It has been a very long time since I last updated! I have done a lot, but it has mostly been for school, so it isn't really worth reporting.
I will tell you about what Caroline and I did this weekend. Friday we had a school trip to a town called Frascati, just outside of Rome. We woke up bright and early Friday morning and got on the bus provided by the school, then set off on our journey to the quaint little mountain top town.
When we arrived at our destination it was freezing cold, and there wasn't really that much to do. There were beautiful churches, and little stores filled with useless things.
As Caroline and I wandered down one little street, the faint twinkling of some hobbit-like music greeted our ears. We followed the sound until we came upon a little doorway that was opened to reveal an indoor cave! It wasn't a real cave, it was just decorated that way. Inside the cave were millions of little figurines of fairies and gnomes. Caroline and I turned to look at each other, and without exchanging any words, stepped into the little shop. Because who in their right mind wouldn't go in a gnome shop?
I was in gnome heaven. Hundreds upon hundreds of gnomes lined the walls, along with fairies, ogres, and a variety of other creatures. Those of you who know me well know that I love gnomes, so obviously I bought one. He is a little man holding a swan sitting on a toad stool. I named him Frascati, after the town we were visiting.
After "roman" around for a bit (haha) we met up with the rest of the group and the two ladies who were running the trip. They took us down a little street to an outdoor butcher's stand where you pick the meat, cheese, olives, bread, and whatever else you want and they put it all together for you. It was quite an experience watching the man hack apart a pig carcass and throw slabs of meat on a piece of bread for me. There were millions of different types of cheese to choose from, and I have no idea what kind I picked. The big sweaty men who worked behind the counter handled all the cash with their hands, and then put their hands all over the hunks of meat without even washing them. You should all be so proud of me for eating my sandwich!! (and surviving!)
We then took our lunches down to a local cantina where we ordered wine that was brewed right there where we sat! The town of Frascati is known for its white wine. It was a little bitter for my taste, but a wonderful experience nonetheless.
After our delicious lunch we all went back to the bus which took us to some fashion outlets about an hour outside of Rome. Not much worth reporting there. I bought some cool boots, a skirt and a bag.
This week I had some great trips in my art classes- we went to Saint Peter's on Monday and I got to see Michelangelo’s Pieta. It was an amazing thing to be face to face with a work of art I have learned about time and time again in school. It was much smaller than I had imagined, and unfortunately was behind a thick layer of bullet-proof glass. Our teacher, who doesn't speak English very well, explained this is because someone had once thrown a hammer at it in protest and broke off some of the statue's "foot fingers." No one else in the class seemed to find that as funny as I did.
On Tuesday my friend Rachel and I were the only ones to show up to our Baroque Sculpture class. It made us look really good that we were the only ones, plus I adore that teacher and it was great to be able to have a class with such a small group. We went to two churches. The first church had an amazing Bernini sculpture in it. The second church we went to because of its Baroque style sculptures, but while we were there Dr. Barker mentioned that Jesus' crib from the day he was born was kept in this church. What? How is that possible? I didn't get to see it because they had just closed that part of the Church off for the day but I am DEFINTALEY going back there. I need to feast my eyes on this thing myself. Can wood last that long? I doubt it.
Also, an interesting fact about Dr. Barker that will help you to appreciate her as much as I do is this: She commutes to Rome every day all the way from Florence! For a 9 a.m. class! She is the most dedicated and passionate art historian I have ever met. I want to be her some day.
I will tell you about what Caroline and I did this weekend. Friday we had a school trip to a town called Frascati, just outside of Rome. We woke up bright and early Friday morning and got on the bus provided by the school, then set off on our journey to the quaint little mountain top town.
When we arrived at our destination it was freezing cold, and there wasn't really that much to do. There were beautiful churches, and little stores filled with useless things.
As Caroline and I wandered down one little street, the faint twinkling of some hobbit-like music greeted our ears. We followed the sound until we came upon a little doorway that was opened to reveal an indoor cave! It wasn't a real cave, it was just decorated that way. Inside the cave were millions of little figurines of fairies and gnomes. Caroline and I turned to look at each other, and without exchanging any words, stepped into the little shop. Because who in their right mind wouldn't go in a gnome shop?
I was in gnome heaven. Hundreds upon hundreds of gnomes lined the walls, along with fairies, ogres, and a variety of other creatures. Those of you who know me well know that I love gnomes, so obviously I bought one. He is a little man holding a swan sitting on a toad stool. I named him Frascati, after the town we were visiting.
After "roman" around for a bit (haha) we met up with the rest of the group and the two ladies who were running the trip. They took us down a little street to an outdoor butcher's stand where you pick the meat, cheese, olives, bread, and whatever else you want and they put it all together for you. It was quite an experience watching the man hack apart a pig carcass and throw slabs of meat on a piece of bread for me. There were millions of different types of cheese to choose from, and I have no idea what kind I picked. The big sweaty men who worked behind the counter handled all the cash with their hands, and then put their hands all over the hunks of meat without even washing them. You should all be so proud of me for eating my sandwich!! (and surviving!)
We then took our lunches down to a local cantina where we ordered wine that was brewed right there where we sat! The town of Frascati is known for its white wine. It was a little bitter for my taste, but a wonderful experience nonetheless.
After our delicious lunch we all went back to the bus which took us to some fashion outlets about an hour outside of Rome. Not much worth reporting there. I bought some cool boots, a skirt and a bag.
This week I had some great trips in my art classes- we went to Saint Peter's on Monday and I got to see Michelangelo’s Pieta. It was an amazing thing to be face to face with a work of art I have learned about time and time again in school. It was much smaller than I had imagined, and unfortunately was behind a thick layer of bullet-proof glass. Our teacher, who doesn't speak English very well, explained this is because someone had once thrown a hammer at it in protest and broke off some of the statue's "foot fingers." No one else in the class seemed to find that as funny as I did.
On Tuesday my friend Rachel and I were the only ones to show up to our Baroque Sculpture class. It made us look really good that we were the only ones, plus I adore that teacher and it was great to be able to have a class with such a small group. We went to two churches. The first church had an amazing Bernini sculpture in it. The second church we went to because of its Baroque style sculptures, but while we were there Dr. Barker mentioned that Jesus' crib from the day he was born was kept in this church. What? How is that possible? I didn't get to see it because they had just closed that part of the Church off for the day but I am DEFINTALEY going back there. I need to feast my eyes on this thing myself. Can wood last that long? I doubt it.
Also, an interesting fact about Dr. Barker that will help you to appreciate her as much as I do is this: She commutes to Rome every day all the way from Florence! For a 9 a.m. class! She is the most dedicated and passionate art historian I have ever met. I want to be her some day.
Also on Tuesday, I waited in line for three hours to get my permit to stay in Italy. I can only pray that I will never have to wait in a line that long again.
Anyway, that is all. Hopefully I will have more to report soon!
hiiii jill! we all miss you! keep writing and posting because that's how i know what you're up to!!! :)
ReplyDelete