Cole's Summer in Rome 2008

Roman Retrospective

2008-06-27T15:49:00.000-07:00

I write my final blog posting from the apple store in the King Of Prussia Mall in Philadelphia PA. Unfortunately I broke my computer during the last week in Rome, so I wasn't able to make my final blog posting while I was still in Rome. My three themes that I chose were The Colosseum, Advertising, and Fountains. While I was living in Rome, I learned so much about all of these things. I feel like each theme meant something completely different to me at the beginning of the trip compared to at the end. For instance, walking around the Colosseum was just part of my average day. I had grown accustomed to the ancient structure being a backdrop to my new home. The history that surrounds you in Rome is something that I am going to miss back here in the states. Everyday you get to learn something knew and different. Often times, things you may discover can be up to 3000 years old. Knowing this fact, gave me a distinct curiosity, about everything I was around. Immediately when I flew into Philadelphia, I was aware of American advertisements that are plastered all over the airport. It was weird being able to read what they had to say. Hearing random people walking by me speaking English was also a strange feeling for me. After grabbing a drink at a water fountain in the airport, I was immediately reminded of how much I am going to miss the Roman drinking fountains. All and all, my experience in Rome was amazing, and it lived up to every expectation I could have ever imagined. I am going to miss my time in Europe, but as true as my coin in the Trevi, i'll be back!

Final Thoughts on European Advertising

2008-06-24T05:02:00.000-07:00

For the most part, the advertisements I've seen in Europe have been pretty much like that of the United States. They are located in a lot of the same places, and they try and sell a lot of the same things. However, there is a big difference in content. The censorship in American advertising is very strict compared to Ads I've seen throughout Europe. For example, when I was in Zurich, there were advertisements to help stop the spead of aids that had people in very promiscuous positions. They were so shocking to us that we actually stopped in the middle of the street and took pictures of them. The people around us looked at us like we were from a different planet. Immediately thought to myself that you would never see that in the States. I think one of the major themes that I have discovered while traveling though Italy, and the rest of Europe, is the overal lax mentality of most Europeans about things Americans make a big deal out of. I think a lot of the time things become a big deal in American because we make them a big deal. It is almost as if the problems we have wouldn't even be an issue if people didn't make a big deal out of them in the first place. Another example of this, is advertisements seen on Italian television. You'd never guess how sexy a woman can be when trying to sell you a chocolate bar. I do realize we use sex appeal in the States to sell things, but in Europe the advertisements are much more riskue. My final thoughts on advertisements in Europe are concluded with different ideas of sex, and how society takes them in. Those are the biggest differences I've seen between the US and Europe. I'll miss the ads i've been around over the past two months. They were definitely entertaining!

Final Thoughts on Roman Fountains

2008-06-24T04:39:00.000-07:00

One of the major things that I am going to miss about Rome is the public fountains. In a city where everything is extremely expensive, the Roman fountains have provided a convienent method of free hyrdration. There are fountains located all over the city, and no matter where you are, you aren't far from a fresh drink. Before coming to Rome, I was under the impression that the water would be unsanitary, and you would have to buy bottled water. This pre impression couldn't have been any further from the truth. The water that I have been drinking since coming to Rome, has been the purest water i've ever drank in my life. I love that there are no chemicals added to the water that comes from the fountains. The water back home in State College doesn't even taste like water it has so many chemicals in it. Not only am I going to miss the public drinking fountains, I am also going to miss the numerous decorative fountains located all over Rome. Many of them have been in place for hundreds of years. It is impossible to escape history in this city. Visitors, and residence of Rome are reminded every day when they take a drink, that their thirst is quenched by aqueducts built thousands of years ago. This fact fascinates me when I considering the places i've lived in the States weren't even founded 300 years ago, let alone their water systems. I'll think of Rome everytime I drink tap water back home, you can be sure of it.

images courtesy of (www.ancientsculpturegallery.com)

Final thoughts on the Colosseum

2008-06-24T04:21:00.000-07:00

As I wrap up my last week in Rome, I want to reflect on my experiences while viewing the Colosseum. One of my major reasons for studying abroad in Rome, was because I have always been fascinated by the ancient wonder. Ever since learnign about it in grade school I've always been in awe of the Colosseum. While I have been living in Rome, I've visited the structure many times, and everytime I see the Colosseum, it still fascinates me. To think this was built over 2000 years ago, with none of the technology we have to day absolutely boggles my mind. I've observed many little things at the site that I didn't know about before coming here. For instance, above every arched entrance, there are Roman numerals that say what section your walking under. I wasn't sure how the seating was assigned before I came here, and so far this is the best evidence that I've found that proves people were assigned to different sections. I was aware that people were located according to class, and that they had to sit in specific areas. Before coming to the site however, I wasn't sure if each section was divided into smaller sub sections. The Roman numerals above the entrances prove that there were in fact smaller sub sections. This is just one example of the many interesting things I've taken in at the Colosseum site. The stadium was so far ahead of it's time that it bewilders me. I'd give anything to go back in time, and take in the atmosphere surrounding a sold out battle. When I walk around the present day area where the colosseum sits, I can imagine some of what took place, but I'll never really know for sure what it was like. When I board the plane to go home on Friday, the first thing I'll look for if we get close to the city, is my favorite structure in Rome. The coin tossed over my shoulder at the Trevi ensures another visit, and you can bet the Colosseum will be on my itinerary.
Image courtesy of (http://www.topmasala.com/images/wonders/colosseum.jpg)

Lets go to Aqua Piper!

2008-06-24T04:08:00.000-07:00

During my time in Rome there has been a distinct change in seasons. When we first got here, many mornings we needed sweatshirts, and the nights also got very cool. Over the past couple of weeks the temperature has been rising up into the 90s every day, it is safe to say summer has arrived. It seems that every tram and bus I see now has advertisements for Rome's best water park called Aqua Piper. When I first started seeing the advertisements, I had no interest in visiting the water park. Now that the weather has heated up, I see it becoming a real possibility. The crystal clear pools, and winding slides, on the ads make it very hard for me not to yearn for a day in the water. We have a free day on Thursday so a group of us might make the trip to the water park. I'll be sure to post details if this happens. Its so hot!

Walk through Piazza Del Popolo, Espagna, and Republica

2008-06-24T03:54:00.000-07:00

On monday June 23rd, we went on one of the walks that we created last week. My group decided to do Nicole's walk that took us to three piazzas. We started our walk at Piazza Del Popolo, which is a 15 minute tram ride, and a 20 minute walk from my apartment. I wasn't sure how long it would take me to get there so I left my apartment an hour early. I was glad that our first stop on the walk was far from my apartment, however because it gave me the opportunity to explore parts of the city that I hadn't been to before. Instead of walking down Corso, I decided to take back alleys to the piazza. By the time I had gotten to our starting point I had already been walking for 30 minutes. I passed by numerous coffee shops, and churches that I had never seen before. I tried to stay in the shade as much as I could, because even though it was stlll early morning, it was already getting hot. I had already visited the first two piazzas on our walk, but this was the first time that I had been to them in the morning. The Piazza Del Espagna looked very strange to me at 9:45 AM trenched in sun with nobody sitting on the stairs. I got a whole new aspect of this tourist hot spot. After walking down the stairs we continued to the Piazza Del Republica. This was the first time that I had visited this particular spot. I had already heard a great deal about this spot in the city because when President Bush visited Rome, this was where the Italians held their anti Bush rally. I had no interest in seeing that, so when everyone was going to this particular piazza, I opted out. I was really glad I got the chance to see this piazza because one of my themes is fountains, and the fountain in the center of this piazza is very large and beautiful. The fountain is comprised of many shoots of water all spilling towards the center. I wish I could post pictures of this fountain, but unfortunately my camera broke, and I have no way to upload photos anymore. Anyways, it was a beautiful morning and a very pretty walk. It was a great way to start my last week in Rome.

