ROMA!

After 14 days of traveling all around Europe, I was very excited to arrive at the JFRC (John Felice Rome Center) and unpack my suitcase. Kristin and I took a cab from the train station, checked in here at school, then took some time to hang out with the other students. In the afternoon we took a walking tour of the neighborhood so we could see where the grocery stores, ATMS, and most importantly gelato shops, are located.  We were welcomed by the staff with a wonderful outdoor barbeque in the evening... lots of great pastas, veggies, and prosecco.

After the barbeque a bunch of us headed downtown Rome to grab some drinks, see the city, and meet one another. We went to a bar across the street from the Colosseum... we had the absolute best view! 

 Our view from the bar!

On our second day, the JFRC took us to our "orientation".  We all drove out to this castle where the owners run a winery, and also produce their own cheeses.  We took a tour of their caves, tasted the wine and cheese, and bought some products. What's really cool about their winery is that in the process of digging out their cave, they found a bone from a mammoth! It was on display and has influenced their label! 

 The castle and the huge bone

We then sat down to a four-course meal.  All the food and wine was delicious.  We had toast with different spreads, pasta, steak and potatoes, and then coffee and cookies. We all passed out on the bus ride home... total food coma!

Monday Kristin and I headed downtown to meet Dad and Carl.  We spent some time in the Colosseum, grabbed some lunch, and headed to the Vatican. The colosseum was really really cool, but etremely hot. We had a guide who explained some of the details of the building that remains. It was really crazy to try and imagine 80,000 people fitting into the colosseum to watch the game.  

 The colosseum

The Arc of Constantine, built after Constantine eliminated the religious persecution of Jews

We had tickets for the museum, and spent the entire afternoon in there.  We some amazing art, everything from statues, sculptures, intricately painted ceilings, and of course the Sistine Chapel.  It was really fun to see pieces that I've studied.  This sculpture, Lacoon, was one of my favorite both during my visit and when I studied it freshman year of college in my Honors course.  And Rafael's painting "School of Athens" was one of my favorite in World History 1 freshman year of high school :)  It was lots of fun. And of course, the Sistine Chapel was amazing.

Some of my favorite pieces from the Vatican museum

After the museum we walked around the neighborhood, had our favorite Italian gelato thus far, and then checked out the St. Peter's Basilica. Being in that space was incredibly moving and powerful. 

Classes started the next day.  I am taking Art History and Digital Photography. My Art History professor is a pretty incredible woman. I'm sure I'll have a post all about her... but she once gave an impromptu tour to Bill Clinton in Greece after he walked right by on of the most important democratic artifacts.  Yeah, she's awesome. For both classes we spend a bunch of time downtown on site at various monuments and museums.  

To say the least, the start of my first week in Rome has been fantastic!!