Yesterday, the second day of the Italian Elections wrapped up.
Before I get to the results, I wanted to give a little bit of background on the candidates and the process.
The election takes place over two days, and is a parliamentary system, where voters vote for a party rather than a candidate. However, there are leading candidates who campaign for the party, and they are described below.
Pier Luigi Bersani was the favorite to win, according to the polls. He is a member of the Democratic party. However, in Italian politics, public opinion polling isn't allowed in the last two weeks before the election occurs. So although he was leading, anything could happen in those two weeks and there would be no reflection in the polls.
Silvio Berlusconi is a member of "The People of Freedom" party, and is back from the political grave after facing a host of criminal allegations.
Beppe Grillo is a part of the Five Star Movement, and was seen as a not very serious candidate as he used to be a comedian, but gained traction when he ran anti-corruption anti-austerity campaign.
Mario Monti is a member of the Civic Choice party and was the incumbent Prime Minister, whose austerity measures were very unpopular in Italy.
In the end the results were mixed. Bersani beat out Berlusconi by less than half a percentage point in the lower house of parliament. In the Senate, Bersani once again won, but not by enough for a majority to pass legislation. Berlusconi did better than expected, as did Grillo, as he received about 25 percent of the vote. If a coalition with a majority is not formed, then the Italians could be headed back to the polls.
But in the end, an overwhelming majority of voters supported a platform to ease or eliminate the austerity cuts made by the incumbent Monti, which is not a good sign for the Euro zone.
To be honest, there hasn't been much buzz here about the election. Most folks are more focused on the Pope's retirement than the election.
This Thursday is a big day in Rome! Secretary of State John Kerry will be visiting on his first diplomatic trip (not sure when and exactly where, but I may try to see him at some point), and the Pope officially resigns at 8 P.M., and I'll be in St. Peter's Square for it. Updates will be posted here!
JC
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Weekend Trip to the Netherlands
Hey there,
It's been a tiring past 72 hours, but I'm finally back in Rome after a weekend trip to the Netherlands with a few of my roommates.
We started off on Friday morning at around 4 A.M. to get a cab to the airport for our 7 A.M. flight to France. We had a quick layover in Paris before we flew into Amsterdam, and got in around 1 P.M. We stayed at my roommates Uncle's house which was a few tram stops away from the main part of the city. We were pretty tired, so we walked around for a bit and then went to bed.
Saturday started early, around 8 A.M. where we went to see the Ann Frank house. It was a very powerful and sad exhibit to see in person, but definitely something that I'm glad I saw. We then got our very own guided tour through Amsterdam from our roommate's Uncle. He walked with us for about 5 hours in the city, giving us historical details as we went. It was really cold that day. We stopped at a place called "Winkel" where we had the "best apple cake in Amsterdam" (that description was according to my roommate's Uncle, who has lived in Amsterdam for 50 years, and his description lived up the hype, it was awesome!).
That evening, my roommate's Uncle invited us to a Jewish ceremony called "Purim." This was a new experience for me. Guests came dressed up in all sorts of creative costumes (e.g. headbands with flowers on them, girls dressed as princesses, etc...). For those who don't know, this ceremony was a reading in Hebrew (about 15 pages or so) and every so often, the reader would say the name "Haman" during which all guests are to make some sort of noise by banging something together (e.g. banging hands on table, using noisemakers, clapping hands. My roommate's Uncle even banged plates together, and broke two of them!). We then sang some traditional songs and left to go back to sleep.
We slept in a little later today on Sunday, and managed to go back for some more apple cake. It was cold to be walking outside for too long today as it was snowing. Our flight back left around 9 P.M. and we finally made it back to our apartment a little past midnight.
This week is a big week in Rome!! Tomorrow the Italian presidential elections wrap up, and Thursday the Pope officially resigns. Secretary of State John Kerry is also visiting Rome some time this week, just not sure when. It'll all be updated here!!
JC
It's been a tiring past 72 hours, but I'm finally back in Rome after a weekend trip to the Netherlands with a few of my roommates.
