beach day.

Here are a few snapshots from our day at the beach. We bonded over the granitas, speedo-watching, sun tanning, and in the days to come: healing sun-burnt skin.  Lesson learned:  If you want a good tan (and healthy skin) apply sunscreen continuously throughout the day.  Otherwise, you will look like a real (red) tourist and run the risk of suffering from first degree burns.  (sorry, Veronica!)

Next Stop: Siena

 We made a couple of stops on our way to Siena.  First was a recently discovered Etruscan tomb named Tomb of the Quadriga Infernale.  This tomb was discovered on an annual excavation of the surrounding area and is one of the most significant discoveries of Estrucology in decades.

It was one of those experiences that could have only happened on a trip like this.  And I don’t think it would have had the same effect as it did had I taken the time to research and find such an amazing side trip.  And even if I had taken the time to try to find such a gem I probably wouldn't have been successful.  Even thought the frescoes in this tomb are the most significant archeological Etruscan find in the last 10 years, they haven't made it to mainstream tourism.

None of us were as excited as we should have been on our way there, but as we walked back to the bus through the Tuscan fields, it was all we could talk about.  We had already visited the roman monuments that we had been dreaming about for months, but so far this was the coolest thing we had seen. 

The second stop was a small Tuscan town called Sarteano.

It was all very quaint and small and charming and it made me so grateful to be out of the big city and on to our next adventure.

friendliest waiter in Sarteano.

Cat, Gerasimos, Dan

Megan, Alison, & Gaby

   

St. Peter's Square.

night time around the Pantheon.

Field Trip in Rome

This weekend was a whirlwind.  In two and a half days we managed to explore the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Roman Forum, Piazza Novona, Piazza Campo da Fiori, Vatican City and the Vatican Museums, Trastevere and the Jewish Ghetto (again), and climbed to the top of the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica.  Phew!

The whole weekend was so packed with activities that I barely had any time to miss home.  My group got along really well and four of us were able to break away from our larger group of 17 to explore on our own.  Since I had so much fun in Trastevere and the Ghetto we decided to go there so I could “show them around”.

                                                  

Two highlights from our free afternoon were in these neighborhoods.  First, we ate a café that I gone to a couple days before and had great panini and wine.  It was located just far enough from the Colosseum so that it wasn’t a tourists trap.  When we arrived we were actually the only tourists there. 

The waiter was very friendly and offered us free sparkling water, dolce, and cappuccino.  We couldn’t have started our trek through the city on a better note.  I think my classmates had the type of moment I had on the bus a few days prior while we were sitting in that little café.  I had it all over again too.  I love the simple pleasure of enjoying a nice coffee, strolling from place to place and letting it all soak in.  

The second highlight took place in the center of the Jewish Ghetto.  Just beyond the “Bah-Ghetto” restaurant we noticed that some children were running around covered in shaving cream.  Naturally we all flocked to the scene and after speaking to one of the moms we found out that it was the last day of school and the kids just decided to celebrate by having a little fun.  Their smiles and laughter were contagious and we were on cloud nine for the rest of the afternoon.  We spent the rest of the afternoon happily exhausting..  My feet were in so much pain and they still are.  But I don’t care and I am not putting on my disgusting tourists shoes if it’s the last thing I do. 

Here are some other photo highlights of all of our field trips. 

Now we are off to Siena, but first we will visit an Etruscan tomb.  I think I’m going like it..  How about you?

It was all very exhausting and I am so happy to leave Rome and get to my new home.

Piazza Navona

Maria and Luca.  i heart them.

Pantheon

Vatican Museum

St. Peter's Basilica

Atop the St. Peter's Basilica Dome

Coloseo

the best tour guide ever.

kiddies.

First Roman dinner at Orso Ottanto

group pic.

love Rome but happy leave.

Solo Traveler.

Yesterday I stayed in the neighborhood for the evening so today I decided it was time to venture out.  I was still pretty homesick through the night and placed some teary-eyed facetimes to my Mom and Steve.  So when the morning came it took some time to pump myself up to attempt working the bus system again.  As I walked down the street to the main avenue I was pretty nervous about finding my way and finding things to do.  Since I arrived, it hadn’t really hit me that I was actually here and the excitement I had felt in the past months in anticipation for this trip completely faded.  But then….  BUT THEN!  I got on the bus and put on my headphones and I realized – “I’m actually doing this!”  It was very liberating and I felt a sense of independence that I had never felt before.  I was proud that I was managing in a foreign country all by myself and that I was having a good time.

Riding the bus was a success and my first stop was the Colosseum.  I caught my first glimpse of it from a couple of stops down so I decided to get off early and walk my way up so that I could let the anticipation build up a little more before I arrived. 

The architecture was stunning and I just strolled slowly through the area trying to absorb it all in.

After snapping a few photos I continued on foot towards a few places I had been looking forward to seeing since my early planning period.  Two places that were high on my list were the Ghetto and Trastevere.  These stops were my favorite for wandering.  The winding streets and the local charm really made me feel like I was getting a better and more authentic slice of Roman life.  Along the way I managed to have some conversations in my broken Italian and understood eighty-five percent of my new friend’s stories.  It was exactly what I came here for.  They all complimented me on my language skills and they are happily patient with me as I try to tell them about myself and about what I am doing here.  It definitely broke up the silence of traveling alone.

 The Jewish Ghetto.

Trastevere.

Tomorrow I meet my school group and I will finally have a dinner that doesn’t consist of pizza.  Not only is it delicious here, it’s also the cheapest thing you could find to eat so that’s what I’ve stuck to.  But I’m ready to move on.