Back in State College

After wrapping up classes last week, I spent a lot of time trying to "get everything in" before boarding a plane back to the States. I finally got to the Palazzo Barberini, Santa Maria della Vittoria, and the Galleria Doria-Pamphilj. I did lots of souvenir shopping and made one last trip to the Villa Borghese.



On Saturday, I began the three-ish day process that was getting back to State College (I'll leave the frustrating details out). Tomorrow, I begin teaching during the second summer session at Penn State (Public Speaking, of course), and I hope the immediacy of my Roman experience does not disappear in the midst of grading and learning from this batch of LEAP students. Here are some photos from a busy but wonderful last week in Rome.

Arrivederci!

Group Walk

This past Monday, our small groups convened at various meeting points throughout the city to participate in guided walks put together by the undergraduates. My group (Carley, Kelley, Brooke, Brian, Traci, and Joe) met at Campo de Fiori to explore the morning market and then proceeded to several bars/cafes and a couple of other interesting sights as we walked north toward Piazza del Popolo. Everyone humored me (what great sports!) and allowed me to take photos in front of the fountain in Piazza della Rotonda (near the Pantheon).

Although the heat was extreme, everyone was in good spirits. We compiled our individual knowledges of Roman points of interest and took turns teaching and learning. I have included the aforementioned photo (purely for embarrassment purposes).

Jenny in the Big City

Last week, my friend Jenny sent me an e-mail that I was sure I was misreading. In the message, she said her employer would be sending her to Rome at the last minute for a conference. I wondered how this trip would come to fruition since she did not have a passport. Well, Jenny took care of all the necessary document business and landed in Rome last Thursday. After her long days working at the conference, I ran her ragged all over the city, trying to fit in as much as possible in the four-day span she was afforded in the Eternal City. It was an almost unreal experience to be the Roman tour guide for my close friend, especially since I have spent all of my time here with PSU folks until Jenny arrived (and they with me, of course--that can't be too much of a picnic). To get outside of the education abroad bubble was valuable, and in some ways, it refreshed my eagerness to experience Rome and in different ways (and to re-experience some of the sites I had visited previously). Evidence of our (mis)adventures can be found below.

It's hot . . .

Since we arrived in Rome six weeks ago, the weather has been a bit erratic--clear skies in the morning and downpours in the afternoon; one day it's scalding hot and the next, we need to wear jeans and sweaters to walk around the city. All this time, we've been waiting for the weather to conform to the information that past participants in the Rhetoric of Rome program provided us. Lucky us! It's finally happened (now, go back and read the two preceding two sentences sarcastically). We've had nothing but ninety degree weather (plus) for the past few days, and it looks like it will remain that way until the end of our brief semester. Keep up with the Roman weather here.

"Protestant" Cemetary

The "Protestant" cemetary isn't solely for Protestants . It's actually a cemetary for non-Catholics (it was originally restricted to Protestants and practicers of Orthodox faith), and it's located just a few blocks from our apartment in Testaccio. I went for the first time today with the crew of instructors and a few undergrads. The cemetary contains the graves of Antonio Gramsci, John Keats, and Percy Bysshe Shelley, some friendly cats who act as pseudo-keepers of the graves, and tons of colorful and smartly kempt but unkempt flora.

In order to be eligible to be buried in this cemetary (yes! it's still a possibility), one must be a non-Catholic or non-Italian national who was a resident of Rome or died near Rome ("FAQ"). As burial sites go, I preferred this one to the catacombs we visited on the Via Appia Antica (San Sebastiano). Perhaps I gave into the romanticism of the dead poets and intricate marble gravestones . . . nah, I'm sure it was the kitties.



"FAQ." The Non-Catholic Cemetary in Rome. 19 June 2008. 2008. .

Musei Vaticani

Oh, the hours I passed today in the Vatican Museums. Aside from having to bump up against sweaty tour groups in a few of the rooms, this was a thoroughly enjoyable museum visit. I paid the extra six euro for the audio guide, which was completely worth it. It's difficult to do all the necessary (and unnecessary) preliminary research ahead of your visit because there is so much to see in these museums. Relying on the audio guide turned out to be a more than suitable alternative, and that fashionable lanyard around my neck was less cumbersome than carrying around my Eyewitness guide. My favorite fresco--the School of Athens in the Stanza della Segnatura.

On Your Honor, You Will Bike

Walking around Rome these past few weeks, I noticed some road work--or what appeared to be road work--where short, metal posts encompassing lots of colorful wires were being run into the ground in long rows. Two-ish days ago, I finally found out what the deal was. Rome has implemented a bike-sharing program, and oh, how I wish I could join (but alas, I leave in about ten days). The bikes are bright red (and super shiny at this point in their lifetime) with an all important basket in the front. I do enjoy walking and busing in Rome, but a bike would be a great option in a pinch, and with a bike-share program, can pick one up at various locations throughout the city whenever the mood strikes or it somehow becomes necessary. In the process of researching Roma'n'Bike online, I found a bike-sharing blog out of Washington, D.C. that recently posted some details (and a great photo of VIPs in suits on bikes), so I'll just link to it here.