We started off on Friday morning at around 4 A.M. to get a cab to the airport for our 7 A.M. flight to France. We had a quick layover in Paris before we flew into Amsterdam, and got in around 1 P.M. We stayed at my roommates Uncle's house which was a few tram stops away from the main part of the city. We were pretty tired, so we walked around for a bit and then went to bed.
Saturday started early, around 8 A.M. where we went to see the Ann Frank house. It was a very powerful and sad exhibit to see in person, but definitely something that I'm glad I saw. We then got our very own guided tour through Amsterdam from our roommate's Uncle. He walked with us for about 5 hours in the city, giving us historical details as we went. It was really cold that day. We stopped at a place called "Winkel" where we had the "best apple cake in Amsterdam" (that description was according to my roommate's Uncle, who has lived in Amsterdam for 50 years, and his description lived up the hype, it was awesome!).
That evening, my roommate's Uncle invited us to a Jewish ceremony called "Purim." This was a new experience for me. Guests came dressed up in all sorts of creative costumes (e.g. headbands with flowers on them, girls dressed as princesses, etc...). For those who don't know, this ceremony was a reading in Hebrew (about 15 pages or so) and every so often, the reader would say the name "Haman" during which all guests are to make some sort of noise by banging something together (e.g. banging hands on table, using noisemakers, clapping hands. My roommate's Uncle even banged plates together, and broke two of them!). We then sang some traditional songs and left to go back to sleep.
We slept in a little later today on Sunday, and managed to go back for some more apple cake. It was cold to be walking outside for too long today as it was snowing. Our flight back left around 9 P.M. and we finally made it back to our apartment a little past midnight.
This week is a big week in Rome!! Tomorrow the Italian presidential elections wrap up, and Thursday the Pope officially resigns. Secretary of State John Kerry is also visiting Rome some time this week, just not sure when. It'll all be updated here!!
JC
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Bridgesport Diplomacy
Howdy!
Here's an update on basketball.
So at our Welcome Back BBQ on campus at the beginning of the semester, they had a sign up sheet for this program called BridgeSport, which would give interested students the chance to teach Italian kids how to play basketball. It looked cool, so I wrote my name and e-mail down and attended the first meeting.
The organization's goal is to bridge the gap of cultures using sports (hence, BridgeSport). The kids don't speak much English, and we don't speak much Italian, but we're united by the common bond of basketball. In our orientation meeting, our advisor spoke of Richard Nixon's "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" where professionals of the sport in China and the U.S. played to enhance diplomacy, which on a much smaller scale, is what we're doing. See here for more on Ping-Pong Diplomacy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ping_Pong_Diplomacy
We usually just play knockout or some pick up games. Yesterday I had the chance to teach one of the kids, David, how to slide his feet while on defense. It's been really fun so far, and I look forward to doing it for the the rest of the time that I'm here.
This weekend, I have an excursion planned, which I'll be back with information about on Sunday or Monday.
JC
Here's an update on basketball.
So at our Welcome Back BBQ on campus at the beginning of the semester, they had a sign up sheet for this program called BridgeSport, which would give interested students the chance to teach Italian kids how to play basketball. It looked cool, so I wrote my name and e-mail down and attended the first meeting.
BridgeSport is an organization that was founded last year at the American University of Rome by a study abroad student. According to the mission statement, Bridgesport "is revolutionizing diplomacy and cultural exchange experiences by sending top college students studying abroad, into local communities to teach youth ages 8-13 sports while advancing their experiences and knowledge of American culture." More details on their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Bridgesport , and here's their official website: http://www.bridgesport.org/#1
The organization's goal is to bridge the gap of cultures using sports (hence, BridgeSport). The kids don't speak much English, and we don't speak much Italian, but we're united by the common bond of basketball. In our orientation meeting, our advisor spoke of Richard Nixon's "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" where professionals of the sport in China and the U.S. played to enhance diplomacy, which on a much smaller scale, is what we're doing. See here for more on Ping-Pong Diplomacy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ping_Pong_Diplomacy
So far, we've had three sessions. The first was just an orientation session, and the last two have been official meetings. We meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4-6, but I can only attend the first hour of each session as I have class at 5:15. At the orientation meeting, we had one kid show up to play with us. At the second, we had two kids, and yesterday we had over 10. If we continue at this rate, we'll be at over 100 kids by the end of the semester.
