Carrie Thompson

 Italy Essay

It all started last spring semester, I had a bunch of friends who went on an amazing trip to Greece and said I had to travel abroad on a Study Tour because it was an easy way to get credits, cheaper than going abroad a whole semester and a good introduction to Europe if you haven’t been overseas before. I immediately found out when the next study abroad fair was and did some investigating of my own. There were many trips to choose from, one trip went to Austria, another to Greece and one to Italy. Italy had always been one of my top ten places to visit during my lifetime so I thought what the heck. I talked to my friend Angie and talked her into coming with me and to my luck she was easily convinced. We signed up and had no problem bragging to our other friends where we were going on Spring Break ‘06. The next few pages are a look into the experience of traveling to Italy.

Day one started out interesting, after sleeping for 14 hours and still adjusting to the time change I woke up excited to start my first day in Rome, Italy. We had breakfast and took a bus to the Colosseum. On the way there we saw the Circus Maximus, which was used for entertainment back in Roman times as well as a something similar to a public swimming pool to us in modern days. As we approached the Colosseum I was in amazement. I had always had a vision of what I thought it would look like to see it in real life and nothing can describe how big and astonishing it is. We started our first tour with the guide inside the Colosseum. I learned that the Roman’s used to keep animals and prisoners underneath what used to be a stage. Thousands and thousands of people would come to watch death at the Colosseum. I also remembered how we talked about the Roman Fever in Daisy Miller and how she became infected with it in the Colosseum. It was interesting to think of how much history was inside this empty place. When I was there, I felt the Colosseum was overwhelmingly filled with pain and death as well as bravery. Even though I appreciated the Colosseum I had a feeling of sadness while I was there. There seemed to be some repairing going on in certain areas and I also learned they are rebuilding the stage.  We then went to the Roman Forum.  This was one of my favorite sites we saw.  It was so interesting and beautiful to see the ruins of what was left of the forum.  I loved how the Italians respect the structures so much that they live and build new buildings around the old ones.  It shows that they care for their past and the history that goes along with it.  As we were walking we saw Constantine’s Arch on the way into the forum.  The intricacy of the carvings and art work into the stone was amazing and even more amazing that it still is standing and in good condition.  We saw where Caesar was killed and cremated.  I thought it was strange that they had this site open for people to walk up to and take pictures of.  My favorite view was when we walked up the steps near the forum and could see over the entire thing.  The view was beautiful.  We next saw the square that Michelangelo designed.  I thought it was amazing how perfect and precisely measured the square was.   Every part of it was symmetrical which seems almost impossible at the time it was constructed.   After this we had lunch near the Pantheon.  We ate at a little outdoor restaurant that had really good pasta and gelato.  While we were eating I kept thinking of the movie “Roman Holiday”.  I was wondering if the place we were eating was the same place that Audrey Hepburn had in the movie.    Next was the pantheon.  The pillars in the front were HUGE!  Apparently it takes four or five people with arms stretched to reach around the entire pillar.  I thought the domed ceiling was the best part of the Pantheon.  I learned that it was the first domed ceiling in the world and that the hole in the top stays open all year round, no matter what the weather is doing.  I signed a book inside the Pantheon and I have to be honest I didn’t know what it was for, but I did it anyways.  The last thing we did this day was go to the Trevi Fountain.  I wanted to throw a coin in which means I will return someday but I was unable to get close enough to the water.  I was also scared of getting mugged in this area because I was a tourist and stuck out like one.  I was close enough though to see how beautiful it is.  It is bigger and more intricate than I thought it would be. 

            Day two we took a bus to the Vatican to see the museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peters Basilica.  From the start I didn’t like the Vatican museums.  I thought they were very interesting but I wasn’t feeling well that day and I didn’t dress warm enough so I was cold the entire time.  That aside I did think that many of the statues were elaborate and carved carefully as well as the paintings.  There was one statue in particular that I liked, the name I’m not sure of, but it was of a man and his eyes were extremely real looking.  If you looked closely, the eyes are so perfectly sculpted they almost appear to have a very, very faint color to them.  I also liked the statue of the young boy who was about 13 or 14 years old.  I liked it because it was the only statue I had seen of a child.  The ceilings on the way to the Sistine Chapel were another beautiful favorite of mine.  When we were in one of the many rooms there was a painting that went across all the walls and ceiling.  It showed people conversing to one another, looking at one another and looking “away” from the room.  However, there was one person in the painting who was looking at the room, almost as if they were looking at you.  The person apparently was a male but looked very feminine.  I was completely intrigued when I heard that he was looking at the room for a reason that is unknown.  His eyes seemed so real and stared at you wherever you went in this room.  We then entered the Sistine Chapel, which was packed with tourists and we were not supposed to talk.  I enjoyed seeing this but I was starting to feel more ill at this point and was feeling a little claustrophobic.  We next entered St. Peters basilica.  This was my least favorite part of the tour.  To me church is warm, loving, welcoming, bright place and I was turned off by the coldness and eeriness of St. Peters.  I am Lutheran and I can now see how the two religions differ.  There was also incense burning throughout the Basilica which made me nauseous and then I saw the dead pope lying in the glass case and I had to leave.  I must sound ridiculous but maybe if I had visited it on a different day I would have thought differently.  Unfortunately the circumstances were not in my favor this day.  That night was better, after a nap and some medicine I felt good.  A bunch of us went out to experience Rome at night.  We went to a few pubs and met some really nice Italian people.  Before this night, the Italians I had met were mostly rude and I could tell were not pleased by us American’s.  This night changed my perception that all Italians hate Americans!  We also got to see the Colosseum at night which was completely breath taking.  It was lit up with lights and we took a really fun picture in front of it. 

