Saturday, June 27, 2009

More Pictures!
















Here they come!

Night on the Town and Mass Picture Upload











Last night was amazing!! Yay for the weekend :)

One of the boys apartments came over to ours and we made dinner (that is after calling our professor and landlord to figure out how to oven worked...). It was delicious and relaxing and then we went out to Piazza Navonna. There is a giant Bernini statue in the center called the four rivers (laura is doing her project on it) that is extra beautiful at night. We basically met up with our entire program and hung out. Very fun. The whole Piazza layout makes Roman nightlife very fun and social.

Anyway, tonight we're going out for pizza (mmmmm) and tomorrow we're going to the largest flea market in the world--it's miles long. I'm ready for some good shopping. Italian leather!

Here is my mass picture upload. Enjoy!!!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Ancient Ruins

Gosh, I'd have to say the sights we saw were my favorite yet. We went to the Colosseum today which was completely dwarfing. I loved how huge it was and imagining all the people that must have sat in there. To be honest though, it was kind of disgusting too. We kept hearing stories of criminals being torn to shreds by animals there and fights to the death (although apparently the whole gladiator fight to the death thing is a myth, most of the time anyway).

Then we went to the Baths of Caracalla, which is the ruins I was in front of in my first pictures. This was my Art History presentation--I was a little nervous about it but I actually think it went pretty well! Glad to have it done at least, and now I just have to finish my paper.

Gelatto is becoming a new food group. It is amazing. The fruity stuff is good, but I have to say nothing beats Chocolati and Caffe. You get two flavors with each gelatto and they are creamy goodness.

Tomorrow we go to Trajan's forum and the Pantheon (which is like two blocks from my apartment!) and then we move to study the Renaissance. I am actually really excited to study the Renaissance and excited for all of the art and Florence (I think we go next Wednesday).

I plan to do a mass picture upload this weekend!!! Look for 'em :)

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Save the Children

Apparently they harass you in Rome too--who woulda thought.

My presentation is tomorrow so blogging must be postponed. More to come later.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Parla Inglese?




Greetings from Roma!

Today marked the first actual day in Rome. Yesterday was all travels--I was really impressed by Lufthansa. I'd recommend flying direct to Frankfurt if you're coming to Europe. With the three movies I watched the flight seemed so much shorter than the other flights I've taken to Europe.

When we drove into the city we drove past the Colloseum and I just about died. It is amazing and huge and in the center of the city. I just can't believe how intact the arches still are. Despite the crazy tourist crowds, I can't wait to go back.

All and all real good--hard part was trying to stay awake until nine to get back on the right time.

This morning I woke up at like 630--still partially on Seattle time--and ate breakyfast. After reading a bit Alison, Melanie, and I went to the Thermae di Caracalla--the ancient ruins of the baths from 217 A.D. I'm doing my project on them and I wanted to check it out and get some good pictures before hand. (Some are here if you're clever)


They were amazing. Ruins of baths honestly, sounds kinda lame but you can't believe how dwarfing the ruins were. Remains of old pillars and tiles are still everywhere. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. So great.

We walked to the Campo and stopped for lunch at this little place in an alley. Not bad food, but not quite the "off the beaten path" we were looking for. We found the portone or door to the Rome Center in the Campo. It's just this giant gratified door, very conspicuous. In the day the Campo is a big market but as it is Sunday the market wasn't there. Looking forward to seeing it tomorrow and buying lots of fruit like a good Iranian.

After a bit of a nap--ie 3 hrs--a group of 8 of us headed our to dinner as it was Nick's 22nd B-day. I think we must have walked for atleast an hour when we reached this crowded piazza. I went up to this lady smoking a cig and drinking a beer:

"Scuzzi--parle inglese?"

"Si"

"Dove restaraunte molto bene?"

I don't know why I asked her if she spoke English and then talked to her in bad Italian, but she pointed us to a restaurant called Porca Vacca--fat cow--up the street. We were the only American people there and the first waiter scoffed at us and pawned us off on another, cooler waiter, Ergante. He was fabulous but no more fabulous than the food. I got a mixed salad--yay vegetables--and caprese salad with fresh mozzarella. MMMMMMMM it was so nice being with everyone, celebrating Nick's bday, and eating some non-touristy food.

I am taking pictures of all my food, so I'm going to have to have a food photo post to make you all jealous.

Life is good. Missing everyone at home!

Bella Roma!!

Sheida