We usually just play knockout or some pick up games. Yesterday I had the chance to teach one of the kids, David, how to slide his feet while on defense. It's been really fun so far, and I look forward to doing it for the the rest of the time that I'm here.
This weekend, I have an excursion planned, which I'll be back with information about on Sunday or Monday.
JC
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Roaming Through Rome With My Parents
Howdy!
So my parents have been in town since last week, and they leave tomorrow! The time with them has gone so quickly, but it has been great having them here.
Today, I toured through Rome with them to some places that I'd seen already, but also to some places I haven't seen before. We went to the typical sites in Rome (Victor Immanuel building, coliseum, pantheon etc...) but we also got to see some new places, such as the catacombs and a spectacular cathedral that I hadn't seen before (I think it was St. John's). In their time here, they hired two tour guides (Luca and Lorenzo, twin brothers who, in my opinion, should have their own stand up comedy act) to take us around. We rode in style in their Mercedes van (it had two rows of seats, so I had the back row all to myself!). They even gave us Italian nicknames, as they thought our American names were too boring (Tomasso for my dad Tim, Susanna for my mom Susan, and Giacomo for me).
We've ate almost all of our meals together. For lunch, we went to a cafe recommended by Lorenzo where my mom had a white pizza with mozzarella and Gorgonzola cheese (which I got a bite of and it was amazing). For dinner tonight, we ate outdoors downtown with heaters surrounding our table. We had a nice view of the open square, and there was even a small choir of girls singing outside (two of them were playing violin, it was great!). I had some awesome tortellini with ham. For dessert, we walked to a gelato shop called Della Palma, which has over 150 different varieties. We got to choose two flavors, so I went with Kit-Kat and Peanut Butter. So far, it is the best gelato I've had in Rome.
Basketball has finally started up this week, and I have it again tomorrow. I'll be back on Thursday with an update on that.
JC
So my parents have been in town since last week, and they leave tomorrow! The time with them has gone so quickly, but it has been great having them here.
Today, I toured through Rome with them to some places that I'd seen already, but also to some places I haven't seen before. We went to the typical sites in Rome (Victor Immanuel building, coliseum, pantheon etc...) but we also got to see some new places, such as the catacombs and a spectacular cathedral that I hadn't seen before (I think it was St. John's). In their time here, they hired two tour guides (Luca and Lorenzo, twin brothers who, in my opinion, should have their own stand up comedy act) to take us around. We rode in style in their Mercedes van (it had two rows of seats, so I had the back row all to myself!). They even gave us Italian nicknames, as they thought our American names were too boring (Tomasso for my dad Tim, Susanna for my mom Susan, and Giacomo for me).
We've ate almost all of our meals together. For lunch, we went to a cafe recommended by Lorenzo where my mom had a white pizza with mozzarella and Gorgonzola cheese (which I got a bite of and it was amazing). For dinner tonight, we ate outdoors downtown with heaters surrounding our table. We had a nice view of the open square, and there was even a small choir of girls singing outside (two of them were playing violin, it was great!). I had some awesome tortellini with ham. For dessert, we walked to a gelato shop called Della Palma, which has over 150 different varieties. We got to choose two flavors, so I went with Kit-Kat and Peanut Butter. So far, it is the best gelato I've had in Rome.
Basketball has finally started up this week, and I have it again tomorrow. I'll be back on Thursday with an update on that.
JC
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Orvieto Day Trip
Hello!
Today, my day started around nine where I went to get breakfast with my parents. Their hotel is within walking distance of my apartment. After some tasty scrambled eggs, we were picked up by our tour guide, Angelo, for our trip to Orvieto.