Viewing Roma St. Peter's Style

2008-06-23T02:56:00.001-07:00

The other day I walked to the top of St. Peters, and could see the whole city. It was the best view from above that anyone could ask for because the Vatican looks out into the heart of Rome. I easily spotted the some of the sites I had vsited such as the Pantheon, The Jewish Synagogue, and the Victor Emannuel "wedding cake" building. However, I was very surprised at how hard it was to see the Colosseum. It was a good thing I knew exactly where it was located, or I doubt I would have been able to see it. The outer wall was the only part of the structure that you could see. I was hopeing the find a spot in Rome that overlooked the city, where you could find a good view of the Colosseum, but unfortunately, I havn't been able to find such a place. Regardless, I am very glad that I took the time to walk up the 400 plus steps to the cupola at St. Peters. You can see for miles, with rolling hills as the backdrop for the city. It only costs 5 euros, and I'd definitely be up for doing it again.
Image courtesy of (chicainery.blogspot.com/images/rome7.jpg)

Walking tour; Fountain Descriptions

2008-06-18T02:45:00.000-07:00

The first fountain during my walk is a fountain designed by Bernini. The fountain is called Fontana Dei Quattro Fiumi. There is a large Egyptian Obelisk located in the center of the fountain. There also two smaller fountains located on either side of the Fontana Dei Quattro Fiumi. The Piazzo Navona is an oval shape, the other two fountains are located at both ends of the oval. The second fountain on the walk is located at the Pantheon, in the center of Piazza Della Rotunda. This fountain was originally designed to be placed in Piazza Navona. The marble fountain is a sculpture of four ugly masks spitting water in four opposite directions. When you look at the fountain from far away, the faces do not look as goofy as they actually are. A close look at this fountain is very interesting, and actually quite comical. The third fountain that you will pass on the walk is called the Fontanelle Del Facchino. This is one Rome's historic talking statues. The water comes out of a barrel held by a porter. It was created in the 16th century. This fountain is a great place to grab a cool drink, during the hot summer months. The water always comes out cool and fresh! The last stop on my fountain walk brings you to the Trevi Fountain, which was completed in 1762. This fountain is considered to be Rome's most famous, and it is also one of the largest. The fountain itself is actually bigger than the Piazza is sits in. The two central figures are Neptune, one of them is mastering a sea horse, while the other is taking control of a more peaceful animal. The fountain symbolizes the two moods of the sea. It is well known myth, that if you toss a coin into the fountain over your shoulder, you will return to Rome at some point in your life. (Facts from Eyewitness Travel Guide, and www.garden-fountains.com)

A walk to four major fountains in Central Rome.

2008-06-18T01:20:00.000-07:00

This walk will be taking you to four major fountains in Central Rome. You will see Fontana Dei Quattro Fiumi, The Pantheon Fountain, Fontanella Del Facchino, and the Trevi Fountain. Starting off at the center of Piazza Navona, next to Fontana Dei Quattro Fiumi, head down Corsia Agonale. With you back to Piazza Navona, make a left on Corso Del Rinascimento, then make an immediate right onto San Giovani d'Arco. Continue on this street until you come to Via Rosetta, make a right onto that street. You have now arrived at the Pantheon Fountain located in the center of Piazza Della Rotonda. Head straight on Piazza Della Minerva, and when you go by the Santa Maria sopra Minerva make a left on Via Del Pie Di Marmo. This street will lead you into a small parking lot in an area called Piazza Del Collegio Romano. Continue straight through the parking lot, and head down the small alley directly in front of you called Via Lata. Near the end of the alley before you reach Via Del Corso, notice the Fontanella Del Facchino on your left. This is a great place to stop for a nice cool drink. Make a left on Via Del Corso and walk until you come to Via Delle Muratte. Make a right onto this street and follow it until you come to the Trevi Fountain.

Directions from Piazza Navona to the Trevi Fountain

The Romans are coming!

2008-06-16T12:13:00.000-07:00

In Tivoli, we were waiting for the bus for over an hour. Finally we heard drums in the distance, and a heard of Roman soldiers and gladiators came marching down the street. Everyone was all decked out in costume. It was the strangest thing I've encountered. That is all

Centrale Montemartini museum

2008-06-16T06:39:00.000-07:00

Another place that I want to visit before I leave Rome is the Centrale Montemartini museum. The building where the museum is in used to be an industrial power plant. It was actually Rome's first power plant, so the history isn't just in the art work on display there. There would be a ton of cool things to look at. The museum houses Roman statues and artifacts belonging to the Capitoline Museums. (eyewitness guide) I think it would be very cool to see Roman statues in an industrial setting. The contrast of a rugged power plant and white statues would be very interesting. (Image from www.wikipedia.com)

To the top of Rome

2008-06-16T06:25:00.001-07:00

One of the things that I have yet to do is go to the top of St. Peter's. I've been meaning to do it ever since we visited the Vatican a couple weeks ago, but for some reason I have been putting it off. During one of my runs through the city, I ended up at the top Janiculum Hill. The view from up there was incredible. You could see the entire city. The amount of domes I saw was astonishing. I had no idea there were that many churches in Rome, it seems like every single blog has a cathedral. I imagine the view from the top of St. Peters will be even more picturesque because you will be able to see the whole city without trees getting in your way. I will definitely be making the trek to the Vatican before I leave for the best view in the city.

The Blue Colosseum

2008-06-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

Last night after getting off the train from Tivoli, we took the metro the Circus Maximus stop. When I come up from the Roman underground, I looked up at the sky and I noticed that there was a neon blue glow in the direction of the Colosseum. Courtney and I, although we were exhausted from our trip, decided to walk to the colosseum and check it out. The first thing that we noticed were the plentiful booms of fireworks in the distance. There were also numerous brides getting pictures taken around the ancient stadium. When we got close enough, we realized that the exterior of the colosseum was lit up like normal. From the interior however, there were huge blue lights shining on the inside of the colosseum. It made the old structure seem very creepy. We had no idea why they did this, and everyone we asked either didn't know of couldn't speak English. Anyways, it was cool to see the colosseum in this glow. Yet again, my pictures were full of orbs. Very cool!

Tivoli Advertisement

2008-06-15T10:21:00.001-07:00

While I was in Tivoli, I noticed numerous advertisements for concerts in the Villa Adriana. I never put two and two together, and figured out that the posters meant Hadrian's Villa. While I was walking through Hadrian's Villa I noticed a stage set up in front of a large ruin. It then all made sense. The advertisements that I had seen throughout the city were for this venue. Right outside of Hadrian's Villa I saw a poster for a concert featuring a band named Paterno. Being the Penn Stater that I am I had to take a picture of this. Joe Pa would be proud!

