At the Colosseum, looking at the forum.
In the colosseum...
               The colosseum...
In the Forum

Circus Maximus

A weekend in Firenze...

This past weekend our entire group went to Florence. We went up on Friday morning and saw the Uffizi gallery which was amazing to see because it had lots of painting in it that I had studied in my art history classes. We also began exploring the never ending Florence leather market. Florence has a great out door market that is out, rain or shine, and it is a lot of fun to wander through the stalls. Friday night we ate dinner at our hostel and went out in Florence.

Saturday was the day we had all been looking forward to. We went to the Academia to see Michelangelo's David. It is an absolutely magnificent statue and so interesting to look at. The only down side to all of the museums in Florence is that you can't take pictures, and the little women guards at the David were fierce. After visiting David, we headed over to the Bargello Museum which has the other David statues by Donatello and the panels used for the competition for the doors of the Duomo. The panels that have survived were done by Ghiberti and Brunelleschi. After our time at the museum, or entire group went and had lunch near the Ponte Vecchio. We were especially lucky because there was a chocolate festival going on in Florence and we all took advantage of that for our dessert. We then did a little shopping and I finally found the leather boots I had been looking for. They are tall dark leather and gorgeous! We finished off Saturday with a delicious meal at ZaZa, a place that was recommended to us and turned out to be fantastic!

Sunday we just wandered through the market and enjoyed our last hours in Florence. Oh, and it rained our entire time in Florence, but I guess we just wont be missing the Seattle weather. 

Campo de' fiori

My apartment, right underneath the railing!

UW Rome Center

Life in Roma

What a week its been! This past weekend I was in Umbria, only to come back and watch and absolutely fabulous football game. The Arizona Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Eagles on their way to the Superbowl. I was one of only about four cardinals fans in the entire bar but it was absolutely amazing! Couldn't have asked for a better way to watch the game than in an Irish Pub in Rome. We were out pretty late watching the game because of the time change but it was completely worth it. Now it is time to figure out where I am going to watch the Superbowl on Feb. 1st.

So even though the game was fantastic...all of the screaming at the television made me lose my voice! So, I've pretty much sounded funny for the last few days and the Italians look at the really strange. On Tuesday we went for a fabulous walk around Rome because it was gorgeous outside and actually warm and we didn't have class. And Tuesday evening we watched the presidential inauguration from Rome! It was really cool to sit in Rome with a bunch of college students and what such a historic event. To make Tuesday even better, I found out that I was accepted to Teach for America! It was very stressful waiting to hear and even more stressful that I am in Rome, but I am very relieved! Haven't made a decision yet, but I might be teaching elementary school in Phoenix next year!

Due to all of the momentous events of Tuesday, we had a delicious Italian dinner and celebrated the night away. It was a great night in the campo and we all had a fabulous time, barely making it to class this morning, but completely worth it! Tomorrow we are going to the Roman Forum and then off to Florence on Friday morning! Can't wait to see the David!

Vino, Vino, Vino

Another week in Rome has come and gone and I have been very busy seeing the sites and enjoying the wine. I picked up a bottle of Amanda's favorite Italian wine, Freschello, finally found it after a visiting many stores to look for it, but it was worth the wait. Monday we had class and then it was raining so we decided to go for a walk. We ended up at the Spanish steps which are wonderful but looked by drowned rats by the end of the walk. On Tuesday, we went on a walking tour of some parts of ancient Rome (and it was absolutely FREEZING outside) and then we all came back to warm up. Lindsay and I ended up going for a walk, again, and we found the greatest store where we tasted all sorts of different Italian drinks. They were delicious and FREE and they gave us snacks. After our adventure in the wine store, we wandered our way to Piazza Navona where creepy men put bracelets in our wrists and then asked us to pay for them. We kept the bracelets but didn't pay for them! Wednesday we had class again and went out to an Irish Pub, the Scholar Lounge, to watch a Manchester United soccer game. As always, we had lots of fun. Thursday we went to the Capitoline Museum, always a good time, and then hung out at the apartment for a while, cooked dinner, and of course went out for gelato.

Today was our first class trip and we headed to the Catacombs outside of Rome. It was an interesting bus experience but we made it. After our tour underground, Tony and Paulette took us to a few churches and then out to a fabulous Italian lunch. Came back to the apartment, took a nap, and then completed my first class assignment.

This weekend Katie and I are headed to Umbria. We really aren't sure what we are doing but I'm sure it will be fun! Next weekend is Florence, then Sicily, then my mom is in Rome, potentially a trip to Lake Como, then Venice for Carnivale! Should be lots of fun!

