6/5/15

Envoi

            The past 19 days have been the most exciting and fun filled days I have had in a long time. The experiences that I received in Rome are unlike any other. I believe that my time in Rome would not have been a great as it was if it were not for the Reading in Rome class that I had back in Skidmore College. I say that because if it was not for that specific class I would have been walking around Rome looking at ancient architectural structures and not knowing what they were, what their purpose was and how significant were they in back ancient Rome. I not only got to see the usual tourist attraction of visiting the Coliseum and the Vatican, but I got to go see other unique places that I would have never seen if I went on my own. I would not have visited locations like Tiber Island, Campo de’ Fiori, Piazza del Popolo, and the Mausoleum of Augustus. Not only was I able to go to Rome, but I was able to put the teachings from the class to actual use in my real world experiences in the city of Rome. Not only did I get a chance to get to know the city of Rome more closely, but I also got to know my classmates more and got to be much closer with them than I ever imagined I would be. Prior to this trip the only individuals who I really knew in the class were Franchesca and Glenibel. I at first didn’t really pay to mind the other students who were in the class. My mindset was to just go to class and then go straight out to whatever was next on my schedule. Tis trip allowed me to see my classmates in a different light. It was surprising to see how each of them acted outside of the classroom, which was very entertaining to me. I appreciate the fact that I got to know them a lot better. I now know that in the upcoming semester I will not only be going back to Skidmore College and going back to my usual friends, but I will be going back to a couple of new friends as well. Even though we had to wake up early in the morning I would not change anything about it because it allowed me to see more of Rome and enjoy the student presentations. The presentations were extremely beneficial because I was able to learn more about different structures and locations that have to deal with ancient Rome and like other tourists I would have probably just casually walked by them otherwise. The student presentations also led me to have a personal bond with Tiber Island since it was my presentation site. I went to Tiber Island more than any other location in Rome just so I can practice what I was going to say when my day came up. Even though I was a nervous wreck during my presentation I still got to appreciate the beauty that is Tiber Island. In a way I obtained a bond with the island and got to personally appreciate the historical significance of the site and enjoyed researching as much as I did about it. With that being said that is not what only contributed to my joyful experience in Rome. I’m actually surprised to say that having to do the Giornali was very influential to my time in Rome due to the fact that I had to go without my professors to certain locations and learn about them on my own. One particular location that I enjoyed visiting as part of my solo excursion was the Capuchin Crypt. The main reason I went to visit the crypt was just to see the chapels made out of bones, I didn’t expect to gain so much information about the friars and how till this day they still help out the sick and the condemned. I have even taken some time out since I’ve been back to look up more information about the Capuchin friars. I got to experience so much in Rome and that even includes the night life. Experiencing the nightlife in Rome led me to witness the fact that American music has a strong presence to the night life and so does Hispanic music such as reggaeton. To see that even today just as Ancient Rome had outside influences such as the Egyptians and the Greeks, modern Rome is still being influenced from other countries. Rome was such a wonderful experience for me. I’m so fortunate to have this adventure be my first outside the United States and have spent it with wonderful individuals from my class and with two amazing professors. There is absolutely nothing I would change from the class to the trip abroad, except for the times that I was feeling under the weather because it took away time from me to experience more of Rome. For two and a half weeks I got to have Rome as my ancient backyard and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

6/3/15

Momentary Blindness

            As I sit down in the middle of the night I begin to close my eyes. The first thing I hear is a lot of people speaking. There is a mixture of Italian and English within the chatter. I can hear cars going pass by me. I can hear the engine running on some cars that go by. I don’t feel that much of a breeze on me. I can hear people laughing and having a good time. I hear a motorcycle or a moped going down the street I can’t really tell the difference. I believe someone is walking by me and then I hear a ringing, but it’s not coming from a bell. I now hear a bus going by. I later hear someone either clapping their hands or tapping a box of cigarettes. I hear females conversing in English. Their conversation revolves around another girl I hear someone entering their car then hear the car pull out of its parking spot. I unfortunately now smell cigarettes in the air. A motorcycle just went down the block pass me. The wind picks up a little bit and the leaves on the trees begin to move. I then smell something sweet like a perfume or some type of body lotion. Someone begins to laugh annoyingly. They have a laugh like a hyena. Someone starts talking about pasta, but I don’t want to hear about food anymore since I’m full and I can now feel the food getting digested. I end my momentary blindness early due to the fact that a guy is talking real obnoxiously and seems to be trying hard to make the girls laugh in order to get their attention. I end with that happy note.

