Hello all,

As clichèd as it sounds, time is passing incredibly quickly here. I am almost halfway done, and that is hard to believe. Since the last post, I have to Venice, which was amazing. It is surreal pulling into the city at night on the vaparetto, seeing all the palazzi lit up along the Grand Canal. Of course, we got really lost right away, thanks to a combination of some poor directions, the wrong address, and a labyrinth of Venetian streets, and ended up back at the train station. Alas, we finally found the apartment in Canareggio, which was a great deal for 5 of us. The weather was ideal, and we spent most of the weekend walking around different sights. There is a remarkable view from the bell tower in St. Mark's, and you can see all of the city, the water, and snowy mountain crests in the distance -- so lovely. We also saw a few nice churches, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, which is a great little modern art collection that was very refreshing after so many dark and somewhat daunting religious images. On Sunday, we had an ill-fated trip to Murano, the little island where they make the glass, where we found all the factories were closed. But the boat ride in the sun was nice enough, and we found a cool, kitschy cemetery to look around.

Grand Canal in the daylight

And at sunset

In the bell tower at St. Mark's

Amazing view from the tower

Besides these travels, I have been in my usual routine-- midterms approach in all of my classes, work at Progetto Sud has been going well. This past weekend, I visited Tivoli, a sweet little town about an hour outside of Rome. It is famous for the Villa D'Este, which is a garden with all of these great fountains. I also went to a concert, Animal Collective, at this really cool new venue called Parco Musica that is a little bit outside of the city. Spring break is coming up, as well as a visit from my lovely mother. Then, there is only a short amount time left before I head across the Atlantic. Mamma Mia.

At the Villa D'Este, in Tivoli

Anyway, I hope that everyone is doing well, getting by in the last of the winter. I would love some updates!

Con amore,
Cait

Saluti da Roma,

The last days of February are over and it is really starting to feel like spring.

Cherry blossoms in the park down the street

Since my last post, I have been settling into classes, further exploring Rome, and doing some traveling. Last weekend, we went took a train to Florence from Termini Station. It is such a lovely place, small enough to see everything in a short amount of time and absolutely beautiful. Santa Maria del Fiore, the massive church with the famed dome designed by Brunelleschi, is so impressive. The weather was perfect, and I had the best sandwiches from this little shop run by two brothers, I Fratelli. The Uffizi Gallery was another highlight. I did not know what exactly they kept in their collection, so I would enter a room and see a Botticelli or Titian that I had seen innumerable times projected in art history classes or printed on posters. It was really remarkable.

View of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo

We went to Pisa on Sunday, which is only a short train ride away. The tower is really the only thing in town, and it is a lot smaller than I expected. We took the obligatory tourist pictures and then boarded the train for Rome.I had to

Since last weekend, I have been getting into classes, which are really interesting. I am taking on course on art conservation with this cool Italian girl. I feel like we are in the Da Vinci Code, learning about these secret flaws and layers in various artworks. I am also in a course with this cool Roman Catholic priest from California, on Contemporary Issues in the Catholic Church. We are debating really controversial things like same-sex marriage and abortion, so needless to say, it is going to be interesting. Additionally, I am doing an internship at a non-profit called Progetto Sud, which is sponsored by the Italian Labor Unions and coordinates projects with workers in developing countries. I think it will be a cool experience; I will be translating and helping with their website.
I am really trying to get out there and see different parts of Rome; there are so many cute little neighborhoods and sights. I am also getting into cooking for myself, which is hard not to in a culture that celebrates food and provides such amazing ingredients. I cannot believe it is March, I can already tell that my time here will pass very quickly. Spero che siate benisimmi...

Ciao ciao!

Basilica di San Giovanni, right near where I liveOutside this great Piazza, designed by MichelangeloPantheon

It is hard to believe that I have only been here for two weeks as it seems much longer. It is remarkable how much can change in such a short span of time. I have met so many new people and am learning my way around a completely foreign city, while two weeks ago I was slicing deli meat at Rosemont Market with three feet of snow outside the window. Morning bus rides by the Colosseum are almost becoming commonplace along with constantly reading, hearing, and speaking Italian (still with some difficulty).

