that the Vatican surpasses them all. With great works by Michelangelo, Raphael, Salvador Dali, and mediums ranging from sculpture, painting, wood carving, tapestries, jewelry, and metal-work, it would be impossible to choose a favorite piece. To my surprise, we were able to get extremely close to the works of art and even more, we were able to take photographs. The Sistine Chapel was very different than I had imagined. Though Michaelangelo’s paintings were faded from aging, lighting, and candle smoke, it was undeniably well executed and a true display of his talent. With the help of Jim Baken, one of our art teachers, we were able to identify two major regions of tension. The first and most well-known was the one inch space between the fingers of Adam and God. The second was between Adam’s foot and the next painted quadrant. Another interesting thing I learned was that Michelangelo began using smaller human figures, which in turn forced him to have to paint more figures to fill the space. As the paintings advance toward the other end of the chapel, the sizes of the figures progressively get larger, which I view as a win-win situation. Michelangelo doesn’t have to paint as many figures, and the viewers can see the images more clearly from the floor. The elaborate decorations did not stop at the chapel, but instead carried on into St. Peter’s Basilica, also in the Vatican square. By the time we reached the basilica, our eyes and minds were just about on overload. It was beautiful with painted narrations, high ceilings, gold embellishments, and an elaborate four-pillared baldacchio (a gazebo looking altar) in the center of the nave. Needless to say, the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica were wonderful examples of “horror vaccui.” (fear of blank spaces)

By taxi, train, and foot, we made our way to Florence. The city is rich in music, art, fashion, and, of course, gelato. From what I have seen thus far, Florence seems to be somewhat less crowded. There are more open spaces that are blocked from traffic. These squares are filled with entertainment, castles, shopping, street vendors, restaurants, and even a beautifully lit carousel. Though you may not have to worry about getting run over by the cars, horse drawn carriages trod their way through the crowds with only a bicycle-style honk and a two second warning. The music never seems to stop, which causes sudden outbursts of foot tapping, dancing, and singing. Our hotel location is centrally located, making sightseeing much more manageable and the entertainment literally only footsteps away. However, the only downside to being located in the midst of the nightlife, is the non-stop crashing of dishes, swells of laughter, opera singing, violin playing, and siren ringing, making earplugs a wise investment. It is indisputable that fashion is a significant staple and quite important to both the locals and tourists. With the clothing prices high, and the American dollar low, window shopping has never looked so good.

The other night I went along with the Moak’s and another student to experience a more local show. Maroon dress, black piano, 1400’s church, intimate setting, seats full, and projection like I have never heard. The opera was AMAZING! With only a pianist and a soprano, the duo put on a tremendous performance. The church was located across the Arno River allowing us to see a different part of the city. Luckily for us, the sun was going down making for a beautiful sunset on the bridge. Lined with shops filled with elegant gold jewelry that illuminates the streets, the bridge is a common attraction and great setting for live music. On the way back to our hotel, we ran into some more entertainment. While lying flat on their backs in the middle of the street, two very talented guitarists were finishing up their gig. Great ending to a great day.

A Glimpse of Etruria 9/24

We were able to catch a glimpse of the Roman forum from the Capitolini Museum, but today we were able to walk through, under, and around the ruins. The arches were covered with elaborate designs and in surprisingly great condition. First off, it’s amazing to see such delicate detail and fine craftsmanship. For instance, the marble at the tops of the pillars branched out into a layered leaf-like design. Although still very difficult, molding these delicate organic shapes out of clay would seem to be a bit easier than I chiseling them by hand.

I would love to watch this process and see how they would go about correcting mistakes, assuming they are inevitable. Secondly, it’s crazy to see something that has survived so many battles, harsh weather conditions, and even time alone. Also, within the ruins was Caesar’s cremation site, which is still coated in flowers.

After the forum we regrouped at the Colosseum. This was by far one of the most incredible places I have ever been. Immediately upon my entry into the building, I felt a surge of energy. Being inside, I felt as if I were a part of something much, much larger. To know that I was standing in a place that at one time was filled with millions and millions of people watching men battle each other and animals to the death. As awful and gory as it is portrayed, I think it would have been quite the spectacle. It’s like “game day” on steroids! The Colosseum was in spectacular condition, which made it that much easier to imagine what the events might have been like. Being inside made me want to yell at the top of my lungs just to hear how it would project. The Colosseum was incredible and ranks very high on my list of best experiences. Overall, it was adrenaline surging and bucket-list fulfilling.