Date: 6/2/15

Location: Bench in front of Piccolo Diavolo

6/2/15

Giornale 4

            For my final solo excursion I’ve changed my usually excursion team of Franchesca and Glenibel and instead went with Elyssa and Ally to the Church of the Gesu. We took the bus to Victor Emmanuel II Monument, which to me is still too humongous and hideous to be part of this great architectural city. Walking from the monument to the church was a bit of mission, we actually ended up walking in circles before we got to the main entrance. We ended up doing more walking than we really had to, I didn’t mind since I had a big lunch and I saw it as burning extra calories. When I enter the church I go straight to a giant mirror near the entrance of the church, since it was he first thing that caught my eye. When I looked at the mirror it was directed toward the ceiling which is has a giant painting of “Glory of the Mystical Lamb”. The purpose of the mirror was so that all of those in the church can view the painting right side up, and don’t have to struggle with their necks to see what it is. The clouds of the painting didn’t seem to actually be a painting, but possibly wood attached to the ceiling since there seemed to be shadows. Elyssa and I were trying to figure out if it was actually wood or just great painting skills that give it some sort of optical illusion. Ally later convinces us that it is all paint and that the artist could have just painted the shadows with the clouds. Just like most churches I’ve seen in Rome there are multiple chapels dedicated to certain individuals. Before I looked for information on the chapels I started looking at all the different sculptures and painting in the church because it all looked so wonderful and breathtaking. As I walked around the church I noticed that there was one chapel that tourist were not allowed to take pictures or enter. It was because that specific chapel was for praying only. Near that specific chapel I noticed that there were individuals sitting together as if they were waiting for something. I turned around and noticed that there was a priest who was holding confession. As I looked at the lit up confession box I begin to think of the last time I did a confession, I was in the 8^th grade. After lapping around the church I decide to look at the information that comes with each chapel. Unfortunately for me all the information was only provided in Italian. I decided to just look up the information later on my laptop. When we left the church we couldn’t find the bus stop to take us back to the university and again when we found it we realized we did more walking than we actually had to do. When I got home I figured out who some of the chapel were dedicated to. One of the chapel was dedicated to Saint Andrea due to the fact that the previously there was dedicated to that very saint. Another individual who has a chapel dedicated to them is Saint Ignatius. The chapel is said to hold the Saint’s tomb with it. At the end of the day though I have to say that the Church of the Gesu was the best looking of all previous sanctuaries I’ve been to, with the exception of the Synagogue. 

6/2/15

Giornale 3

            For my third solo excursion I’ve decided to team up with Franchesca and Glenibel and head to the small church of S. Maria della Vittoria which was close to where my second solo excursion took place, the Capuchin Crypt. On our way to the church we had to walk for a couple of minutes from the metro station. As we were heading over there we noticed a blue BMW convertible riding by us, the reason why the car stood out to us so much is because the driver’s side door was completely missing. We then started discussing if there was something special about the car’s door design that made the door look the way it appeared, or if the driver just completely lost his door. Unfortunately we never found out the answer. When we arrived to the church there was hardly anyone there which was good for a change since we’ve been in places that have been packed lately. The first thing that catches my eye when I entered the church was a bust statue of Jesus Christ. Afterwards I stop to take a picture of a portrait of what I believe to be is Saint Maria Della Vittoria since it is her church that I’m standing inside in. I see another painting with the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus, in front of the portrait there is a smaller portrait of Jesus Christ with some kind of cloak wrapped around his shoulders and his left hand seems to be waving to those who view the portrait. It seems as if Jesus is greeting everyone who enters the church. Afterwards while still in the church I found out that the church was built over an old chapel that was dedicated to Saint Paul, I also found out that the present church was not originally dedicated to the Virgin Mary, but it first dedicated to Saint Paul in dedication to the old chapel that once stood there. Pope Innocent X dedicated the church to the Virgin Mary in 1620 in gratitude for the victory the Catholic Church obtained in the battle of the White Mountain in Prague. I also later realized that the numerous chapels in the church were dedicated to different individuals. One of these individuals was Saint Francis. In his chapel there are paintings hanging around and altarpiece shows the Virgin Mary offering Jesus Christ to Saint Francis himself. Another specific individual that also had a chapel dedicated to him was Saint Joseph. In his chapel you can see a sculpture of an angel revealing the Mary is pregnant with Jesus Christ. Under the altar of the chapel you can see what looks like a wax figure of the martyr Saint Victoria. After we left the church we were walking back on the same path that led us to the church. This time we noticed that there were Orange trees planted on each side of the street. They were just casually there like a regular tree in New York City would be. I thought about getting an orange, but then remembered what my professors told me the last time I got an orange from a tree. I let the trees be and just went straight back home.

