Cait in Rome

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!