Sunset in Tivoli

2008-06-15T10:10:00.001-07:00

When we got back to the train station in Tivoli at the top of the mountain. The sun was setting in the valley. You could seriously watch the sun fall. It went from being a complete circle to nothing in about 2 minutes. It was so beautiful. After the amazing day I had just had at Hadrian's Villa it seemed fitting to end with an gorgeous sunset. The trip to Tivoli might be the only time that I get out of Rome while in Italy. My mental image of Italy before getting here was exactly what I saw in Tivoli, rolling hills, and long valleys. I'm so glad I decided to visit Hadrian's Villa. From the beginning of the day until the end, my friend and I had no set plan. We just went with the flow on everything, and things couldn't have worked out perfectly. If you ever travel to Rome you have to visit this Tivoli, and surrounding ancient villas. It was an inspiring day.

A trip to Hadrian's Villa

2008-06-15T08:47:00.001-07:00

Hadrian's Villa was by far the most amazing ruins that I've seen since i've been in Europe. I thought it was very cool how you could crawl through the ancient remains. In Rome, all of the ruins are so touristy that you can't really explore for yourself. One of the coolest parts of the Villa was the Maritime Theater. This was Emperor Hadrian's very own get away inside of the Villa. It was surrounded by a moat filled with fresh water, and a tall outer wall that gave even more privacy. Hadrians lair was comprised of bedrooms, a library, and numerous bathes. Hadrian loved poetry, art, and philosophy.It is thought that this is where he would go to relax and create art. The only way to get across the moat was by two draw bridges. Towards the end of Hadrian's rein as emperor of Rome, he spent much of his time at the Villa. Saying "It was more peaceful than any place he had visited in Europe or in Rome" Many of the remains are still present, and it is very easy to formulate in your head what use to be located on this site. When you walk through the Forum in central Rome, it is not easy to get an idea of what use to be located there. Hadrian's Villa on the other hand is not like that at all. The area is surrounded by mountains and rolling hills. It was seriously one of the most beautiful places I had ever been in my life. I could have spent hours there just looking at the scenery. I can see why Hadrian chose this particular spot to build his summer retreat. Many of the pools in the villa can still be seen. During the hay day of the site, waterfalls flowed from pool to pool in the 300 acre complex. The water was constantly circulated so that it was clean and fresh. The sound that this water would have made, must have been extremely relaxing. Towards the north end of the site was an area called the Canopus, which is still filled with water today. The far end of the structure use to house a shrine dedicated to the emperor Hadrian. From the top of the building a thin sheer of water use to flow over the ledge creating a sheet of water between the shrine and the outer pool. The sound that this water would have made would have been heard hundreds of feet away from the site. There are replicas of the statues that use to be placed along the pool. This entire area used to be covered by a roof. It is not completely understood how this was accomplished. Architects have recreated two different ways this part of the villa use to be. In the picture below you can see the recreation of columns at the end of the pool. Further down the side, statues could have held up the roof. Either way, it would have been an extraordinary site to see. In the far ground of the picture is where the water would have spilled into the pool.

There was also a system of underground tunnels and canals that connected each building. In the heat of the day Hadrian and his people could get around the entire estate without ever walking outside.

There was a heating system that incorporated the sun, and fires located under the pools, which heated the water. There was a system of pipes that would allow hot or cold water to be added into the plumbing depending on the temperature that day. In ancient times, it was a modern day system of heated pools. Architects and scientists from all over the world marvel at this magnificent site. There are still many aspects of the site that we don't completely understand, and are unable to recreate. All of the models of Hadrians Villa are just ideas of what it used to be like. We cannot be sure how each structure was actually used.

On the opposite side of the site is the Piazza d'Oro, otherwise known as the golden square. This part of the villa housed an enormous garden, with pools and fountains. The picture above is what remains. It is thought that the structure in the far end of the picture was covered completely by a roof although architects still aren't sure how that would have been possible. The picture of the tunnel a little bit above, runs completely under the golden square, connecting the buildings on either side. There were canals in the tunnel that would have channeled water to the other side, with many drop offs. The water would have echoed through the tunnels making it sound like a babbling creek. There were numerous windows in the tunnel leading up to the gardens so the splashes from the water would have been heard throughout the square. To put this in perspective, the golden square would have been like a high class spa, with soothing sounds of trickling water. Hundreds of statues were uncovered in this part of the villa, so no doubt it would have been one of the most gorgeous sites in the entire complex.

(Information from; Eyewitness Travel Guide, www.wikipedia.com)

Drinking Fountain in Tivoli

2008-06-15T08:39:00.000-07:00

There weren't many drinking fountains in Tivoli like there were in Rome. There was however, one really cool one that I came across. There was an eagle on the top of it made out of different kinds of stones. There were two spouts that poured into two large bowls near the ground. The fountain looked extremely worn in an area of the town that was very well kept. I later found out from a local that the fountain had been there for many years. It had actually survived World War II. Much of the city had been destroyed in World War II, so it was a miracle that this structure is still intact. After filling up my water bottle with cool fresh water, I headed off to Hadrian's Villa.

Visiting Boy's Town

2008-06-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

On Friday, we had the opportunity to visit Boy's Town in the outskirts of Rome. The trip was very interesting and a lot different than what I expected. I pictured the site to more of an orphanage, but it was actually a lot like a summer camp. The entire place was very well kept, and it seemed like a great place to live if you were a kid with no place to go. I thought the art center was the most interesting thing there because the art work was so beautiful. There was a large amount of pottery that was painted with extreme precision. Most of the pieces looked like they could sold in pottery stores in the state. They were that good!Most of the pieces were made by kids that were under 15 years old. The boys come from all over the world. Most of them currently come from the middle east, which makes sense with all of the turmoil going on over there. Most of the boys who live in Boy's Town are Muslim. There was a Catholic Church located in the town, but the children were not forced to practice any specific religion. We had a chance to meet the current mayor of the town, and ask him questions. He was just your average kid. For some reason I thought the kids were going to be overly mature, because of what I had learned about their government. This really wasn't the case, the kids joked around and seemed to be just like I was when I was their age. Before we went to the site, we discussed how we thought the government ideology would hinder a young kids childhood. I really didn't see that to be the case at all. Overall, Boy's Town seemed like a very welcoming and safe place for the children to stay. I am very glad I had the opportunity to visit such a unique environment.

Boys Town Rome

2008-06-11T03:52:00.000-07:00

Boy's Town is a small village on the outskirts of Rome that houses children that completely govern themselves. There are two structures in the city, Garden City is for the younger children, while the Industrial City is for older children. They have their own government, financial system, and judicial affairs. The system was entirely implemented by the boys themselves. The boys created their own currency called the Scudo. It can be used to buy little things in the bazaar, or it can be deposited in the citizens' bank. Boys town was founded by Monsignor J.P. Carroll-Abbing he was quoted in saying "I dreamed of a future Boys’ Town, a community where the innate rights and duties and the God-given mission of each child in society would be respected and fostered." (http://www.citrag.it/index_en.htm) This Friday I am going to visit Boy's Town for the first time. It will be very interesting to see the schools, dormitories, and markets located there. I'll later be posting pictures and a place of interest that I found intriguing at the site.

Modern Looking Fountain

2008-06-11T01:56:00.000-07:00

Today as I was walking to the train station, I spotted a very cool fountain unlike any of the others I’ve seen in Rome. The fountain spills water into three bowls located on top of a unique drop spout. The water cascades down the curves steel into a shallow bath below. The top three bowls are used by pigeons to bath, which was why the square was flooded with them. The fountain is located before the bridge over the Tiber called Ponto Testaccio. It is located in the far southern portion of Trastevere, an area that I am currently exploring. Every day, I try to run in different parts of the city because I’ve found it is a great way to explore. So far I’ve run to the Circus Maximus, the Vatican at sunset, souther Trastevere, and the Janiculum Hill.

