Sunday, October 2, 2011

10.2.11 20:37

After the museo; Shane, Melissa, Jenni, Johan and I had lunch at Amor di Vino. We then walked through the Market some more (I bought a Rolex!!) until it was time to meet the group and go into the cathedral. We spent a good portion of time in the cathedral 'ooohing' and 'aaahhing' the incredible art. At 17:00 we had an informal lecture from Mark and Jim outside the baptistry. There was a family nearby taking photos with a baby who had to have just been baptized – clearly destined for sainthood. Later on while exploring Firenze with a small group we stumbled upon a flash mob! Not the best organized flash mob ever but a flash mob nonetheless.  

10.2.11 10:57

Today we will visit the Museo dell'Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore and Santa Maria del Fiore -After their church service is over of course.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

10.1.11 19:54

Today we packed all of our belongings to travel to Firenze via taxi then train. While waiting for our train in Termini Station, we tagged a ad pillar with our names, and Mark and Jim put their portraits up. After settling into the Hotel Maxim a group of us wandered around the streets of Firenze – mostly staying in the huge market that was pretty close to the hotel.  

Friday, September 30, 2011

9.30.11 22:15

Today was my last day in Roma! Tomorrow we head to Firenze for another week of touring. Since it's our last day, little was accomplished. Eventually my roommates and I ventured out to wander around, I was on a mission to buy some Birkenstocks- which I did buy for 49 euros. Most of the group dressed up to go out to dinner (Italian Prom!) and Mark was snapping photos of us as we were leaving. We had a glorious time at dinner.  

Thursday, September 29, 2011

9.29.11 14:00

Vatican City. As annoying as the Vatican staff and other tourists were, tourist would shove while guards will yell, I saw incredible art and that's all that matters, right? I did see an older man, I'll keep this classy, elbow an older woman in the face in the Sistine Chapel. I mean, the art is great but I didn't realize the violence it would create. Being in the Sistine Chapel is as close as I'll ever come to living through Catholic school when hitting kids was still ok, and I completely understand the deeply set fear of nuns that the adults, who were children in that era, still have.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

9.28.11 20:00

I don't know when but sometime last night Mark put a note on every door saying we had to leave the hotel at 8:30 because our tickets for Galleria Borghese were very strange, our time in the gallery was from 9 to 11 but Mark had to pick up our tickets 30 minutes before we went in. The gallery was absolutely mind blowing, and of course photography was not allowed. After the gallery we were free for the day to do as we pleased with an optional trip to the Pantheon at 16:00, which I went to because When In Roma...
After being set free at the gallery like a group of liberated chickens I went to Piazza Navona with Caitlin. We took perhaps the worse taxi ever to get there, the gas light was flashing the entire time and the car died in traffic a few times and the driver didn't give either a second thought, just kept weaving in and out of traffic. After exploring the piazza for a bit we returned to our hotel where I did my laundry in a sink, not nearly as bad as expected.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

9.27.11 17:11

After walking down the street we stopped at an area by a pizzeria to go our separate ways for an hour before heading on. About half the group went around the corner to eat the food we smuggled out from breakfast, I had an apple. When the hour had passed, we headed on the to metro, after 2 stops we exited to head to the church Santa Maria Del Victoria. After walking 3 or 4 blocks in the wrong direction we turned around and at 15:00 we found the church, which didn't open until 15:30 so we sat on the steps to wait. The church, like all baroque churches, was extravagant to the max. After taking in all the beauty the church had to offer we walked back to the metro to ride 4 more stops to walk to Basilica Di San Clemente, which is where I am currently sitting.  Again, no photos are allowed

9.27.11 8:45

Today is Becca;s 20th birthday!!! We have 4 or 5 stops planned for today, we'll see how well that goes. We had to move a church we were supposed to see yesterday to today because we could not go to the Colosseum until after 14:00

9.27.11 12:28

We've been at the National Etruscan museum for a few hours now, and on display they had 9 coins which were pretty incredible to see. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photos inside the museum, such a shame since they had such wonderful works on display.

Monday, September 26, 2011

9.26.11 20:22

Back at the hotel now, the Colosseum was amazing of course! Just sitting around with my roommate. Italia is so fabulous!!

9.26.11 13:45

We have finished Foro Romano, at around 13:15 or so. Now there is a lunch break with plans to meet at the Arch of Constantine outside the Colosseum at 14:30. Melissa, Shane, Becca and I took part of our breakfast to be our lunch instead of going somewhere to eat. We are now waiting to meet everyone.

9.26.11 10:13

I am currently sitting right in front of the Arch of Titus, maybe 10 feet away from it, in the Roman Forum [Foro Romaro] After being at the Wailing Wall, and seeing how the Jews still react to what the Romans did to their temple in 70AD - It's just incredible.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

9.25.11 17:55

At 15:00 we went to the Trevi Fountain which was swarming with people, so we are planning to return at a time when it should be less crowded. We wandered over to the Pantheon where we ending up losing Mark, Rhett, and Jim so we decided to return to the hotel, after stopping by a market to buy food for some people.

9.25.11 12:59

Today we woke up at 7, had breakfast at 7:30, at 8:20 we walked to the other hotel to pick up the other part of our group to go to Musei Capitolini. For breakfast, Italians eat a lot of bread, we had croissants and rosettis. A rosetti is a bread load basically that is very chewy and hollow. Musei Capotolini had incredible art, one of my favorites being the She Wolf. Next on our list is the Trevi Fountain at 15:00..

Saturday, September 24, 2011

9.24.11 23:49

I arrived in Roma around 15:30, luckily Mark was waiting near baggage claim for me, we then met up with Rhett then a few others who were waiting for us before getting on the train. I stopped my trimer after leaving the airport at 24 hours, 12 minutes, and 8 seconds. After the train we rode a bus then walked to our hotel, Residenza Zanardelli. A few of us went to dinner around 21:00, where for the first time ever I saw a wine being poured from a tap like beer usually is. So odd to see

9.24.11 13:46

The Departure time for my Paris to Roma flight was 12:35, this is something I missed. My layover was only one hour which is not nearly enough time to pass through customs, re-enter the security check and board in an airport this large. especially when not one but two French-version-of-TSA employees redirects you to the wrong area then security wants to re-scan your bag more than once because of the dangerous kindle you have stored away. So my new flight leaves at 15:25. I now have a much better understanding of what he means when Eddie Izzard says the French can be a little French.

9.24.11 10:40

We should be landing soon! I slept for about 2 hours, my sinus' were not handling the pressure very well earlier.

Friday, September 23, 2011

9.23.11 21:38

Well, "Water for Elephants" messed up the planes computer system so they had to reboot it. C'est la vie. I'm listening to Patton Oswalt's "Finest Hour" which is a much better form of entertainment

9.23.11 19:57

On the plane, just finished the movie "Something Borrowed" which was not the best and definitely not a good example of America to these international travelers. I am sitting next to a very pleasant women from LA and a french man. A second movie just started, it's "Water for Elephants"

9.23.11 15:14

I have been in Salt Lake City for a few hours now, sitting at the airport waiting for my plane (Which takes off at 16:50)

9.23.11

Today I leave Billings at 11:40 to fly to Salt Lake City leaving there to fly to Paris then on to Roma! While Checking in, Mark and Rhett Moak walked up behind mom and I. They are on the same flight from Billings to SLC. I should be arriving in Roma at 14:40 and I have my watch timing my airport time for today. Yesterday I went to the walk in with a sinus infection so this plane ride should be awesome.