6/2/15

Giornale 2

            For my second solo excursion I’ve decided to join Franchesca and Glenibel to go to the Capuchin Crypt near the Barberini metro stop. Since we just had finish eating lunch and were fully rested we decided to go straight to the crypt. As we got out of the train station the sun was beaming hot. I was wishing I could wear shorts that day, but since we were going to the crypt my only choice was to wear jeans. When we arrived to the Capuchin Crypt I realized that I had to go through the museum before I can even get to see all the bones. I was hoping to see the bones first, but a little learning couldn’t hurt I guess. The first thing I see when I step into the museum is a couple of books being preserved behind a glass case. One of the books was bigger than the rest, that book was actually the old testament of the bible. I walked into a room that explained the history of the order of these specific friars. The Capuchin order was established in 1520, but soon after anyone following the order was forced into hiding by church authorities. They were late allowed to come out of hiding thanks to Pope Clement VII in 1528. Matteo Bassi is apparently the founder of the order, but the order was inspired by the life teachings of Saint Francis. The Capuchins can usually be found helping the sick in hospitals or teaching and helping the condemned in prisons. As I walk further into the museum I begin to see different relics from the past such as pots and more preserved books. I end up finding myself in front of a statue of a bloody Jesus Christ with a crown of thorns on his head. I start seeing more interpretations of Jesus Christ and think to myself that most of these look more demonic than holy. These friars started to become more gothic in my eyes than just holy, but what could I expect when they have a several chapels decorated with bones under the main church that’s also above the museum. Before I finally entered the crypt I stopped and looked at a wall which contained a map of how many Capuchin friars and monasteries are there in different countries all over the world. There are thousands friars and hundreds of monasteries back in the United States and obviously in Italy. I was really surprise by how strong their presence is around the world. When I entered the crypt I was amazed by how many skeletal remains there were all around the vicinity. The first chapel contained the tombs of previous friars while still being surrounded by the remains of other friars. When you get into the middle of the crypt there are no bones at all in the room. The room is actually the Mass Chapel which was used to celebrate mass. This room contains the actually heart of heart of Maria Felice Peretti, the grand-niece of Pope Sixtus V and a supporter of the Capuchin order. After leaving the crypt I decided to go upstairs to the main church to see how it was. It was beautiful, but I was disappointed to see no bones.

06/01/15

Giornale 1

            I Decided to visit the Castel Sant'Angelo since I had free time and I thought it would be a great experience to actually step inside a castle. Before I went to the castle I first met up with Vilmarie and Samantha. I met up with them at Giolitti, Which by my experience I Consider to be the best place for ice cream. After we each got our ice cream we DECIDED to walk near the Pantheon and ate them there. From That point we Walked to Ponte Sant'Angelo, Which is the Bridge That goes over the Tiber River and leads straight to Castel Sant'Angelo. When we arrive to the bridge the first thing I notice That we are actually being greeted by two saints. These saints are Saint Peter and Saint Paul. These are the first two statues That You See When You are heading towards the direction of Castel Sant'Angelo. When we were on the middle of the bridge Vilmarie That mentions the fact she is actually disappointed about hoe the bridge Looked like and though That it was going to be more of a jaw dropping experience. I Looked towards her with a blank expression and said if she expected there to be gold on the bridge, she replied by saying That She believed That the statues would be Opinions more amazing. As we make our way across the bridge she stops and looks to her left and says That the Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II looks Opinions more appealing to cross Because the statues seem to be Opinions more impressive Compared to the ones on Ponte Sant'Angelo. As we get closer to the castle I begin to be amazed by the size of it. As we enter the castle after getting our tickets I just begin to look all around me and see how the castle is enormous. The first walk into the courtyard and notice a bust statue of Jesus Christ with the word savior written in Latin on its base. As I walk in the courtyard I overhear someone saying That Executions of the condemned to place fatto che exact same location. As we make our way up the castle we pass by the hall of urns Which ounces hold the ashes of Hadrian and his family. After about half an hour of looking around the castle we finally DECIDED That it was time to go all the way to the top and take a view of the city from atop of the castle. As we made our way up the stairs I started running up the stairs two to the fact I wanted to be the first to take on a look of the view. When I got to the top I was amazed by the view. I could easily see all of Rome from where I was standing. I was disappointed by the fact That I could not take a picture of the two view to the repute my phone had died on me just minutes before, but the mental picture will never go away. After we Looked at the view for a couple of minutes we left the castle and headed home. It was definitely worth going to.

5/30/15

Momentary Blindness

I decided to sit on a bench and right afterwards I closed my eyes. As I sit down I take a bite off a piece of an orange that I got from a tree. As I chew on the orange the taste in my mouth is one of disgust. I thought it would be juicy sweet, but I was wrong. I can hear birds chirping from different directions. I hear a man speaking Italian, having a conversation with a woman. I thought I heard someone running, but I later realize it is someone riding a bike. Afterwards I hear more individuals riding bikes and passing right by me. I unfortunately still have the nasty taste of the orange in my mouth. I wish I had water or something to take the taste away.  I can hear the honking of cars coming from outside the area. I can feel the slight breeze gently hitting me, its wrapping around me, embracing me, and hugging me almost as if it hasn’t seen me in a while. I feel bits of sunlight hitting me, poking through the skies. The sunlight is coming out of hiding trying to light up the world. The wind begins to pick up, getting stronger. I soon hear an airplane overhead and it is pretty loud. I wished I had a better orange than the one I had, it still tasted pretty sour. I later hear a car alarm go off, as it rings I start to think to myself that the alarm is really annoying and I hope the owner shuts it off soon. After a couple of seconds the alarm finally stops. I hear footsteps walking by me pretty loudly while also hearing individuals joking around and laughing. I hear birds chirping from various directions. People are coming and going, and so are bikes. I then hear someone cough and at this point is where I stop and finally get up.

Location: Aventine Hill, next to the Basilica of Santa Sabina

Date : 5/28/15