Terme De Nettuno (Ostio Antica Baths)

2008-06-11T00:16:00.000-07:00

One of the coolest parts of the Ostia Antica ruins, were the baths. 2000 years ago the bathes were equipped with hot water, and an adequate drainage system. I thought it was very interesting how the area where the mosaics are located also was a type of gymnasium. The actual playing field for fighters was later than used for body hygiene after the duel. Beneath the mosaic flooring there is a huge crawl space that held fires that were used to heat the water. Slaves were forced to keep the fires going, in extremely harsh conditions. The work would have been extremely poor, and dirty. They actually worked in the canals where the water was drained after it was used. As you can see by the pictures, the baths aren’t much different than showers of today. It kind of resembles a locker room. It is remarkable that Ancient Rome had running hot water, when that wasn’t even a luxury in the mid 1800s. When you look at Ancient Rome in that light, it is mind boggling that they were able to do the things they did.

The Disney of Europe, Amsterdam

2008-06-11T00:07:00.000-07:00

On the weekend of May 30th I visited Amsterdam in the Netherlands. I thought the city was absolutely beautiful. The style of the buildings always looked like something out of Disney World. The red light district was definitely an interesting sight, with hundreds of prostitutes behind windows lining the streets. It was almost as if they were in prison. I felt like I was committing a crime just being there, even though prostitution is legal in Amsterdam. The laws in Amsterdam are very lax, and you would think the city would be complete chaos. That really wasn’t the case, the people seemed very tame, and they were definitely the friendliest bunch I’ve met while traveling through Europe. I definitely want to visit the Netherlands again and get outside of the city. The Netherlands is known as the flower capital of the world, and the flower market was unlike any I’ve ever seen. Located along one of the many canals, the flower market was a burst of color in an already vibrant architectural city. My favorite aspect of Amsterdam was definitely the architecture. Almost all of the buildings had intricate brickwork with exaggerated rooftops that made them look like castles. Even though I was on there for a weekend, I could definitely see myself living in this city. The city had a homey feeling unlike Rome. Almost everyone spoke English, which gave me a much needed taste of the States. There was a wide array of food, and everything we tried was incredible. I really can’t think of anything negative to say about Amsterdam. I can’t wait to visit again someday!

A Day at the Mediterranean Sea

2008-06-11T00:03:00.000-07:00

After visiting Ostio Antico, I decided to travel out to the Mediterranean Sea and lay on the beach. It was a convenient trip because Ostio Antico is located half way down the metro line to the closest beach from Rome. I was unsure of what I was going to encounter, I didn’t know if the beach would be clean, dirty, crowded or vacant. We arrived at the beach a mere 20 minutes after boarding the metro, not knowing where to go we hopped on a bus immediately after we got off. It was the best thing we could have done because the bus took us a mile down the road to a beach that was less crowded. I was very impressed with the condition of the beach. We paid seven euros to enter the beach, and rent chairs. I thought it was a bit pricey at first but after I saw the facilities I had no reason to complain. The bathrooms were extremely clean, and there was a convenient beachside café that served drinks, paninis, and pizza. The sand was darker than the sand back home, and the sun made it so hot that it was nearly unbearable to stand on. Luckily there were wooden plank pathways all through the sand that were much cooler on the bottoms of your feet. There weren’t any waves, but the water was relatively clean considering how close to Rome we were. I definitely plan to go back to the beach again before I leave, only next time I can’t forget sun block!

Massive Colosseum Crowds

2008-06-10T23:59:00.001-07:00

The Roman Colosseum held in access of 55,000 spectators. Some scholars believe that number may be low, and in the hay day of colosseum spectacles, it had capacity crowds of over 80,000. The structure has 80 arched entrances which allowed the massive crowds to fill the colosseum fully from empty in around 10 minutes. (Eyewitness Travel) Each entrance has a Roman numerals located above the archway which helped spectators find their seats. The numbers can still be seen today. Entrance to the colosseum was free to the citizens of Rome, but seating was most definitely assigned according to class. The upper ring of the colosseum was for standing room section located for peasants, while the emperor sat on a large terrace called the podium. The fact that the colosseum could be filled and evacuated in ten minutes blows my mind. Beaver Stadium at Penn State, holds 110,000 people and if everyone stays until the end of the game, it takes at least 30 minutes to get out of the stadium. The ancient Romans built with an extreme precision, that is un parallel to the modern buildings of today. The colosseum is a testament to the brilliant architects of the ancient Roman empire who’s buildings still boggle historians to this date.

Arriving in Paris Tour De Eiffel

2008-06-09T03:27:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I left for Paris. The airline we chose to fly on (RyanAir), only flies out of the Ciampino airport, so it was kind of a hassle getting there. We had to take a cab, and the side of the city the airport was located on was congested with traffic all afternoon. Of course, we got stuck right in the middle of it, and it took us over an hour to get to the airport. On top of that, I was unaware that once we got to Paris we’d be an hour away from the city, so what I thought would be about three hours of travel turned into five. Regardless, the plane was on time, it was easy getting a bus into the city, and we pulled into our hostel at around 11.00 PM.Our hostel was located near Pigalle place. After arriving we figured out very quickly that we were located in the sex district. The last five minutes of our ride to our hostel took us by countless strip bars, and sex shops. It was really a site to see. I knew right away that the area we were staying in was going to be interesting. The first tourist site we passed was the Moulin Rouge. Although, it was located in the heart of all the flashing sex signs, it was not hard to spot. The letters were written in bright red lighting, and on top of the building was a huge windmill that spun a full 360 degrees. Everyone on our bus immediately began snapping pictures, and before I knew it we were at our hostel, a mere block away.

I realized rather quickly that we were not very close to the Eiffel Tower. Fortunately, the metro was still running, so we quickly figured out which stop we needed and we headed to the heart of the city. We didn’t get to the Eiffel Tower until about midnight. As we loomed closer, the tower kept getting larger and larger. The lighting on the tower is very bright, and it made it glow a golden hue. The tower didn’t even look real when you got up close to it.

I didn’t realize that there was a light show every night at the Eiffel Tower. Hundreds of flashing lights cover the tower from the base to the top. There are three shows per night starting on the hour at 11:00 PM – 1:00 AM. The first two shows happen when the tower is still lit, the last show however begins after the main lights are turned off. This was my favorite of them all, it was incredible looking up at the 986 foot tower in complete blackness with hundreds of white flashes. It was almost mesmerizing standing close to the tower peering all the way up to the top. I couldn’t get a good picture of the actual lighting effect. The light show is really something you have to see in person to understand what it’s like. Luckily, I’ll have it in my mind for years to come.

Advertisement in Paris

2008-06-09T03:21:00.001-07:00

Located throughout the city were numerous posters with Barrack Obama's picture on it. The poster read, Comment Il Change L'Amerique. I thought this was really interesting considering the overall French opinion of the United States. The fact that they display billboards around the city that have our presidential candidates located on them really showed me what I world power we are. Everyone that I have spoken to abroad has a very good understanding of our next election. It seems that every foreigner has an opinion about who would be the best candidate to be our next president. I've always known that America has had a huge influence on the world, and now that I am studying abroad I am seeing it first hand.

Hadrian's Villa

2008-06-03T03:56:00.000-07:00

In a small group of students including Toni Conti, Carley Bria, Cole Kitchen, and Courtney Marshall, along with the help of Mike Tumolo, we mapped out the route to get to Hadrian’s Villa.