Spanish Steps at night

Since I last posted, I have spent lots of time exploring the city. I went to Vatican City yesterday, which was amazing. The Sistine Chapel was smaller than I had expected, but very impressive. It is such an overwhelming place, I would love to be in there alone to really absorb it all, rather than with crowds of tourists. Still, the complex at the Vatican is huge and overloaded with amazing religious art and really ornately decorated halls.

In front of St. Peter's

This past week, I took an intensive Italian course, and now begin actual classes starting tomorrow. I am interviewing on Tuesday for an internship at the Roman Film Festival, which sounds like it could be a really cool opportunity. The reality that I am actually living here for a while has just set in. I am trying to make the most of everything, because everyone tells me it will go by very quickly. I wanted to share some more pictures, and would love to hear updates in return.

Amore from Roma

Blurry, contraband picture inside Sistine Chapel

Contemplating with the School of Athens

Adorable little Italian car

Walking home

I landed in Rome a week ago. After hours of travel, from Boston to Dublin, Dublin to Italy, I found my way to the quiet neighborhood that I would now call home. It was surreal, unpacking my belongings in this little peach colored room that is walking distance from the Colossuem. I live there with five girls, one of whom is an Italian student at a local university who studies archaeology and is originally from India. Her English is very good, so she has been a huge help.

My first impressions of Rome have gone against everything I expected. I had visions of crowded streets, impossibly complicated bus lines, greasy men with open shirts and chains. In actuality, the streets tend to be quiet in many areas, the buses are no crazier than those in New York, and the men are all dressed to the nines, old and young. The whole orientation process was helpful in explaining how things work, but at the same, a little disconcerting. They drilled the girls with safety warnings and shocking stories about aggressive Italian men. It seems we’ve taken five steps backwards in the whole women’s lib movement considering the boys in the program were given the job of “defending our honor”, but if that’s what it takes, so be it. When in Rome, right? That said, I have generally felt really safe here. It is just a matter of common sense.

I find that I can understand a lot, but my speaking is still shaky. Many people know English, and I have been good about trying my Italian everywhere. Still, I have my moments. For example, in the supermarket today, I didn’t know how to ask for my ham to be sliced or how to ask for a certain weight, so I just gestured a little amount with my fingers. The man sliced off a whole chunk that width, rather than slices, so I end up with a 5 euro slab of meat that I didn’t want. I hid it behind the yogurt and milk around the corner. Next time, I’ll carry my pocket dictionary.

Rome is truly a beautiful city. All those touristy sites – the Pantheon, the Colusseum, the Trevi Fountain – are really impressive in person. I still find it hard to navigate the windy streets and piazze, and I can’t wait to be more independent. Orientation has been good, but at the same time, I am ready to stop traveling en masse with 180 other American kids. Even if I still feel like a bumbling tourist, I can at least pretend on my own. We spent this past weekend on a trip to Assissi and Perugia. Assissi is this beautiful little hill town with an amazing basilica, la Basilica di San Francesco. St. Francis seems like a great guy, and the basilica was really beautiful, full of frescoes by Giotto among others. The food has been good, but I would like to find the more authentic restaurants off the beaten track. And of course, the wine is super cheap.

This week, I begin intensive Italian courses, which will be really good. Everyone is on their a-game in class, because we all really want to learn the language. The following week actual classes begin. I hope to do an internship in addition to my classes, but I am note sure where just yet. Anyway, this is just a brief update. I will keep posting as more adventures ensue, qui nell’Italia. Check out the pictures as well.

Ciao for now!

Outside the Basillica di San Franceso di Assisi

Cool little alley in AssissiThe arch of constatine
An amazing little church on the Palatine HillBeautiful light on the Forum