Art Work and Perspective
December 17, 2008
I've always heard that appreciation of artwork masterpieces depends on who is looking at them, or the audience and what the audience considers to be "good." While in Italy, specifically Rome, I began to take many pictures of not only artwork but also various fashion outfits, monumental historical sites, and just random objects while
walking down the street. The picture taking, I hope, will help me in subsequent assignments since they represent various aspects of Rome and the Roman culture.
It was very interesting to me to see how different perspectives changed just within areas of Italy, and that's not to mention the contrast with my American upbringing. While looking at sculptures and hearing about the myths and stories connected to them, I heard of their origins: completely new ideas and stories for me. Were they passed down from generations? Are they still related to the faith or beliefs of modern Italians? Some legends are so different from what I have been taught to believe; I can totally appreciate the work and time put into the artwork and all these things connect to the history of Rome, but I can't say I am familiar with the stories -- they are challenging to consider, and I certainly have new things to wonder about.
Labels: rome
Posted by Sabrina Sheetz at 7:34 PM 0 comments
The Vatican City
The last two days in Rome were very exciting. On Saturday we visited Vatican City, and I was absolutely amazed with the whole experience. The museum was one of my favorites because it had a mixture of different items such as Egyptian artifacts, paintings, sculptures, and modern art. It allowed you to stay focused because there was a mixture of objects instead of it all being one thing such as just paintings. When we made it to the Sistine Chapel, I was amazed by the wonderful artwork; especially when I found out that Michelangelo painted the ceiling by lying on scaffolding. After leaving the Sistine Chapel, we traveled into St. Peter's Basilica. After seeing the Sistine Chapel, I thought that I couldn't get anymore amazed, but boy was I wrong. It was the most beautiful church I have ever stepped foot in. Pictures and words could not describe how amazing the building was. We were also able to see the wonderful views of the city from the top of the duomo and get some shots of the high river since they were experiencing the most rainfall they have had in 40 years. Finally to top the whole experience off, we saw the Vatican Christmas tree lighting ceremony. It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience and one that many people don't get the opportunity to say they have seen!On the last day, we visited the pyramid, the fort, and the cemetery where the poet Keats was buried. In the cemetery, there were a lot of cats. It looked like they were protecting the graves. It was very cute, and I enjoyed being able to see and pet the animals. One of the cats walked ahead of us like he was giving us a tour. We then took the metro to the forum. I didn't really know what to expect, so I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived there. It was neat how Susan would tell us what each "pile of rocks" was and we would use our imagination to "piece the puzzle" back together. Who knew that ruins could be so beautiful? There were also many opportunities to get some great pictures of the Coliseum and the city.
This was also the day that Kenisha dropped her gelato on the ground. Since this was a sad moment, we decided to take a picture and all of a sudden a guy came over and began taking pictures as well. Turns out he was a tourist from Australia, and he and his friends (one that was from California) talked to us about their adventures. It was fun to be able to share our experiences with people that were experiencing the same place as us for the first time, too.
Rome is a wonderful place and I would definitely like to go back and visit it again.
Labels: rome
Posted by Amanda at 1:21 AM 0 comments
Trains and Planes and Final Thoughts!
Before I started writing my final blog, I decided to go back and read some of my journal entries. Every night before I went to bed, I would write in my journal and I would make a title for the entry. Some of those included "The Florence Adventure" , "A Great End To A Great City" (leaving Florence), "Feeling Like A Kid Again" (Playing in the fort at Assisi), and "When in Rome..." I finally got to my last entry which I wrote on Sunday December 14th, which was the night before getting up to go home. The title of the entry was "Ending The Trip With A Bang". Little did I know that I was literally going to be ending my trip with a bang. :)When we arrived at the train station, we saw that the train that was to take us to the airport was present and loading passengers. The train had obviously been there awhile, but we decided we would try and make the train anyway. Jane and I were the first ones on the train when all of a sudden the bell rang and the doors slammed shut. We had the tickets so we couldn't leave without the rest of the group so Jane grabbed my luggage and pulled the door open to get out. I ran back and grabbed her luggage, but by the time it was my turn to get off the train, it started moving! I had to jump even though I debated on jumping or paying the fine for not having the ticket. If it wasn't for James and Harvey being there I probably would have just stayed on the train. It was also a good thing that I had Jane's luggage, because if I would have had mine there is no way it would have been as graceful of a landing as it was. It was very scary but it definitely was an experience that I wouldn't want to take back. It is something that I will always remember, but now I can't say that I have never broken the law. LOL!
We then had another adventure when we found out that our plane to Atlanta was delayed two hours. This caused us to miss our connection to Dayton from Atlanta, but luckily Delta was able to work things out and get us booked for the next available flight. Jane and I decided that it wasn't a good day for the sign pisces to travel because that was the sign for both of us.