Go to the Termini train station in Rome. Enter the upper part of the station and locate ticket machines. Search for the train to Tivoli. Once you get to Tivoli Station, locate local bus number 4 which you can take to Hadrian’s Villa. These directions can also be found in the Eyewitness Guide of Rome on page 269.

One of the most striking and best preserved parts of the Villa is the pool and an artificial grotto which were named Canopus Serapeum (the Emperor’s dining table). The Maritime Theater is a circular building within Ionic marble peristyle. This was a private retreat for the Emperor. A circular moat encloses an island where the theater is located. Finally, be sure to visit the Small and Great Thermae (baths) which are well preserved areas for public and private bathing. The small ones were used more privately for the emperors while the larger baths were used for visitors to the Villa. Check out this website for a number of virtual walk throughs of the Villa:

http://www.italyguides.it/us/roma/hadrian_s_villa/hadrian_s_villa.htm

The following are Sculptures of Hadrian and his lover Antinous. Hadrian is the older looking sculpture and Antinous is the other. There were many sculptures found on site of Antinous. I find the story of Antinous' death to be very interesting because I have yet to find out what exactly happened to him. "In October 130, according to Hadrian, "Antinous was drowned in Nilus." This is the only contemporaneous statement made — significantly by the one person in a position to "testify" at an inquaestio whose word was above reproach — and the sentence structure and meaning are very precise, whether translated from Latin or Greek. Speculation that Antinous drowned by accident, committed suicide or was "sacrificed" by Hadrian appeared later, and may have had a political agenda. It is not known whether his death was the result of accident, suicide, murder, or religious sacrifice. The speculation concerning suicide includes the possibility that Antinous sacrificed himself in an attempt to improve Hadrian's health. It seems very improbable that Hadrian would have consented to the death of his companion, given the depth of his grief following the loss, so if Antinous was murdered or committed suicide, Hadrian was taken by surprise."

Images and quoted story courtesy of (www.Wikipedia.com)

The Spanish Steps from Centrale Roma Termini

2008-06-03T03:43:00.000-07:00

Starting at the Centrale Roma Termini make a left on Via Cavour, and then make a right onto Via A. Depretis. Notice the Piazza Dell' Esquiline on your left. Follow down Via Depretis passing through the intersection with Via Nazionale. The street turns into Fontane, keep following it. On your right you will see Le Quattro Fontane before the intersection with Via XX Settembre. Continue through the intersection where Fontane turns into Vi A. Della Quatro, and on your right you will see Palazzo Barberini. Continue through the next intersection, where you will see Fontana Del Tritone on your right. After the intersection Via Del Quatro turns into Via Sistina. Follow that until you see V. Della Carrozze make a left onto that street. you will see Piazza Di Spagna on your left. Finally, you have arrived at the Spanish Steps! Refresh with a cold Beera!

The Spanish Steps link the Trinita Dei Marti to the Piazza Di Spagna. Charles Dickens reported that the steps were a common meeting place for artists and models. The steps are currently a popular place to hang out with friends and to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Many people visit this site to flirt, relax, and write poetry. (Eyewitness Travel Guide)

Colosseum from the Centrale Roma Termini

2008-06-03T03:26:00.000-07:00

Starting at the Station Centrale Roma Termini, turn left on Via Cavour. As you are walking notice the church that is located 4 blocks down on your right. This is the Santa Maria Maggiore. A picture of the interior of the church is shown in the picture to your right. Continue heading down Via Cavour and make a left on Via Eudosiana. Located on your right is the San Pietro in Vincoli. Inside of this church you will find the Chains which shackled St. Peter, and the Moses statue done by Michael Angelo. Continue down Via Eudosiana and notice Traianos Park and the Traianos Bathes. Make a right onto Via Terme Ditillo and the Colosseum will be located right in front of you.

The Roman Colosseum was built

around 2000 years ago. It was known

as Rome's ancient theater. There are numerous vendors and tourists that frequent this area daily. You will usually see Italians dressed up as gladiators that will pose with you for a picture. Of course, a small fee is required. The Roman Colosseum is one of most recognized structures in Rome.

Roman Vs Amsterdam Advertisements

2008-06-02T14:03:00.000-07:00

The advertisements that I saw in Amsterdam were completely different from the ones that I've gotten accustomed to in Rome. For instance, many of the ads in Amsterdam were neon lights, and they lit up the entire street. The amount of video boards in Amsterdam was astounding, it seemed as though every time you walked to a new block their was a 20 foot plasma screen TV flashing advertisements. The differences between Rome and Amsterdam were plentiful, but the thing that stood out the most was Rome's lapse in technology. Amsterdam was much more modern, and it wasn't just the advertisements that proved this. Amsterdam, as a whole was much cleaner than Rome. Although some places in Amsterdam looked very old, I felt like the architects that designed the city, meant to make newer buildings look that way. It was definitely a breath of fresh air visiting Amsterdam for the weekend. Even though Amsterdam is a city, its' characteristics never made it feel that way. I definitely enjoyed the escape from Rome!

Fountains in Peaceful places

2008-05-28T07:01:00.000-07:00

We visited San Clemente which gives tourists an opportunity to travel through three layers of history. "At street level, there is a 12th-century church; underneath this lies a 4th-century church; and below that are ancient Roman buildings." (DK Eyewitness Travel Guide) What I found most interesting about this place, was the courtyard on the right hand side of the building. The cobble stone that made up the floor of the outside area was overgrown, and the roof around the edges was full of weeds. I actually liked this effect because it made it seem like it was lost in time. I prefer to look at old historical buildings when they aren't cleaned up for the public because it gives me a better perspective of how time has worn down the site. In the center of the courtyard there was a pigeon bathing in a fountain. The fountain was so quant, but the way the water trickled down the sides of the round bowl, it made it so soothing. The area around the fountain echoed the sound of the water. I was informed that concerts had previously been held here, and I couldn't think of a more peaceful or beautiful place to see a show. The pigeon was definitely enjoying himself!

The Looming Colosseum

2008-05-28T06:38:00.000-07:00

One thing that I have noticed while walking around Rome, is how often the Colosseum shows up in the distance. I love walking down the street and seeing the Colosseum at the end of my line of sight. It is so massive and dominant that when I watch traffic flow down the street, it almost looks like the traffic is going to smack right into it. The buildings in Rome are all built so close together, so the perception of the Colosseum from far away looks like it is right in the middle of the street. We have been doing a lot of sightseeing over by the Colosseum, and I've been using it as a marker to tell where I am. I think it would be amazing to stand on the top tier of the third outer wall. I am sure the view from up there would be absolutely amazing. Whenever I get on top of a hill, or am at a place that has a view, the first thing I always do is look for the Colosseum to tell where I am in reference to it. When you look at it from far away, it seems dreary and dilapidated. In the middle of a sunny day the middle of the outer wall looks black and worn. I like this look because I think it really helps show it's extremely old age. If it was all scrubbed and polished I think the Colosseum would look silly because it is cracked and falling apart. When looking at the Colosseum from far away the buildings closer to you are nicely painted with solid bright colors. Comparing this to the Colosseum makes the Colosseum look like it's lost in time. It is really an awesome effect, that is completely natural. As you can see by the pictures, the Colosseum somberly sits among a fast paced city. It has been relatively unchanged for 1000s of years, while the city around it grows with the times.

