Ciao Italia
Although I have been back in Wien a couple days, I am just getting around to finishing telling about my Rome trip.
Friday was probably my most 'down' day. The tiredness was setting in from all the walking and sightseeing I had been doing. Also I had stayed up a bit later than usual playing cards with Dirk the Aussie who had had his wallet stolen earlier in the day. I estimate that I probably walked a good 15 miles a day while I was there. I never rode the bus, and only took the subway twice (which I also attribute to still having all of my belongings). Walking is a good way to see the city, especially if you're just wandering around like I was. But I must have gone in SO many circles. I started the day at San Clement, a 12th century Basilica built atop a 4th century Basilica, built atop an old Pagan alter site. I paid to go down into all the different layers of the church. Pretty fascinating. The day was probably the prettiest of all. I walked through a few parks, took even more pictures of the colosseum from the hilltop, marveled over the palm trees and flowers in full bloom in November. I also made my way across town to a church that has a big round stone face. Legend has it that if you stick your right hand in it's mouth while telling a lie, it will bite you. The monks used to help this along by putting scorpions inside. (this is the new pic I have up). I visited the 'smallest inhabited island' in the world in the middle of the river, and ate the best gelato of the trip. Other highlights of the day included a man riding a bike with his cockatoo and a boyfriend taking a close-up of the gf's butt without her knowing it.
Saturday was my last day in Rome. I got up, ate breakfast and had to pack up my things. I left my bag at the hostel and went out for one last day of sightseeing. The first place I hit was amazing. It was an old crypt where they had excavated thousands of bones of Monks and used them to decorate the crypt walls in elaborate patterns. There were 6 vaults, all filled with bones. It was a throw back to good old Osteology days. And I was glad that I *thought* I could identify most everything. After the crypt I wound my way up a street hat lead to the top of the Spanish steps. There at the top sits the Villa Medicci, now a luxury hotel. There were masses waiting outside trying to get a glimpse of Tom Cruise who was staying there. I have to admit, I joined them for a bit. I have never been a part of the paparazzi scene before. I am pretty sure I saw the van that Tom left in (two pulled out and went in opposite directions). He was off to his wedding. I got a great picture of the back of a guard, but nothing else. I watched a photographer chase the van down the hill. Pretty entertaining. I continued walking through town, along the river. The day was spitting rain every once in a while. I climbed to a park on a hill that overlooks the river and city. Also up there was a door with a peephole that when looked through gave a perfect shot of Peters Basilica. I wandered my way down the hill through some residential neighborhoods, and ended up near the Colosseum one last time. I tourist watched a bit (still not in a hurry). As I was tourist watching, I saw a familiar face. I could not decide whether or not, and how to approach. But I went for it, and asked this girl "do you speak English?" She said yes, so I asked "Did you TA anthropology at U of I?" Turns out it was Jodi, my Ta from Osteology. She was in europe on a research grant, traveling and taking pictures of different Neanderthal skulls in museums for her research. Pretty funny to bump into her. We talked for maybe 15 minutes or so. She had just gotten in the day before from U of I. I ate some pasta (not all that impressed) and made my way back to the hostel. I still had plenty of time, but it was dark and rainy, and there was nothing else I felt I needed to see. I watched part of a movie at the hostel, checked email, and then went to the train station where I bought a sandwich for the train ride. My train ride was more crowded than the last, often with 5 of us, plus a poodle, in the car. I slept ok, but was glad to come home and crash all day Sunday.
Yesterday I spent cleaning in the morning, and then in the afternoon went shopping a bit. Bought nothing spectacular (unless you count double-sided tape), but looked around in lots of shops. Today instead of teaching I am going with my class to the Albertina museum's Picasso exhibit for a guided tour. Then Chinese class tonight (I really need to study), and back to school tomorrow for the first time in over a week!
Friday was probably my most 'down' day. The tiredness was setting in from all the walking and sightseeing I had been doing. Also I had stayed up a bit later than usual playing cards with Dirk the Aussie who had had his wallet stolen earlier in the day. I estimate that I probably walked a good 15 miles a day while I was there. I never rode the bus, and only took the subway twice (which I also attribute to still having all of my belongings). Walking is a good way to see the city, especially if you're just wandering around like I was. But I must have gone in SO many circles. I started the day at San Clement, a 12th century Basilica built atop a 4th century Basilica, built atop an old Pagan alter site. I paid to go down into all the different layers of the church. Pretty fascinating. The day was probably the prettiest of all. I walked through a few parks, took even more pictures of the colosseum from the hilltop, marveled over the palm trees and flowers in full bloom in November. I also made my way across town to a church that has a big round stone face. Legend has it that if you stick your right hand in it's mouth while telling a lie, it will bite you. The monks used to help this along by putting scorpions inside. (this is the new pic I have up). I visited the 'smallest inhabited island' in the world in the middle of the river, and ate the best gelato of the trip. Other highlights of the day included a man riding a bike with his cockatoo and a boyfriend taking a close-up of the gf's butt without her knowing it.
Saturday was my last day in Rome. I got up, ate breakfast and had to pack up my things. I left my bag at the hostel and went out for one last day of sightseeing. The first place I hit was amazing. It was an old crypt where they had excavated thousands of bones of Monks and used them to decorate the crypt walls in elaborate patterns. There were 6 vaults, all filled with bones. It was a throw back to good old Osteology days. And I was glad that I *thought* I could identify most everything. After the crypt I wound my way up a street hat lead to the top of the Spanish steps. There at the top sits the Villa Medicci, now a luxury hotel. There were masses waiting outside trying to get a glimpse of Tom Cruise who was staying there. I have to admit, I joined them for a bit. I have never been a part of the paparazzi scene before. I am pretty sure I saw the van that Tom left in (two pulled out and went in opposite directions). He was off to his wedding. I got a great picture of the back of a guard, but nothing else. I watched a photographer chase the van down the hill. Pretty entertaining. I continued walking through town, along the river. The day was spitting rain every once in a while. I climbed to a park on a hill that overlooks the river and city. Also up there was a door with a peephole that when looked through gave a perfect shot of Peters Basilica. I wandered my way down the hill through some residential neighborhoods, and ended up near the Colosseum one last time. I tourist watched a bit (still not in a hurry). As I was tourist watching, I saw a familiar face. I could not decide whether or not, and how to approach. But I went for it, and asked this girl "do you speak English?" She said yes, so I asked "Did you TA anthropology at U of I?" Turns out it was Jodi, my Ta from Osteology. She was in europe on a research grant, traveling and taking pictures of different Neanderthal skulls in museums for her research. Pretty funny to bump into her. We talked for maybe 15 minutes or so. She had just gotten in the day before from U of I. I ate some pasta (not all that impressed) and made my way back to the hostel. I still had plenty of time, but it was dark and rainy, and there was nothing else I felt I needed to see. I watched part of a movie at the hostel, checked email, and then went to the train station where I bought a sandwich for the train ride. My train ride was more crowded than the last, often with 5 of us, plus a poodle, in the car. I slept ok, but was glad to come home and crash all day Sunday.
Yesterday I spent cleaning in the morning, and then in the afternoon went shopping a bit. Bought nothing spectacular (unless you count double-sided tape), but looked around in lots of shops. Today instead of teaching I am going with my class to the Albertina museum's Picasso exhibit for a guided tour. Then Chinese class tonight (I really need to study), and back to school tomorrow for the first time in over a week!