Orvieto is right near where my last day trip was to, Umbria. We started out at the Cathedral of Orvieto, which had a remarkable architectural exterior. The interior wasn't as overwhelming as St. Peter's, but still nice nonetheless. From there we went and did an underground tour of the caves of Orvieto, and then got an amazing view of the countryside.
Lunch today was awesome. We had our tour guide order our food for us, so we started with bruschetta, then split 3 different pastas, and then had a meat course. I think it was the best meal that I've had so far.
My parents are here until Wednesday, and we have another trip planned for Tuesday during the day. I'll post details as they come.
JC
Today, my day started around nine where I went to get breakfast with my parents. Their hotel is within walking distance of my apartment. After some tasty scrambled eggs, we were picked up by our tour guide, Angelo, for our trip to Orvieto.
Orvieto is right near where my last day trip was to, Umbria. We started out at the Cathedral of Orvieto, which had a remarkable architectural exterior. The interior wasn't as overwhelming as St. Peter's, but still nice nonetheless. From there we went and did an underground tour of the caves of Orvieto, and then got an amazing view of the countryside.
Lunch today was awesome. We had our tour guide order our food for us, so we started with bruschetta, then split 3 different pastas, and then had a meat course. I think it was the best meal that I've had so far.
My parents are here until Wednesday, and we have another trip planned for Tuesday during the day. I'll post details as they come.
JC
Friday, February 15, 2013
Day Trip to Umbria
Hey there mavericks!
It's been awhile since I've posted about my endeavors, so I figured today would be a good day to update.
Today began early, around 5:45 for our class trip to Umbria, which was about 2 hours away. Umbria is up north so it was a little colder, but it gave us the chance to get out of the city and see the country side. The landscape was picturesque, rolling hills and endless valleys.
We started our trip at an olive oil production center. We got a lecture as to how olive oil is made, and what the difference is between the various types (e.g. extra virgin olive oil vs. virgin, which, until today I didn't know much about nor know that there was a significant difference between the types).
We also learned the 'proper' way to taste olive oil, according to the experts. You take the cup of olive oil and cup your hand around it, so that your body heat warms it slightly. Then, you smell the olive oil twice, take a small sip and swish, then take two big breaths through your mouth in order to get the flavor on all parts of the palette, then finally swallow and breathe through your nose. Needless to say, it was a completely ridiculous way to taste olive oil and we all looked really crazy doing it, but hey, "When in Rome," right? (or in this case, "When in Umbria").
After that we had a hopped back on the bus for a wine tasting. We got to taste 3 different wines, of which my favorite was the red, called Cantina Novelli Montefalco (it was so good that I caved and bought a bottle). We then went to a few ceramics factories where we got to see various plates and vases being produced. They said that they have major purchasers back in the States, like Williams Sonoma etc...
This evening, my parents arrived!! They got in this morning and spent the day on their own, then we met for dinner at a place called New Station across from my apartment (although, my nickname for the place is "Luca's" as that is the name of the owner who I've come to know since I've been there, tonight was my 3rd time at the restaurant!).
Tomorrow, I'm touring around with my parents (places I've been already, but it'll be fun having them along!). I'll update more this week!
JC
It's been awhile since I've posted about my endeavors, so I figured today would be a good day to update.
Today began early, around 5:45 for our class trip to Umbria, which was about 2 hours away. Umbria is up north so it was a little colder, but it gave us the chance to get out of the city and see the country side. The landscape was picturesque, rolling hills and endless valleys.
We started our trip at an olive oil production center. We got a lecture as to how olive oil is made, and what the difference is between the various types (e.g. extra virgin olive oil vs. virgin, which, until today I didn't know much about nor know that there was a significant difference between the types).
We also learned the 'proper' way to taste olive oil, according to the experts. You take the cup of olive oil and cup your hand around it, so that your body heat warms it slightly. Then, you smell the olive oil twice, take a small sip and swish, then take two big breaths through your mouth in order to get the flavor on all parts of the palette, then finally swallow and breathe through your nose. Needless to say, it was a completely ridiculous way to taste olive oil and we all looked really crazy doing it, but hey, "When in Rome," right? (or in this case, "When in Umbria").