The Facchino Drinking Fountain

2008-05-28T06:17:00.000-07:00

One of the fountains that I have used almost every day of class to fill my water bottle is the Fontanella del Facchino. The statue is of a chubby man holding onto a wine barrel. The Barrel has a gash in it and that is where the water flows out of. According to the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide, the statue is one of Rome's talking statues like that of the Pasquino. The fountain was created around 1590 and was moved from the Corso, to where it is located now along the wall of Banco Di Roma. The statue most likely represents a member of the Universita Degli Acquaroli, which was a fraternity of water carriers. It is also thought that the statue could represent Martin Luther, or the porter Abbondio Rizzio, who died carrying a barrel. I cannot count the number of times I've visited this statue to get a drink. It is conveniently located about 20 feet from the door to our classroom, so every break we get my fellow classmates and I all run to fill up. I've nicknamed him the Buddha because of his round figure and wise face. A couple of my friends have actually started calling him that too, so when thirsty, refer to Buddha!

The Colosseum; Day VS Night

2008-05-28T05:55:00.000-07:00

I have been to the Colosseum many times since I have been in Rome. The differences between the Colosseum at night and in the day are very abundant. During the day the Colosseum is a tourist hot spot, with thousands of people scurrying all around you. There are people dressed up as gladiators, and vendors everywhere you look. There isn't much shade around the Colosseum, so if you go during the day and it's sunny out, be prepared for it to be hot! Nighttime at the Colosseum is a completely different story. The night I visited, the temperature was cool and the air felt damp. There weren't many people around, and most of them seemed to be out on dates. I've been learning during my time here in Rome that the Colosseum is a very popular place to take your significant other. There isn't as much traffic at night so the whole setting is quieter and less frantic. The constant chatter of tourists is absent, and you aren't constantly bothered by vendors and tour guides. Personally, I could take in the Colosseum better at night because you were able to concentrate on your surroundings more thoroughly. It is very dark around the Colosseum at night, even though the Colosseum itself is very well lit. It's an all around different experience to visit the Colosseum at night than it is in the day time. As you can see in one of my earlier posts, you never know what you might see. I strongly suggest checking it out after dark, I promise it will be an experience to remember!

TV Commercials on Italian Television

2008-05-27T07:27:00.000-07:00

After playing around with the TV in our apartment we finally got it to work. In order to turn on our TV, you have to hit the power and channel up button at the same time, imagine that! Anyways, after watching very little Italian television the one thing that I am really getting a lot of enjoyment out of is the commercials. The similarities between Italian commercials and American commercials is very interesting. One of the first commercials I saw was a commercial for Dove shampoo. The commercials shows a woman in the shower, and a sensual Italian voice comes on telling you about the product. I got a kick out of the sexy Italian voice. Even though I couldn't understand what he was saying, I could relate to the commercial because of the tone of his voice. I had seen similar commercials back home so I didn't really need a dialogue to follow the commercial. I actually wanted to try the product out after viewing the commercial because the beautiful woman seemed to love the product. Even though I had no specifics about the product, the mix of the sexy voice, and the beautiful woman made me a fan!

Inside the Colosseum

2008-05-26T03:19:00.000-07:00

I finally got the opportunity to go inside of the Colosseum, and let me just say the whole experience was overwhelming. I was definitely taken aback the first time I walked through the portal and viewed the interior of the oval shaped stadium. The history that surrounded me was felt in the air by everyone. You could just tell that you were standing in something that was larger than life. I could honestly feel the amount of casualties that took place at the Colosseum around me. There is something very eerie about the massive structure. The ragged edges are dilapidated and noticeably ravaged by weather and time. Across from where I was standing was the side of the Colosseum where the outer ring was still standing. I thought it was amazing to look up at the interior of the third ring of the stadium and see the remains of the stairwells. I imagined thousands of Ancient Romans scurrying to the cheap seats 2000 years ago, and it gave me goose bumps. After this visualization, I gazed down at the remains of what use to be the playing space of the Colosseum. I peered into the ruins of the floor at the system of trap doors, and elevators that formerly released ancient beasts at the fighters. The mental image in my head was quite elaborate, and I knew that I could only imagine a miniscule of what actually use to take place here. I was completely blown away by what I saw that day. I definitely want to make another trip back to the interior of the Roman Colosseum, so cool!

Piazza Belli Fountain

2008-05-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

One of the first fountains that I saw coming into Rome, on the way to my apartment in Trastevere, is named the Piazza Belli. It was actually one of the first pictures that I took when touring the city. I had no idea that there was a write up about it in my eyewitness guide until today. "The Piazza Belli is named after Giuseppe Gioacchino Belli who wrote satirical sonnets in Roman dialect rather than academic Italian. At the center of the Piazza stands a statue of the poet (1913)." (Eyewitness Travel) Although I thought the statue of the poet was really cool, the neatest part of the monument that I noticed was the demon looking faces that spit water at the base of the statue. Every day on my way to class I pass by this monument and today after being in Rome for two weeks was the first day I actually stopped and looked at the details of this statue. The one thing that I've noticed about many statues in Rome, is that quite often they have flowers or wreaths placed on them. This statue seems to always have flowers draped over it. As you can see in the picture, today Belli's monument had a wreath on the upper part of the statue. I think its really awesome how romans decorate the statues around their city. After grabbing a drink from the statue, I realized that this is just another example of what the ancient aqueducts supply water too.

Roma Wins the Italian Cup

2008-05-25T05:29:00.001-07:00

Saturday night as I was sitting over at the girl's apartment, car horns started blaring out on the street. It began with just a couple honks, and within 20 minutes, the horns made one continuous sound. Not knowing what was taking place, I began my walk home. Half of the vespas and cars that I saw driving by had Roma soccer flags waving out the windows. It became apparent that Roma had won the Italian cup, and the city was in the midst of a major celebration. I thought it was really interesting how Roma's symbol for the soccer team was the statue of the "She-Wolf." The Etruscan bronze of the wolf dates from the early 5th century BC. "The legendary twins Romulus and Remus are the traditional founders of Rome, appearing in Roman mythology as the twin sons of the priestess Rhea Silvia, fathered by the god of war, Mars. According to the tradition recorded as history by Plutarch and Livy, Romulus served as the first King of Rome." (Wikipedia.com) I thought the icon Roma chose for their soccer team was very fitting. After seeing this statue in person, and understanding its meaning to Roma soccer fans, it has become one of my favorite statues i've seen thus far. The "She-Wolf" is located in the Capitoline Museum, and I strongly suggest checking it out if you ever come to Rome!

Dinner for Two

2008-05-24T11:14:00.000-07:00

After settling in, and getting to know our area of the city, my roommates and I have started to make some delicious meals for dinner. The Restaurants in Trastevere are very expensive, so we learned rather quickly that eating out every night was not going to be an option. Luckily, our neighborhood is filled with delicious fresh markets that have the most splendid fruits and vegetables that you could ever imagine. The tomatoes in Italy are fantastic, actually, they don't even taste like tomatoes. The tomatoes have a distinct sweet flavor to them that is not like any tomato I have ever tasted at home. I am definitely not looking forward to going back to the states and back to the vegetables I'm accustomed to at home. Anyways, tonight my roommate Shane and I made the most delicious meal. Fresh pork chops and sausage. Homemade bruschetta, with fresh tomatoes and olive oil, and penne pasta tossed in a light marinara. As you can see, it was the perfect Italian meal!

