7-1-07
Rome definitely was not built in a day. The place is huge! Thankfully, our school planned two full days and four different site-seeing itineraries to make sure we saw just about everything. We left Florence via charter bus bright and early Friday morning and checked into our 4 star Roman hotel in the early afternoon. Hotels abroad are very different from American hotels. For example, elevators are nonexistent so we were forced to haul luggage up 6 flights of marble stairs, which are extremely slippery and not made for sandals. Yes, I was the one to slip. They also keep your room key at the front desk, your passport, and give you a basket of eggs for breakfast. I thought Easter was in April? Anyway, my weekend tour guide was my Michelangelo professor. My nerdy, eccentric, unorganized professor. He was extremely flustered guiding 30 students through one of the biggest cities in the world, but he somehow managed to enlighten us on Roman history. Our first stop was the Spanish Steps, one of the most famous sites in Rome. We did not actually have time to climb the steps, but I took pictures and played in the fountain below them. From one fountain to another, we made our way to Trevi Fountain, designed and built under Pope Clement XII. It is customary at the fountain to toss a coin over your shoulder to guarantee a return visit some day. My toss was not the most graceful, so I hope it still counts. We took a lunch break near the fountain and returned only to realize that Rolf, my professor, had left my group behind. Did I mention that Rome is massive? Good thing I was a responsible student and wrote down his cell phone number. Rolf walked back to retrieve our irritated group and continued the tour to the Pantheon.
The Pantheon is a temple dedicated to the gods, hence the name, and has one of the world’s largest domes. Unfortunately, we were unable to go inside because it was closed, but apparently the dome’s eye admits a pretty spectacular beam of light. The inside is made of marble and houses the tombs of Raphael, the painter, and members of the Italian royal family. Hopefully, the coin I tossed into the Trevi Fountain will bring me back to see the inside. We moved on towards Piazza Navona and stopped along the way to play in more fountains and drink water off the side of a building. We also decided to intimidate a fountain by spitting water like the statues. We attracted quite an audience. Piazza Navona is unique because it was once a stadium and the shape still exists today.
Off to Capitol Hill, an ancient religious center turned town hall. It is quite an impressive architectural area. Michelangelo helped construct the steps leading up to the three palaces, the museums, and the fountain. From personal experience, I would like to say that Michelangelo’s stair design was less than desirable. They were the worst steps I have ever climbed, but at least they are aesthetically pleasing. Capitol Hill leads directly to the Roman Forum, which signifies the fall of the Roman Empire. The ruins include major halls, arches, basilicas, and temples. It’s an overwhelming site and one that best visually explains Roman history. The strangest part of the Forum was a set of transparent-looking columns placed among ancient columns. I was confused because they looked so new and discovered that Valentino ordered them for one of his upcoming fashion shows. They worship the man over here. I mean, they let him have a fashion show in the Forum! Who does that? After the Forum, we had to visit Moses. He is absolutely breathtaking compared to pictures we have studied in class. I could not take my eyes off him. This particular Michelangelo is one that most closely resembles both the Pope and the sculptor. It is a powerful, strong piece and overtakes the rest of the works on the tomb. Seeing Moses personally is the main reason I signed up for the Michelangelo class. 
The last stop of the day was the Colosseum. Wow! Words really cannot even begin to describe this place. We could almost see the gladiators, the lions, and the stands full of people. If only we were around in 72 A.D., I would have loved to watch a battle. The most interesting part of the Colosseum is the floor. It’s a maze of pathways and doorways and it is difficult to decipher what was actually held there. I spent a good amount of time trying to piece parts together. By the end of day one, I was exhausted and my feet were screaming at me. The school arranged a pizza party for Florence and Rome students that night and it was fun bonding with other Americans.
Rome definitely was not built in a day. The place is huge! Thankfully, our school planned two full days and four different site-seeing itineraries to make sure we saw just about everything. We left Florence via charter bus bright and early Friday morning and checked into our 4 star Roman hotel in the early afternoon. Hotels abroad are very different from American hotels. For example, elevators are nonexistent so we were forced to haul luggage up 6 flights of marble stairs, which are extremely slippery and not made for sandals. Yes, I was the one to slip. They also keep your room key at the front desk, your passport, and give you a basket of eggs for breakfast. I thought Easter was in April? Anyway, my weekend tour guide was my Michelangelo professor. My nerdy, eccentric, unorganized professor. He was extremely flustered guiding 30 students through one of the biggest cities in the world, but he somehow managed to enlighten us on Roman history. Our first stop was the Spanish Steps, one of the most famous sites in Rome. We did not actually have time to climb the steps, but I took pictures and played in the fountain below them. From one fountain to another, we made our way to Trevi Fountain, designed and built under Pope Clement XII. It is customary at the fountain to toss a coin over your shoulder to guarantee a return visit some day. My toss was not the most graceful, so I hope it still counts. We took a lunch break near the fountain and returned only to realize that Rolf, my professor, had left my group behind. Did I mention that Rome is massive? Good thing I was a responsible student and wrote down his cell phone number. Rolf walked back to retrieve our irritated group and continued the tour to the Pantheon.
The Pantheon is a temple dedicated to the gods, hence the name, and has one of the world’s largest domes. Unfortunately, we were unable to go inside because it was closed, but apparently the dome’s eye admits a pretty spectacular beam of light. The inside is made of marble and houses the tombs of Raphael, the painter, and members of the Italian royal family. Hopefully, the coin I tossed into the Trevi Fountain will bring me back to see the inside. We moved on towards Piazza Navona and stopped along the way to play in more fountains and drink water off the side of a building. We also decided to intimidate a fountain by spitting water like the statues. We attracted quite an audience. Piazza Navona is unique because it was once a stadium and the shape still exists today.Off to Capitol Hill, an ancient religious center turned town hall. It is quite an impressive architectural area. Michelangelo helped construct the steps leading up to the three palaces, the museums, and the fountain. From personal experience, I would like to say that Michelangelo’s stair design was less than desirable. They were the worst steps I have ever climbed, but at least they are aesthetically pleasing. Capitol Hill leads directly to the Roman Forum, which signifies the fall of the Roman Empire. The ruins include major halls, arches, basilicas, and temples. It’s an overwhelming site and one that best visually explains Roman history. The strangest part of the Forum was a set of transparent-looking columns placed among ancient columns. I was confused because they looked so new and discovered that Valentino ordered them for one of his upcoming fashion shows. They worship the man over here. I mean, they let him have a fashion show in the Forum! Who does that? After the Forum, we had to visit Moses. He is absolutely breathtaking compared to pictures we have studied in class. I could not take my eyes off him. This particular Michelangelo is one that most closely resembles both the Pope and the sculptor. It is a powerful, strong piece and overtakes the rest of the works on the tomb. Seeing Moses personally is the main reason I signed up for the Michelangelo class. The last stop of the day was the Colosseum. Wow! Words really cannot even begin to describe this place. We could almost see the gladiators, the lions, and the stands full of people. If only we were around in 72 A.D., I would have loved to watch a battle. The most interesting part of the Colosseum is the floor. It’s a maze of pathways and doorways and it is difficult to decipher what was actually held there. I spent a good amount of time trying to piece parts together. By the end of day one, I was exhausted and my feet were screaming at me. The school arranged a pizza party for Florence and Rome students that night and it was fun bonding with other Americans. 
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