Even though coming home was hectic, it made the feeling of arriving home even better once we were finally there and able to share all of our wonderful experiences we had in Rome with our friends and family. Even though we ran into a few bumps, it made our trip unique in its own way, and we can cherish those moments for all they are worth.
I have greatly enjoyed getting to know everyone on the trip, and I was glad to be able to share this experience with each and every one of them. The memories we have made together will be with us for the rest of our lives.
Labels: rome
Posted by Amanda at 12:51 AM 0 comments
Home Again
December 16, 2008
Hello everyone,
In our last couple of days, we were able to see the Vatican. Where do I start? The museum was an interesting collection of various artifacts and artwork. Everything from an Egyptian mummy to modern artwork and the infamous Sistine Chapel. The Sistine Chapel alone was a sight to see. It was a long way through the museum to get to the chapel, but it was worth it. The detail in the work and religious messages, such as Adam and Eve being cast away from the garden of Eden, made it beautiful and interesting to see. I cannot imagine how difficult it was for Michelangelo to lay on his back so high up and paint the ceiling.
The Roman Forum was also a site to see on our last day. It finally stopped raining, and the sky was blue for the first day in some time. The ruins of the basilica were big for only a portion of the building and quite a site to see. The pillars of old buildings were huge. The garden on the hill was beautiful and had an amazing view of the city. The view included the old ruins and the new, modern city. It is also interesting that the old Roman aqueducts still supply the city with water. With all the people sightseeing and the modern buildings surrounding the Forum, I cannot imagine the area in Ancient Rome.
It is good to be home, but there are definitely things I will miss. First of all, I love gelato! I do not know what exactly they do differently to gelato to make it different from ice cream, but it is delicious and much better. Chocolate, caramel, vanilla, strawberry, fruiti di bosco, raspberry, and banana were all great. I will also miss the picturesque landscape of Cortona and Assisi. I will miss the interesting city of Florence with its outer landscape, many interesting museums, and beautiful Cathedrals. Last but not least, I will miss the fascinating ruins of Ancient Rome mixed into the busy streets of Modern Rome.
Ciao
In our last couple of days, we were able to see the Vatican. Where do I start? The museum was an interesting collection of various artifacts and artwork. Everything from an Egyptian mummy to modern artwork and the infamous Sistine Chapel. The Sistine Chapel alone was a sight to see. It was a long way through the museum to get to the chapel, but it was worth it. The detail in the work and religious messages, such as Adam and Eve being cast away from the garden of Eden, made it beautiful and interesting to see. I cannot imagine how difficult it was for Michelangelo to lay on his back so high up and paint the ceiling.
The Roman Forum was also a site to see on our last day. It finally stopped raining, and the sky was blue for the first day in some time. The ruins of the basilica were big for only a portion of the building and quite a site to see. The pillars of old buildings were huge. The garden on the hill was beautiful and had an amazing view of the city. The view included the old ruins and the new, modern city. It is also interesting that the old Roman aqueducts still supply the city with water. With all the people sightseeing and the modern buildings surrounding the Forum, I cannot imagine the area in Ancient Rome.
It is good to be home, but there are definitely things I will miss. First of all, I love gelato! I do not know what exactly they do differently to gelato to make it different from ice cream, but it is delicious and much better. Chocolate, caramel, vanilla, strawberry, fruiti di bosco, raspberry, and banana were all great. I will also miss the picturesque landscape of Cortona and Assisi. I will miss the interesting city of Florence with its outer landscape, many interesting museums, and beautiful Cathedrals. Last but not least, I will miss the fascinating ruins of Ancient Rome mixed into the busy streets of Modern Rome.
Ciao
Labels: assisi, cortona, food, rome, siena
Posted by James at 10:44 PM 0 comments
Arrivederci, Roma
December 14, 2008Fellini, in declaring his love for Rome, dubbed it a “great whore of cities.” Naturally, I expected I'd find Rome exactly as captivating as Fellini did, and that I would see the strangely magical elements of the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain as Fellini did.
Some of that lusty, big city charm hit me instantly. When we first arrived in Rome, as we were on the train to Florence, I noticed a giant black fist on top of a nearby building, and I assumed it was some sort of fine art in a style reminiscent of Claes Oldenburg. As the train rolled away, I saw the fist from another angle. It is not a fist, but an advertisement for Samsung. The hand is holding a cell phone.