After that we had a hopped back on the bus for a wine tasting. We got to taste 3 different wines, of which my favorite was the red, called Cantina Novelli Montefalco (it was so good that I caved and bought a bottle). We then went to a few ceramics factories where we got to see various plates and vases being produced. They said that they have major purchasers back in the States, like Williams Sonoma etc...
This evening, my parents arrived!! They got in this morning and spent the day on their own, then we met for dinner at a place called New Station across from my apartment (although, my nickname for the place is "Luca's" as that is the name of the owner who I've come to know since I've been there, tonight was my 3rd time at the restaurant!).
Tomorrow, I'm touring around with my parents (places I've been already, but it'll be fun having them along!). I'll update more this week!
JC
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Venice Day Trip
Hey there,
So yesterday, my day began at about the earliest it has in over a year, as I found myself having to get up at about the same time I used to for morning swim practice. My alarm was set for 5:37 AM in order to allow enough time to get to the bus station for our day trip to Venice, and it was a struggle.
We took public transportation to the bus station, where we got on our bus which ended up being pretty nice (A/C, bathrooms, etc...). My friends and I also had a prime location on the bus as we had a table, so we could more easily converse on the bus. Our bus left around 7 AM, and it took about seven hours to get there, with a 40 minute rest stop included.
Once we got there, we hopped on a boat to get to San Marco Square, another 40 minute ride. This weekend, Carnevale was going on, essentially a Mardi Gras of Venice. It was so packed! Just tens of thousands of people everywhere. Everyone had on either a Masquerade mask (I even picked up one for myself for just 5 euros) or any costume you could think of (e.g. Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland costumes, Super Mario Bros. costumes, etc...). We wondered around for awhile, eventually settled on a place for dinner, then wandered around some more (where I had another awesome cannoli for dessert!).
The coolest part of the trip was towards the end. They had a stage set up in the square with a DJ playing music, and a light show. There were still thousands of people left as nightfall approached. We stayed there for about an hour and then hopped back on the boat to the bus station, where we had another seven hour ride ahead of us (most of which was spent sleeping). I was finally in my bed at around 6 AM.
This week, basketball should get started up, I have a day trip planned on Friday, and my parents are visiting at the end of the week. Check back late this week for more.
JC
So yesterday, my day began at about the earliest it has in over a year, as I found myself having to get up at about the same time I used to for morning swim practice. My alarm was set for 5:37 AM in order to allow enough time to get to the bus station for our day trip to Venice, and it was a struggle.
We took public transportation to the bus station, where we got on our bus which ended up being pretty nice (A/C, bathrooms, etc...). My friends and I also had a prime location on the bus as we had a table, so we could more easily converse on the bus. Our bus left around 7 AM, and it took about seven hours to get there, with a 40 minute rest stop included.
Once we got there, we hopped on a boat to get to San Marco Square, another 40 minute ride. This weekend, Carnevale was going on, essentially a Mardi Gras of Venice. It was so packed! Just tens of thousands of people everywhere. Everyone had on either a Masquerade mask (I even picked up one for myself for just 5 euros) or any costume you could think of (e.g. Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland costumes, Super Mario Bros. costumes, etc...). We wondered around for awhile, eventually settled on a place for dinner, then wandered around some more (where I had another awesome cannoli for dessert!).
The coolest part of the trip was towards the end. They had a stage set up in the square with a DJ playing music, and a light show. There were still thousands of people left as nightfall approached. We stayed there for about an hour and then hopped back on the boat to the bus station, where we had another seven hour ride ahead of us (most of which was spent sleeping). I was finally in my bed at around 6 AM.
This week, basketball should get started up, I have a day trip planned on Friday, and my parents are visiting at the end of the week. Check back late this week for more.
JC
Friday, February 8, 2013
Good Eating, and Climbing St. Peter's Basilica
Howdy.
So here's an update on the past few days...