The water fountain in the Forum

2008-05-23T10:08:00.001-07:00

Today we walked around the forum, and right when I thought I was going to faint because of a lack of water, my prayers were answered and one of Rome's trusty aqueduct fountains stood before me. As I knelt down and took a sip of the pure cool water, I took a step back and really took notice of my surroundings. Was it possible that the aqueduct that was helping to quench my thirst was used by ancient Romans 2500 years ago? Contemplating that idea brought me back to the realization of how amazing it is that I'm actually fortunate enough to have the experience to view the ruins of the infamous ancient Roman civilization. I ended up filling my water bottle three times, I still can't get over how delicious the water is that flows out of these fountains!

Ceiling Mosaics in St. Peters

2008-05-23T04:38:00.000-07:00

The ceilings of St. Peters Cathedral absolutely blew my mind. The main dome of the church reaches 448 feet. It was hard to imagine that the dome was actually that high standing directly below it. It was almost as if it were an optical illusion. I kept thinking to myself that a rollercoaster that I had previously been on at Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio had a rollercoaster that was 420 feet tall. I can distinctly remember gazing up at the peak of this extreme thrill ride, being amazed at how incredibly high it was. It just didn’t seem possible to me that the dome of the world-renowned St. Peter’s cathedral surpassed that height. When we first entered the church, the main interior lighting had no yet been turned on. The interior of the cathedral was dim, and not easy to see its true beauty. Luckily, we visited the Vatican on a day when a mass was taking place to after about 20 minutes after we had arrived, the main organ began to sing, and the interior lighting came on with a radiant glow. Immediately the gold platelets on the interior of the dome shined a jeweler’s delight. It was absolutely breathtaking, and goose bumps immediately began to well on my arms. I am not Catholic, and I don’t consider myself a spiritual person, but at the moment I definitely saw god. I had never seen anything that was made by man look so beautiful. It was definitely an awe-inspiring moment.

Stained Glass

2008-05-23T04:17:00.000-07:00

Inside of the Santa Maria sopra Minerva I thought the stained glass windows were exquisite that lined the ceilings of the church. They were all very much the same, but at the same time completely different. The amount of time and effort put into these windows completely blows my mind. Even on a rainy day the light that shined in from the outside made them absolutely gorgeous. I use to think that the stained glass windows at my church at home were remarkable but what I witnessed today was at a completely different level. As you can see they all have pretty much the same shape, but their color and the way they were put together are completely different. I am sure that I am going to see an abundance more of stained glass during my stay in Rome, but to date, the windows I saw today took the cake.

Losing Yourself in the Streets of Rome

2008-05-21T04:35:00.000-07:00

One of the main characteristics of the city of Rome, are the extremely narrow streets. I have found in the first week that it is very easy to get lost while walking down the back alleys of each neighborhood. Normally getting lost would be a pain, but in Rome getting lost is one of my favorite things to do. You never know what is going to be around the next corner, and although much of the city looks the same, each neighborhood and piazza has its own distinctive character. When I say getting lost is a fun thing to you do, you might think I'm crazy, but actually getting lost isn't the correct term to use. There have been many times when I've been out in the city and I wouldn't say that I was lost, I just had no idea where I was. Every time that I have wondered without a distinct destination, it's always easy to find yourself right back where you started again. The streets of Rome aren't straight, they wind and curl. I think its absolutely beautiful how the city is set up because the buildings wind and curl along with the streets. I am starting to feel at home in Rome, and i've gotten accustomed to my daily routine of walking to class. Just today I actually stopped in mid stride, and just looked at my surroundings. I've only been here a week and I already caught myself taking the city for granted and ignoring its historic architectural beauty. It dawned on me, my god, this is Rome and just look how beautiful it is. If I taught myself anything today, it's be more aware of what is around you, because when in Rome, you just never know what might be located around the next corner.

McDonalds Ads in Rome

2008-05-21T04:26:00.000-07:00

The first thing that I noticed when I first moved to Rome, is that the only fast food chain i've seen has been McDonalds. McDonalds restaurants are located all over the city and surprisingly they are very expensive. I think its funny how McDonalds arrows are located on the same signs that point you in the direction of famous land marks. For instance near Piazza Del Collegio Romano is a red McDonalds sign pointing you in the way of the Pantheon. Interestingly enough, the signs that lead tourists to the Pantheon come far and between the signs that lead you to both McDonalds and the historic landmark. I think its interesting how much McDonalds is a world power through their marketing. The first thing in people's minds when they show up at the Pantheon is they arrived their by following the sign, is McDonalds. I find it kind of sad that the Golden Arches of the McDonalds chain are one of the most recognized symbols in the world.

Dinner with the Whole Crew

2008-05-20T04:54:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite nights so far, was when a large group of us went to Campe Di Fiori and had dinner. It took everyone a couple days to get settled in, but finally we were all ready to take on the city at night and find some delicious Italian cuisine. All together there was over 15 of us so it was definitely going to be a challenge to find a place where we could all sit down together. We realized that our best bet would probably be to hit a Piazza so the Campe Di Fiori was where we set off to. Unaware that we were heading into a tourist hotspot, we ended up waiting an extremely long time for food that was to say the least sub par. I thought it was reasonably priced actually, considering we all drank wine. It costed me about 12 Euro, which isn't too bad considering we had such a large group. Although the food was sub par and the wait was long, I was glad to finally get the whole group together. It was fun getting to know each other outside of the school setting, and I have to say that it really laid the ground for some great new friendships. I have always found that first impressions when meeting new people never really hold true for me. Some of the people that I met right off the bat I didn't think that I would get along with, a week later they have become my best friends on this trip. I couldn't be happier with my decision to come to Rome. I've been told that the friendships one makes while studying abroad last a lifetime because you become friends in a setting that is new and exciting. When you meet people under these circumstances you are all experiencing something together, that in turn ends up changing your life. I cannot believe that I have been in Rome for over a week now, although I feel like I've done so much the time is flying. In a flash i'll be back in the states wondering where all my time in Europe went. I'll be sure to toss more coins into The Trevi Fountain, because this experience is something that I don't want to see end! The first week has been so amazing, I can only imagine what I am about to discover in the 6 weeks!

Italian Ads Recognizable Faces

2008-05-20T04:40:00.000-07:00

Although many of the advertisements throughout the city have English as well as Italian on them, there are many that only have only Italian written on them. Obviously, I am in Italy so it doesn't surprise me that there would be ads with strictly Italian written on them, but I found it interesting that Italians use the same cartoon characters that we use. While I was walking down Viale Di Trastevere I was delightfully surprised to see one of my favorite cartoon characters looking back at me posted on a billboard. I couldn't tell what the advertisement was for, but the character used to sell the product certainly stood out to me!

When it Rains it Pours

2008-05-20T04:34:00.000-07:00

One thing that I have noticed during my first week in Rome, is that when they call for rain showers all day, it is not a continuous rain. Typically it rains hard for about 20 minutes and then the sun will come out. It is almost as if we are in a tropical climate. I have visited Florida many times and the weather is a lot like it is there. It has been raining off and on over the last couple of days and the fountains that I've seen are all over flowing with water. The Tiber river is also gushing and moving at a very fast pace. Luckily, the weather is suppose to clear up in the next couple days so it will give the water a chance to recede. The humidity is also very high. Every morning when I wake up I always feel sticky and it's a must to shower. In my mind the weather has been perfect. It hasn't gotten much hotter than 75 degrees. At night it is cool, but unfortunately the humidity remains high. I'm dreading the coming month of June when the weather typically spikes up into the high 80's. At least I am getting the majority of my sight seeing done while its cool!