Of course, one can't hope to get a truly accurate impression of a city in just a few days. We didn't have time to become intimate with the city (to extend Fellini's metaphor), but as many female classmates complained, Rome is extremely phallocentric. For example, the toilets seldom have toilet seats. Beyond this, I got a sense of an anti-feminist vibe from Rome. In the windows of the lingerie shops, the mannequin legs rest with their thighs on the ground and their feet pointing in the air. For my taste, this is a harmless gag on our convention of severed legs parading through the display case. It is curious that even the legend of the founding of Rome substitutes a she-wolf for a regular human mother.
Although I was content in Rome, I found myself missing Florence. Florence is a city built around its history of art. Rome is a city built around its history of domination and control. There are remnants of Ancient Rome, the Papacy, and the Fascist period all over Rome. Even the Cinecittà (which has its own metro stop, to my surprise) doesn't break this pattern: it was built by Mussolini.
I felt the desire for control all over Rome. The Vatican is indeed beautiful, but The Pietà is behind glass to protect it from would-be attackers. Sadly, this protection is prohibitive to a meaningful appreciation of Michelangelo's masterpiece because the viewers cannot see it in its full three-dimensional sense. The barrier makes a stronger statement than the sculpture: Rome is a city that showcases its madmen, and Florence is a city that showcases its artists!
Posted by Luke Teaford at 5:44 PM 0 comments
my holy vatican experience
December 13, 2008
Today we got the immense pleasure of traveling to Vatican City to see the Vatican and Saint Peter's Church. It was such an amazing experience. It's an experience that can be enjoyed by everyone, whether you practice Catholicism or not. It is something that is recognized worldwide. Everyone knows about the Vatican and every beautiful piece of art that lies behind those walls. It is a universal truth that it is a privilege to see something so great, and we got to see it! Not only did we get to walk on the same ground as the pope, but we got to see so much art and beauty! My favorite part was getting to see the Sistine Chapel! It was so breathtaking. Just knowing that one man painted the entire ceiling with more perseverance and conviction than anyone knows today is more than I can take in.
I feel so very lucky getting to experience this rare opportunity that my parents and my parents' parents haven't gotten the chance to see. My I could feel my parents with me while we were touring through the Vatican, and I know that they are proud I was able to experience it. I am glad we are ending our trip on a good note such as this one. I'm sure there will be more spectacular reflections later. Till then....ciao.
I feel so very lucky getting to experience this rare opportunity that my parents and my parents' parents haven't gotten the chance to see. My I could feel my parents with me while we were touring through the Vatican, and I know that they are proud I was able to experience it. I am glad we are ending our trip on a good note such as this one. I'm sure there will be more spectacular reflections later. Till then....ciao.
Labels: rome
Posted by caroline at 2:18 PM 0 comments
Roma!
Today we went to Vatican City and toured the Vatican Museum, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel. How many people get to say that they have seen these amazing historical sites? I am definitely so lucky to be on this trip! Our group is doing something (in traveling to a foreign country for two weeks) that many other people don't ever get a chance to do. What a blessing.
I am not Catholic, but the sites we saw today were some of the most intricate, beautiful places that I've ever seen. You definitely don't have to be Catholic to appreciate these wonderful places. I can't imagine what it must have been like to contribute to the design of one of these buildings. Michelangelo is officially a genius. I can't even read while lying on my back, so I can't fathom what it must have been like to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel lying down that high in the air. That last brush stroke must have been a bittersweet moment for him - four years of work, complete at last. This trip has really helped me appreciate the hard work and architectural craftsmanship that people had thousands of years ago.
Tomorrow is our last day to explore Rome! AHHH!!! What an experience this has been. I can't wait to tell my family and friends about all of the things we've done and seen these last two weeks. Simply amazing...
I am not Catholic, but the sites we saw today were some of the most intricate, beautiful places that I've ever seen. You definitely don't have to be Catholic to appreciate these wonderful places. I can't imagine what it must have been like to contribute to the design of one of these buildings. Michelangelo is officially a genius. I can't even read while lying on my back, so I can't fathom what it must have been like to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel lying down that high in the air. That last brush stroke must have been a bittersweet moment for him - four years of work, complete at last. This trip has really helped me appreciate the hard work and architectural craftsmanship that people had thousands of years ago.
Tomorrow is our last day to explore Rome! AHHH!!! What an experience this has been. I can't wait to tell my family and friends about all of the things we've done and seen these last two weeks. Simply amazing...
Labels: rome
Posted by Anna Heberling at 2:15 PM 0 comments
Good Times!
December 12, 2008
Cortona and Assisi were amazing! These little hill towns have to be in the top most beautiful places in the world. With low lying clouds, the towns stood far above the clouds and looked like something out of a painting. Absolutely amazing!
Rome is pretty cool, too! It has been raining nearly everyday, but that does not bother me too much. I love the old ruins mixed in with the big city. The Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and other monuments were beautiful and amazing. I definitely enjoy cities, but I realize I do not want to live in one. Cities are great to visit, especially Rome.