Day three we was our free day in Rome so we slept in a bit, had breakfast and set out for some shopping, food and more sight seeing.  We went to the Spanish Steps and hung out there for a while.  It was a blast to people watch there.  It looked like a melting pot of people which was cool to see.  We then split up and did our own things and planned on meeting up later.  Angie and I went to some trendy Italian clothing stores and had lunch a really good deli near the cab station.  We had fresh pasta that they made in front of us and fresh fruit.  It was one of the best meals I had there and one of the fastest!  We then tried to get back to the Steps but got lost, I asked some random Italian man for directions and he spoke English really well.  He gave us perfect directions back and luckily got back just in time to meet up with the others.  We then took the train to the Mediterranean Sea.  There we hung out on the beach, waded into the water and relaxed.  It was beautiful and very peaceful there.  It looked as though the area we went to was a summer town.  No one was around and most buildings were boarded up.  We went to a pizza place close by and had pizza then took the train back.  I would definitely go back to the Mediterranean Sea again. 

Day four we woke up early and took the train to Florence.  Once we got there we checked into the rooms and went to lunch at an outdoor café.  It was fun and nice and warm!  A group of us also went shopping around the same area we ate at.  It was fun and relaxing.  Later that night we invited everyone over to my and Angie’s room for some wine and hanging out.  We also had a deck off the back of our room and we could see the night sky of Italy pretty well.  We went to be early that night so we were rested for the next day. 

Day five we had a full day tour of the Uffitzi Gallery, Palazzo and Accademia.  My favorite part of this day was definitely the David.  We looked at other art work while at the Accademia but the David was the most amazing of all.  He was so real looking at gigantic.  His hands and the veins in his arms were what made him more real than anything else.  I have studied human anatomy and many other sciences throughout school and have always thought it was interesting how Michelangelo would take dead cadavers and dissect them to learn more.  He was such a complex and multitalented man.   I think that this early exploration into human medicine is so fascinating because he had no idea what he was doing but learned as he went and was fairly accurate with his hypothesis.  We then went to see the Duomo and saw the oldest building in Florence which was built in 1100.  The guide said that the building is still used to this day.  It looked to be a restaurant or bar of some type.  We saw the political square where there were many statues and fountains.  We went to lunch near the Uffitzi then had a tour of it.  I like artwork and think that paintings and artists are brilliant, however after an hour or so I was getting tired of seeing all of the paintings.  Just when I thought I needed to leave I saw one of my favorite pieces of artwork, which changed my mind.  It was the piece that takes place over water, there is a large shell and a woman with long blonde hair, covering he body is standing on it.  It has something to do with Venus.  I’ve seen the painting in many places but never knew what it was called or that it was even in this museum.  I was excited to see it and glad I didn’t give up on the tour. 

Day six was amazing!  We went to Siena which is my favorite place in Italy (tied with Venice).  We walked around and looked at the buildings, stairways, ally ways, and stairways.  I liked that we basically had most the day to do whatever we wanted to around Siena.  I liked the personal exploration part of this day trip.  We did a few tours of San Dominico and the Duomo.  Seeing St. Catherine’s finger and head was a little weird but I respect their reasoning.   After those tours a group of us went to an outdoor café in the middle of the Palazzo Publico.  The food was amazing and it was warm and sunny enough to wear a t-shirt.  We then went next door and had another try of Gelato.  It was just as good as it was in Rome.  We all sat in the middle of the Palazzo and hung out for the rest of the time.  People watching was fun there too and there were a lot of younger Italian people my age also.  I liked it so much I wished we had stayed there for a few more days.  I definitely want to go back to Siena someday. 

Day seven was our last full day in Italy and a few of us decided to take the train to Venice.  At first I didn’t think it would be worth the money or time but I’m SO glad I went.  It was just enough time to decide I need to go back for a longer stay.  The train pulled in and we got off right in front of the water..literally!  We were so amazed and I couldn’t believe I was there I was standing there not knowing where to go first.  We decided on a Gondola ride first then to lunch then shopping.  The gondola ride took us around canals and into little places that were so unique to anything I had ever seen.  We saw where Napoleon used to live and where his relatives lived after he died.  The buildings and architecture was unlike any place I had ever seen.  In many places the water had risen so high that people were forced out of their homes and workplace.  We saw where a boat launch used to be but the stairs leading down to where you would get on the boat were about 4 feet under water.  The gondolier said that the water is rising slowly but surely and eventually Venice will be under water.  That made me sad because it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to.  We next went to a restaurant that we happened to stumble upon.  They had the second best pasta I had in Italy and the people who worked there were so nice to us.  I felt welcomed in Venice unlike a few other places we had gone in Italy.  After lunch we shopped and I found a new love- Venetian glass.  I bought a few glass gifts for people and wanted to buy a beautiful vase for myself but I was so nervous I would break it I didn’t buy it.  I decided I would come back and bring enough money next time to have any glass I buy sent home.  I decided along with Siena I have to go back to Venice.  Later that night we had our farewell dinner with everyone which was a wonderful way to end the best trip I’ve ever been on!  This trip opened my eyes to another culture, I met 20 some new friends that I would not have met had it not been for this trip.  I learned that I do like trying things out of my comfort zone.  This was an experience of a lifetime and I couldn’t have picked a better trip to end my college career. 

Grade Rationale:

I feel that I deserve an A for the class.  I feel I deserve this grade because I came to class, participated and did all the homework, readings and assignments we had.  I participated in the D2L exercises as well as class discussions as best as I could.  I kept a journal throughout the trip and was present at all of the tours and excursions while in Italy.