There has been quite the variety of activities going on here in Rome during the past few weeks: history class visits to numerous historical monuments, trips to southern Italy, museum visits to the MAXXI, a wonderful lecture from artist/photographer/filmmaker Giorgio de Finis of Metropoliz, and lots of time to get lost in the city. Here’s a short photo-style update on what some of these wonderful things have been like.
Sometimes a photo just says it all. Maybe it’s a simple shot of a landscape. Maybe it’s a “selfie” of you and a friend at the beach (remember to bend your elbow). And sometimes, the expression says it all.
It’s been a cold couple of weeks around here. Although Rome is relatively mild in the winter, the wind can be killer, especially along the Tiber. But that doesn’t stop us from bundling up and exploring the city. This photo was taken at the top of Castle St. Angelo. We were all freezing in the wind, but in a history class like Jeffrey Blanchard’s, you can’t stop taking notes (even if your hands are freezing).
In the end, the frozen note-taking is worth it because the professors know some of the best views in the whole city.
This Neapolitan’s take on staying warm — trash bags of piping-hot bread — is a tactic I had never seen before; but I imagine it will soon be popping up in spring fashion catalogs across Europe. Particularly France.
Sometimes we get lucky. One of my favorite feelings is coming out of a ruin to find that the sun has decided to grace us with its warming glow. Our visit to Herculaneum was a particularly nice day.
Calm and stoic Paestum.
Followed by a colorful reenactment of the first Greek Olympiad. Courtesy of Maria Paula and Manuela.
It’s times like these where everyone is happily lounging in the Mediterranean sun, that I wonder what ever possessed me to move to Ithaca.
The contrast of locations in Italy is incredible. Travelling with the program has so far yielded an incredible overview of the different types of geography around the country.
And plenty of walking to boot.
While in Rome we may not have architecture hewn from the living rock, there is always something new to be discovered. And when you discover something new, make sure you take a real hard look, because you may find there is more than meets the eye.
Other times… well there’s not a whole lot to do other than be amazed.