One thing I realize in Italy is the apparent fascination with male nudity. Male parts are in many sculptures, paintings, and post cards. Odd souvenirs.
An interesting area of Italy is the grocery store. There are many cheeses: some very good! The sandwiches and other foods seem fresher than foods in the U.S.
Rome is pretty cool, too! It has been raining nearly everyday, but that does not bother me too much. I love the old ruins mixed in with the big city. The Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and other monuments were beautiful and amazing. I definitely enjoy cities, but I realize I do not want to live in one. Cities are great to visit, especially Rome.
One thing I realize in Italy is the apparent fascination with male nudity. Male parts are in many sculptures, paintings, and post cards. Odd souvenirs.
An interesting area of Italy is the grocery store. There are many cheeses: some very good! The sandwiches and other foods seem fresher than foods in the U.S.
Posted by James at 9:21 AM 0 comments
The eternal city
December 11, 2008
Ciao!
This is my first experience with blogging. This is actually my first experience with a lot of things. I am in Rome. La Città eterna! The eternal city. This past week has been completely chock-full of new experiences that have gotten me completely out of my comfort zone. I could go on for days about where we have been and what we have seen, but I think for now I'm just going to concentrate on one important aspect of being in Rome. This aspect is the lack of historical significance I feel as a person while being in this eternal city.
My life in America has been a bit on the dull side. I haven't seen a whole lot or experienced a lot. I've been in the same region for over 12 years. Coming to such a big city is completely daunting in itself, but coming to the most historically significant place in the world gives me more of a feeling that I have no historical background or no sense of how much there is to still discover about this world I inhabit.
In the past nine days, I feel as though I have seen so much. I have seen Michelangelo's David, the Colosseum , the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps... I could go on forever. In all of these experiences, our guide Susan could go on and on about all of the history about each place.
The one place I have felt a certain insignificance to myself is when we went to the Colosseum. This is a place I only have imagined in my head as a place of battle and historic entertainment, so when I saw it my reaction of feeling so small and so insignificant was very much expected. Being in a place that is so large and is 2,000 years old is a daunting concept to grasp. Being in a place that held the bodies of the most respected Roman Gods and Kings and looking at my insignificant self and my lack of experience and history is why I feel so out of place, but also so grateful that I could notice this, and make the decision to experience more and to not stop here in Rome, to open my brain for places all around the world so I can soak up all of the history and knowledge I can.
Till next time... Ciao.
Labels: rome
Posted by caroline at 12:00 PM 0 comments
"All roads lead to Rome"
It is officially our second day in Rome, and each day I enjoy the city even more. I have decided that I am a city lover, but I would definitely rather live outside of the city and be able to drive in to have a "night on the town." Florence is more of my pace for somewhere that I would want to live.One of my favorite things so far was when we all came out of the Metro station at the Colosseum and saw the huge structure for the first time. It was so pretty in that area with the Ancient Rome and the Modern Rome all mixing together. It is definitely something that I will always remember for the rest of my life.
Ciao Ciao!!
Labels: rome
Posted by Amanda at 11:55 AM 0 comments
Loving Italy!
I don't think that words can describe how amazed I am by everything here! Everything we have seen, learned about, read about, saw, watched, and listened to has been beyond stunning. Rome is a whole different world and I absolutely love it! The architecture, people, sights and sounds all seem to amaze me.
I want to take a minute to discuss a couple of key things that I have observed in the differences between my day to day life in America and how I see life here. To me, it is interesting to see how the people dress here. Everyone that I have seen is so well dressed compared to the constant sweat pants that people wear in America. Also, the timing of the stores being opened is so different here. It makes it really hard for us to find a restaurant at 6pm when we are all hungry. Italians don't usually eat till 8pm or so!
Although things are MUCH different here, I love it! I am so happy that I have had this opportunity and am so thankful for it. I am looking forward to the last few days here as I know they will be just as exciting as the first ten! CIAO!
I want to take a minute to discuss a couple of key things that I have observed in the differences between my day to day life in America and how I see life here. To me, it is interesting to see how the people dress here. Everyone that I have seen is so well dressed compared to the constant sweat pants that people wear in America. Also, the timing of the stores being opened is so different here. It makes it really hard for us to find a restaurant at 6pm when we are all hungry. Italians don't usually eat till 8pm or so!
Although things are MUCH different here, I love it! I am so happy that I have had this opportunity and am so thankful for it. I am looking forward to the last few days here as I know they will be just as exciting as the first ten! CIAO!
Labels: rome
Posted by Jaime Schiferl at 11:48 AM 0 comments