The Moon and the Colosseum

2008-05-19T03:53:00.000-07:00

Wherever I am in the world I have always taken notice of the moon. My surroundings may be very different and I could be half way around the world, but one thing that always remains constant is the moon. No matter where you are it looks the same, although it may be located in different parts of the sky or the horizon, it still glows its same ominous shine. hen I was visiting the colosseum I did the stereotypical raise your hand over your head, close one eye and cover the moon with your thumb. For some reason doing this standing next to the Colosseum was a very cool moment for me. Notice the moon shining through the upper part of the Colosseum, the way the clouds were scurrying past the moon is made the area I was standing in dim, then get bright again. It was so awesome peering up at the moon through the openings in the outer ring of the Colosseum. Words can't describe what this was like for me. I wish you all could have been there! I guess the point of this post is to acknowledge that no matter where I'm at in the world i've always got our moon.

The Fuze is out!

2008-05-17T08:42:00.000-07:00

So we were hanging out at our apartment and our fuze blew. After playing with the electrical box for an hour we still couldn't figure out how to fix the problem. Dusk turned to night, and the five of us were sitting in the dark with candles. To get away from the problem me and two of my other roommates went out into the city at night just because we didn't want to stay in the dark. It actually turned out to be an amazing time, we we visited the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon at night. All three of these places had very a very different feel at night and it was a very unique experience visiting all three places. After returning home at 2:00 AM we went immediately to bed. For some reason the next morning I woke up wide awake at 5:45 AM. Don't ask me why, but something told me to check downstairs in the lobby for a fuze box because I was not about to take another cold shower. The stairs that lead to our apartment also lead to the basement so I ventured down there. It was very dark, very smelly, and very creepy... Using nothing but the light from a lighter I found a fuze box. After opening sure enough there were 15 separate apartments in the box and only on of them had a fuze that was turned down. How simple, how normal, a fuze box in the basement. uhhg...

Advertisements for American Bands in Venice

2008-05-17T08:02:00.000-07:00

The advertisement for a music festival in Rome shown here, i've noticed all over the city. That is one of the main themes that I've found with American advertisements in Rome. There are very few different ones, but there are an abundant of the same advertisements all over the city. Let me just say, the advertisement shown here definitely did the trick for me and my roommates. After seeing that this concert was going on we are definitely going to take a trip to Venice to see at least one night of this show. I think it would be an amazing experience to see Alanis Morissette, Counting Crows, Linkin Park, and the Police all in the setting of Venice. Not only are these bands all very different and i'd normally see this concert regardless, the fact that the show is Venice makes me extremely excited to see this show. I think its particularly interesting that Italians follow the same music and celebrities that we do. It really shows the power of Hollywood. I wondered to myself, who are famous Italians that local Romans follow? After stopping at a news stand and seeing all of the familiar US Celebrities i've come to the conclusion that American stars are a global power.

The Pineapple Fountain

2008-05-17T07:26:00.000-07:00

Near the Capitol Hill along Piazza Venezia across the street from the Victor Emmanuel Monument, there is a very unique watering trough. Shaped like a pineapple with two spickets so far this is my favorite watering hole. Not only does it look awesome, for some reason the water that comes out of this statue is ice cold. I've drank out of a number of watering holes, and every single one has a different temperature of water. I'm not positive but a lot of them have different tasting water as well, the taste might have something to do with the temperature I can't be completely sure. I find it very interesting how there are so many and they are all very different. It is very remarkable that many of these troughs are fed by the same aqueduct system that was used thousands of years ago. As the days mount that i've lived in this city, I've really taken note of how remarkable it is that the abundance of these watering troughs are fed by water from mountains that are up to 50 miles away. I definitely think that this particular fountain has the most character out of all the ones i've seen. As you can see by the picture, the pineapple fountain isn't exactly the cleanest of all the fountains i've seen, but I can definitely say that the water was delicious!

The Colosseum at Night

2008-05-17T06:56:00.000-07:00

After viewing the Colosseum during the day, I thought it would be cool to head over to the area after dark. There was no let down with this assumption. I thought that it was absolutely incredible how the Colosseum was lit up at night. It was so surreal walking around the Colosseum in the dark because it was absolutely beautiful, I could see why the characters in the books we've been reading go on dates there! I was under the impression that none of my pictures that I was taking were coming out because it was so dark, but when I uploaded them onto my computer and changed the exposure settings I was very surprised at what I saw. Almost every picture that I took of the Colosseum had white orbs all over them. I thought this was really interesting because every other picture that I took that night of other things did not have this effect. If you are one to believe that an orb is a spirit or a ghost, I guess it would make sense that thousands of them would be fluttering around this ancient wonder. On any given day in ancient rome dozens of people and hundreds of animals were slaughtered on the Colosseums hallowed ground. It might have been only in my head, but the air around the Colosseum definitely did feel strange and eerie. I can honestly say that so far, the Colossium has lived up to every expectation that I had about this spectacular structure.

Advertising in Rome

2008-05-15T06:29:00.000-07:00

Because I am majoring in Advertising Public Relations I thought that it would be very interesting to study different types of advertising throughout Rome. In the first couple days i've noticed that there is a huge American influence throughout the city. For instance, the movie Sex and the City is coming out at the end of this month, obviously this is an American film that takes place in New York City and i've noticed advertisements all over the city printed in English. I have to wonder, are these advertisements aimed for American's living here, or is America such an influence that english ads are understood by the average Italian. I find it very interesting to analyze this concept not only because it is my major, but because I've always found American influence on other cultures to be quite remarkable. If there was a popular Italian film coming out, you would never see the italian language on an Ad in midtown Manhattan. This is just one example, but I am eager to analyze other types of advertisements that I pass everyday while exploring the city, and walking to class.

Roman Watering Troughs

2008-05-15T06:11:00.001-07:00

The ancient Romans built a system of aqueducts that carried water from the nearby mountains to the center city of Rome. The aqueducts supplied fountains, baths, and sewers with fresh running water that kept the city both clean, and functional. I can remember learning about this in junior high but I had no idea that the same system was still used today. I was under the impression that water in this ancient city would be disgusting, possibly even unsafe to drink. Surprisingly throughout the city i've noticed that there are freshwater springs located everywhere. The water is delicious and you never know who or what you are going to see drinking out of this abundance of fresh water that flows constantly. The picture that I posted is a picture of the watering hole located a mere 20 feet outside of my apartment. A was a bit leery at first, but i've grown accustomed in the first week to filling my water bottle every day as I pass it on my way to class. Magnificent, ancient Rome, quenching thirst for 2000 years and counting.

The Roman Colosseum

2008-05-15T05:34:00.001-07:00

The Roman Colosseum is the oldest known "stadium" in the world. It is thought to be over 2000 years old. I find in remarkable that the remnants of this facility remain in modern day Rome, and that gridlock traffic whizzes around it 24 hours a day. For my entire life I have always had an infatuation with the Colosseum because of its rich history. When I was asked to choose a specific place in Rome to blog about it was a "no-brainer" for me to choose the Colosseum. I wasn't even in Rome for 24 hours before visiting this ancient battle ground. I think one of the reasons why the Colosseum is so special to me is because I have always been a huge fan of Penn State football, and the trek to the stadium on football Saturdays is something very exciting to me. When thinking that 2000 years ago 55,000+ people made a similiar trek to the Colosseum it blows my mind. I go watch Penn State football players tackle and hit their opponents. Ancient Romans watched gladiators dodge tigers and lions, while trying to spear their opponent. Death played as the agony of defeat, not points on a scoreboard. My how the human race has evolved. . .