Roma, here we come!

Preparations for my trip overseas, like always, took three times longer than I had imagined. Not only was I packing for ten weeks in a foreign country, but simultaneously moving my belongings out of my best friends’ parent’s house and into a 5x5 storage unit. I finally sealed the latch on my storage unit around 11:30 pm with my dad warning me about the jumbled mess that is likely to spring out from the unit upon re-opening. After saying a few goodbyes, I took a car full of my belongings to the hotel where my parents were staying. My mom loves packing and organizing, which is most likely why I do not, and also why I allowed her the wonderful opportunity of packing my suitcase at two in the morning. The realization of the trip had not yet sunk in, and without a minute to spare I made my way to the airport and was on my way. Pulling an all-nighter allowed me to fall asleep quick, easy, and for the entirety of the flights to Denver and Charlotte. The passengers nearby were either entertained, disgusted, or both by my wide open mouth drooling and making sounds only a wind tunnel could reproduce. During my long layover in Charlotte, I decided to make my way over to my terminal and possible grab a beer. Luckily, when I rounded the corner, I saw that the other passengers were already beginning to board my flight. I made it onto the plane and after arguing with the women claiming to have my seat, I sheepishly got up and moved to my correct and assigned spot. I fell asleep shortly after take off for what seemed like several hours. When I woke up, the family that I was seated within spoke of the current time…NO WAY!? There was not a possible way in my mind that only one mere hour had passed since we boarded the plane. The remainder of that trip is hazy now, but I recall fading in and out while listening to a combination of wining babies, old men snorting, and the crinkling of a plastic water bottle. I wanted to strangle the eight-year-old with the snapping, crackling, and popping bottle of water sitting directly next to and often on top of me. Getting off the plane, I was anxious that I may not find my best friend Ellen. If I did not find her, I may be getting right back on the plane to America, or at least that’s how I felt at the time. Luckily, and like usual, our brains were on the same page and we met at the baggage claim. Converting money for the first time was completely eye-opening and horribly depressing. One euro is equivalent to roughly $1.44 American. With a roll-away suitcase, a backpack, and a purse (a slightly smaller suitcase that I pretend is a purse), we made it to our correct bus. After three long, sweaty, sweaty hours, wearing black pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and sandals, we finally decided to resort to a taxi. Do you know how difficult it is to flag down a taxi? Not as easy as they make it look on Sex and the City. . In fact, it’s about as difficult as hauling 60 pounds of luggage over cobblestone streets. Wheels are great when they have a surface to “wheel” on. Nevertheless, we got a cab whose driver told us we were within walking distance. He took us to the hotel and as we began carrying our baggage up three flights of stairs, we realized we were at the “boys” hotel. Ahhhhhhhhh! Walking through the streets, the smell of urine was apparent and the traffic insane. Not much room to walk between the traffic, people, restaurants and vendors. As we maneuvered our through, I became more and more comfortable with using “Scusi,” but kept ruining my Italian accent by following up with a blurted out “gracias.” Our hotel was only a short walk, and upon arrival we collapsed, exposing sweat-covered shirts and filthy black feet. The hotel, Residenzia Zanardelli was, to our surprise, quite nice. Aside from being a tad bit smaller than most hotels in America, it was clean and equipped with a full bathroom. The Moak’s, along with a few other students had not yet arrived by dinner time, causing us to disperse and get dinner on our own. Ellen and I decided to share our first dinner at the pizzeria just down from our hotel. For 7 euros we enjoyed a Margherita pizza in the shape of a heart. It was delicious! I expected the tomato sauce to be thick, yet it is surprisingly thin and light. Everyone finally arrived toward the end of our dinner, and after a short meeting, we fell into bed. The only bad news in the meeting was that breakfast was at 7:30 am. In the morning, we awoke to table-clothed tables in the hallway with place settings, orange juice, coffee, hot milk, tea, pastries, and large rolls that looked somewhat like bread bowls. Nothing like a carb-filled breakfast to jump-start your day…