Last night we went downtown to a sit down pizza shop that had been recommended to us. It was awesome, I got pizza with onions on top. However, one of my roommates hit a home run with his selection of pizza that had the works on it (mushrooms, sausage, etc... it even had a sunny side up egg). After that we went to a gelato shop for dessert. I got two flavors, strawberry and vanilla, which was very good (my first time having gelato!).
Today, I went with a group of AUR students to the Vatican. A short walk to the train station was followed by a one stop ride to St Peter's Square, a much easier commute than I'd anticipated. We walked around St. Peter's Square for awhile.
After waiting in line for about 20 minutes, we paid our 5 euros to climb the dome in St. Peter's Basilica. We could have paid seven for the elevator, but we wanted the full experience. We got to what I thought was the top, and we had a nice view of the city. I was then told that we were only about halfway there. I continued up the steps, and given that my physical fitness is nowhere near what it used to be, it was a somewhat of a struggle (and by that, I mean I was panting the whole way up). I'd also be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous climbing up that high (as I'm not the best when it comes to heights).
We finally got the top and the view was stunning. You could see everything. I wish I'd taken a panorama shot of the whole city, but I got some awesome photos nonetheless. We climbed down the stairs and got to view the church. There's a lot of cool artwork and sculptures. The church itself is about 400 or so years old.
Tomorrow, we depart early in the morning for our day trip to Venice. It's about a 6 hour bus ride, so at least I'll have the opportunity to catch on my leisure reading (and napping!). I'll be back early next week with more.
JC
So here's an update on the past few days...
Last night we went downtown to a sit down pizza shop that had been recommended to us. It was awesome, I got pizza with onions on top. However, one of my roommates hit a home run with his selection of pizza that had the works on it (mushrooms, sausage, etc... it even had a sunny side up egg). After that we went to a gelato shop for dessert. I got two flavors, strawberry and vanilla, which was very good (my first time having gelato!).
Today, I went with a group of AUR students to the Vatican. A short walk to the train station was followed by a one stop ride to St Peter's Square, a much easier commute than I'd anticipated. We walked around St. Peter's Square for awhile.
After waiting in line for about 20 minutes, we paid our 5 euros to climb the dome in St. Peter's Basilica. We could have paid seven for the elevator, but we wanted the full experience. We got to what I thought was the top, and we had a nice view of the city. I was then told that we were only about halfway there. I continued up the steps, and given that my physical fitness is nowhere near what it used to be, it was a somewhat of a struggle (and by that, I mean I was panting the whole way up). I'd also be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous climbing up that high (as I'm not the best when it comes to heights).
We finally got the top and the view was stunning. You could see everything. I wish I'd taken a panorama shot of the whole city, but I got some awesome photos nonetheless. We climbed down the stairs and got to view the church. There's a lot of cool artwork and sculptures. The church itself is about 400 or so years old.
Tomorrow, we depart early in the morning for our day trip to Venice. It's about a 6 hour bus ride, so at least I'll have the opportunity to catch on my leisure reading (and napping!). I'll be back early next week with more.
JC
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Super Bowl Sunday
Hi there,
Super Bowl Sunday began in the afternoon after a long night's rest. Fortunately, we have excellent blinds in our room that are able to block out what would be the glaring 2 PM sunlight. A quick shower and cleanup of the apartment was followed by a walking excursion into downtown Trastevere. My friends and I walked around for about an hour.
In the middle of the trip, we stumbled upon a dessert store. After a quick scanning of the shop, we realized that they'd had what I've been looking for since I arrived in Rome, cannolis! I caved and bought one, and it was spectacular, best cannoli I've ever had. Although, there are several dessert shops in town, so I'll continue to adventure to find the best one.
At night we went back downtown to watch the Super Bowl at a place called T Bone Station, which was pretty American for Rome, but an appropriate patriotic celebration nonetheless. They couldn't seat us right away, so we went to this fast food burger place called Beerland (yes, Beerland). Most of my meals here have consisted of some form of pizza or pasta, which made my bacon cheeseburger taste that much better. If you've ever watched the reality show "Survivor," picture the episode where they're finally able to eat real food for the first time. Okay, so perhaps that comparison is a bit dramatic, and by a bit, I mean way too dramatic (I've been spoiled with good food here!). But eating a cheeseburger was worth it.