A little futbol anyone?

Our first experiences watching soccer at the local pub! The first game was Roma vs. Milan which ended in a tie and the second was a Manchester United game. Loved the both! Can't wait to actually go to a game!

An afternoon walk...

Photos from our walk to the spanish steps...

First week in Rome

So my first week in Rome is officially complete and I can't say enough good things about this wonderful city. The week began a little rocky and with little sleep, but that quickly passed as the jet lag wore off. I am living with nine other girls in a three bedroom/three bathroom apartment right in the Campo de fiori. The campo is a very lively place with lots of bars and each day there is a wonderful open air market. There is also the best bakery ever, Forno. We get fresh bread and delicious pizza every day.

Tuesday was full of exploring Rome and getting acquainted with our surroundings. It included a walk with our professor Tony to the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain. One Wednesday we began classes in the Rome Center. The Rome Center is located right in the heart of historic Rome, just outside the Campo de fiori. After class a few of us went on as adventure to find a church and also visit the Pantheon and just explore what Rome has to offer. 

Thursday our first sight seeing class was held indoors because of rain. But our professor is very interesting and it should be a fun class. After class on Thursday we hung out and got lots of things done. We went to the store, even discovered our favorite meat and cheese shop, and bought some wine for dinner. A few of us cooked dinner and then the seniors in the apartment went out for gelato after. 

On Friday we decided to plan a day trip to Siena. There is a great travel agent who helped us get our train tickets and 18 people wanted to go. We spent the morning figuring our trip out for the next day. We spent the wonderful sunny afternoon taking a walk to the Vatican and exploring St. Peter's. After our walk, some girls made dinner and we relaxed with some wine before calling it a night.

Saturday began very, very early. We had to leave our apartment by 6:00AM in order to make our train. Our train ride to Siena was our first experience on the Italian train and it was a lot of fun. When we got to Siena however, we ended up on the wrong bus and were going in the direction of Florence. Luckily, we were able to get off and somehow make it to the campo of Siena. We had lunch on the campo in a little outdoor cafe where the Palio horse race is held and then went to explore the Duomo, which is an amazing Gothic Cathedral with black and while marble. Our trip in Siena ended with a fabulous wine tasting. Which caused us to be late for our train, so we ran to the station and made our train. We got back to our apartment at about 11:30PM, a very long but wonderful day in Siena.

On Sunday we all slept in and them some of us went to explore Trestevere, a neighborhood just across the river. There is a flea market there every Sunday but by the time we got there it was over. We walked through the side streets and ended up coming across a great bar. We talked to the bar tender who told us to come back later and watch the soccer game. Then we continued to explore and we found a great pizza place. The pizza is Rome is to die for. And the paninis are just as delicious! All of the food here is great. After lunch we walked back at sat at the cafe that is on the first floor of our apartment building. We all drank cappuccinos and did our reading for class. Sunday night we went back to the sports bar at Watch Roma play Milan, drank some beer, and had a great time.

Today we had class and it was disgusting outside, but we decided to go for a walk anyways. It is our goal to see or do something new each day, which is rather easy to do in Rome. So we walked, in the pouring rain, to the Spanish steps, climbed them, took some pictures, and walked back. Only to walk into our apartment looking like drowned rats, but it was worth it. 

I can't wait for more adventures in Rome!

Ciao!  

Siena

Wine Tasting!
View from the top of the Duomo Cathedral

Duomo Cathedral, recognize it from James Bond?
first train ride!
Our first day trip to Siena...

God's House

Our first trip to the Vatican.

Rainy Day Plans

We finally started classes on Wednesday. It is hard to sit in class while Rome is happening all around you. But at least it is only for 3 hours on Monday and Wednesday. After class it was raining do we decided to go check out a church near the Pantheon and stay dry inside it. It was absolutely amazing, as are all churches here, and just one of many that I will see while in Europe. 

In the beginning...

Left phoenix at 8:10AM Sunday morning...got to Atlanta at 1:15PM...flight was delayed...flight was delayed again...finally left Atlanta at 6:oo pm...an hour and a half late. Made it to Rome at 10:00AM sunday morning. Bags came off very quickly...found the driver who took us to the UW Rome Center...had a little difficulty figuring out where to go but finally did it!

The apartment is fantastic, right in the Camp de Fiori overlooking the market. We even have internet which is great to keep things like this going. I am extremely tired but looking forward to all of the days ahead. Time to take a shower, unpack, and get some rest.