By nine we had begun our first adventure-filled day. The city was full of amazing architecture, lots of bikes, mini-cars, restaurants, shops, cobblestone roads, gelato, and eerie ambulance sirens. Our first stop was the Musei Capitolini. The walk to and view from the museum was very beautiful, plus we were among the first to arrive. This museum, much like the ones to follow was filled with enormous statues, sculptures, and ancient Roman ruins. It was our first taste of the culture that many of us had studied and seen only in text books and with pictures smaller than our laptops.

It was both fascinating and unbelievable! Rome being such a large city makes it hard to believe that the ruins are actually legitimate rather than something you might see on the Vegas strip. We tossed a few coins in the famous Trevi Fountain. There were tons of people viewing the fountain and waiting their turn to toss a coin. We learned that there is over 3,000 euro coins thrown in to the fountain per day. This money is then donated to subsidize a supermarket for Rome's needy.

Over and over I kept wishing that, even if only for a brief moment, I could go back in time and see Roma in its prime. There was so much to see at the museum including the famous and giant sculpture of Constantine. I remember looking at the picture of his gigantic head on the cover of one of my art history text books, which made me enjoy being able to almost touch it even more! There were very few places in the museum that were unworthy of a photo; even the ceilings were highly intricate and carefully painted with chandeliers throughout. It was only day one, and I was already delightfully overwhelmed by the amount of art. Yes, I believe that sums it up: Delightfully overwhelmed.

L'inizio

Joining in with the rest of the country to remember the events that took place this day ten years ago, I recall when I first heard the news. The tragedy was one we will all remember and remains very vivid in my mind for two reasons. The first reason obviously relates to the devastation, fear, and heartache that circulated. That day put Americans to the test. Would we crumble in fear, or would we unite and work together to rebuild what was destroyed and offer comfort to those who lost loved ones? Watching complete strangers volunteer their time, money, and generosity was fascinating to me. As a seventh grader, in 2001, I gained a deeper understanding of patriotism and felt truly proud to be an American.

“Orgoglioso.”

9/11 causes me to reflect on the ten years that have passed. I think about good decisions I’ve made, goals that I’ve met, poor decisions I’ve made (most of them being ones my parents warned me about and I stubbornly chose them anyway), and experiences that have influenced the person I’m becoming. Not only does today cause me to reflect on the past, it also causes me to look ahead and acknowledge the direction my life is heading.

“Domani è fresco, senza errori in esso.” - L.M. Montgomery

At such a pivotal time in my life and with so many changes ahead, I find myself terrified at times. It’s not everyday that someone tells you that you need to actually start paying for the four years of student loans you’ve racked up, that you aren’t going to be able to hang out with your friends everyday, and among several other less positive things, that you need to start doing a little bit more cooking and cleaning unless you want to have clothing as your “carpet” and eat macaroni and cheese for the rest of your life.

“Nervoso per quello che riserva il futuro.”

People often refer to college as “the best time of their life,” and not that I have ever doubted that, but I just don’t want the “best time of my life” to be nearing the end. College has definitely been a wonderful experience this far and is even more the reason to do something incredible.

“Fantastico avventura avanti!”

How does living in one of the most beautiful and historical countries in the world sound? It’s abundant in art, architecture, fashion, food, and wine, the language is very pleasant to the ear, and from what I have heard, the boys aren’t too difficult to look at either. This opportunity sounds pretty incredible to me, and is why in less than two weeks I will embark on the trip of a lifetime. I’m very much looking forward to meeting great people, taking in amazing art and scenery, visiting historical sites, eating terrific pasta and drinking delicious wine. I cannot wait to begin this life-changing journey and submerse myself in the rich culture of Italia.

“Non vedo l'ora per l'Italia.”

Here’s to remembering 9/11 and acknowledging the good that can come from even the most awful of times. Here’s to reminiscing about all the times that brought joy to our souls. And most of all, here’s to the start of an incredible adventure filled with learning, growing, and making memories that will never be forgotten.

“Cin cin!”