We went back to T Bone for the start of the game around 12:30, and when all was said and done, we got home around 5 in the morning. There were just a few of us left in the bar when by the time the game wrapped up. Getting up at 7:30 for my 3 hour Art History class was not the most pleasant experience.
We have some day trips in Italy planned for this upcoming weekend which I'm stoked about, check back around Sunday for details.
JC
Super Bowl Sunday began in the afternoon after a long night's rest. Fortunately, we have excellent blinds in our room that are able to block out what would be the glaring 2 PM sunlight. A quick shower and cleanup of the apartment was followed by a walking excursion into downtown Trastevere. My friends and I walked around for about an hour.
In the middle of the trip, we stumbled upon a dessert store. After a quick scanning of the shop, we realized that they'd had what I've been looking for since I arrived in Rome, cannolis! I caved and bought one, and it was spectacular, best cannoli I've ever had. Although, there are several dessert shops in town, so I'll continue to adventure to find the best one.
At night we went back downtown to watch the Super Bowl at a place called T Bone Station, which was pretty American for Rome, but an appropriate patriotic celebration nonetheless. They couldn't seat us right away, so we went to this fast food burger place called Beerland (yes, Beerland). Most of my meals here have consisted of some form of pizza or pasta, which made my bacon cheeseburger taste that much better. If you've ever watched the reality show "Survivor," picture the episode where they're finally able to eat real food for the first time. Okay, so perhaps that comparison is a bit dramatic, and by a bit, I mean way too dramatic (I've been spoiled with good food here!). But eating a cheeseburger was worth it.
We went back to T Bone for the start of the game around 12:30, and when all was said and done, we got home around 5 in the morning. There were just a few of us left in the bar when by the time the game wrapped up. Getting up at 7:30 for my 3 hour Art History class was not the most pleasant experience.
We have some day trips in Italy planned for this upcoming weekend which I'm stoked about, check back around Sunday for details.
JC
Friday, February 1, 2013
Exploring Rome
Hi there!
So the first week of classes have wrapped up. Some I like more than others, but overall they seem like they'll be good experiences.
The great, perhaps greatest, thing about the American University of Rome is that the school does not schedule classes on Fridays. So every weekend of the semester is 3 days long. And today, my roommates and I got a chance to take advantage of the city.
We began at the Victor Emmanuel building around 1 PM. We climbed up about 200 stairs to get to the top of the building which had some pretty stunning views. From there we went to the Museo Capitolini, a museum that you could easily spend all day at, but we stayed for only an hour as we had other places to go. It had all sorts of nice paintings and sculptures. Finally, we ventured over to The Coliseum, and paid the small fee to walk around inside, which was pretty cool.
Tonight we're going to what one of our roommates has billed as the "best pizza shop in Rome." I'm trying to keep my expectations low as I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised when I discover that his assessment was right on the money.
Next week, we're planning an overnight Florence visit, and we're in the process of booking trips to other countries, which I'll continue to update here.
JC
So the first week of classes have wrapped up. Some I like more than others, but overall they seem like they'll be good experiences.
The great, perhaps greatest, thing about the American University of Rome is that the school does not schedule classes on Fridays. So every weekend of the semester is 3 days long. And today, my roommates and I got a chance to take advantage of the city.
We began at the Victor Emmanuel building around 1 PM. We climbed up about 200 stairs to get to the top of the building which had some pretty stunning views. From there we went to the Museo Capitolini, a museum that you could easily spend all day at, but we stayed for only an hour as we had other places to go. It had all sorts of nice paintings and sculptures. Finally, we ventured over to The Coliseum, and paid the small fee to walk around inside, which was pretty cool.
Tonight we're going to what one of our roommates has billed as the "best pizza shop in Rome." I'm trying to keep my expectations low as I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised when I discover that his assessment was right on the money.
Next week, we're planning an overnight Florence visit, and we're in the process of booking trips to other countries, which I'll continue to update here.
JC
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