Arrivederci!

Looking through all of my pictures from my last month in Italy sure makes this dreary Saturday in Maryland a little more bearable. I returned to the United States on Sunday, May 1, and facing my departure from Rome and the end of my study abroad experience was full of mixed feelings.

The day of departure turned out to be historic on both ends: May 1 was the beatification of Blessed Pope John Paul II, which attracted millions of pilgrims to Rome, and we were welcomed back into the U.S. with the victorious news that our Navy Seals had captured Bin Laden. Our program sure went out with a bang!
April flew by so fast as I traveled around Italy and attempted to soak in all Rome has to offer. The month started with an incredible, 36-hour whirlwind trip to London with some friends. Severe flight complications delayed our departure from Rome and got us into London hours later than we had planned for, but these travel complications reinforced the "carpe diem" attitude for us, so we explored the city non-stop and actually conquered our massive to-do list! London is one of my favorites cities, and I can actually picture myself living there one day. I loved the city for its pure beauty and opulent yet down-to-earth vibe.

The next weekend I traveled to Sicily with some friends. We stayed in Palermo, a city with rich history, fascinating architecture, and a beautiful coast. We explored the city for a day and devoured the incredible seafood, pesce spada, or swordfish, a local favorite. We also took a day trip to Agrigento, a tiny resort town south of Palermo, where we spent the day on the breath-taking beach. It was a perfect day in paradise: the sand was so smooth and the water was a crystal-clear blue, and the sun was beating down on us. Sicily was a relaxing beach getaway from the hustle and bustle of Rome.

Next was the program trip to Pompei, Sorrento, and Naples. Together we all explored the fascinating ruins of Pompei, stayed in a beachfront hotel in the beautiful resort town of Sorrento, and ate the world's best pizza in Naples. During our free day, my friends and I took the ferry from Sorrento to the most beautiful place I have ever seen, the island of Capri. We walked around the island and took a great boat tour around the entire island, from which we got a peak of the famous Blue Grotto. The trip was a great way to wind-down the semester and be together again as a group.

Lastly, my friend Katie and I took a pre-finals retreat to Cinque Terre, a region that is comprised of five hill-top, coastal towns connected by hiking trails. There, we enjoyed the beaches and hiked between each town, Riomaggiore, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, and Manarola, exploring unique characteristics of each town.

Back in Rome, I continued to try to soak in as much as the dynamic city's history and culture as possible, and took full advantage of Italian Culture Week, as all of the major museums were free. I went to the Pope's Mass at the Vatican on Easter Sunday and enjoyed a great lunch with my friends afterward. The last week was surreal and flew by, with exams and final dinners and goodbyes, and before I knew it, I was back in the U.S.

I had mixed feelings leaving Rome, since I was ready to be back with my family but it was difficult to think about everything I'd be leaving: the incredible history and architecture, favorite bars and restaurants, the Italian language, the generosity of the Romans, and just the opportunity to spontaneously explore some of the world's most famous and wondrous monuments and sites. I made a life for myself in Rome, and it hurt to leave it behind. But I am so proud of my newfound ability to be spontaneous, take risks and live in the moment. I made so many great new friends, with whom I have so many special memories. We became a family, and although it's sad to know that we'll never have this experience together again, I can't wait to share senior year and beyond with them. So now I'm happy to be back home in the U.S., but I think about Rome constantly, and I always want to remember the Eternal City as my second home. Forza Roma!     

Touring Italy for the Weekend

This past weekend I stayed in Italy, taking two mini-trips to two very different places. On Saturday I went with two friends to the charming town of Assisi for the day. It was a great day trip from Rome since the train ride was only two hours each way and 20 Euros roundtrip. Assisi is the most beautiful town I have seen yet. I know I've probably said that a lot, but Assisi definitely wins the prize. Like most little towns in Tuscany and Umbria, Assisi is perched on top of a steep mountain, and the views from anywhere along the stone-walled perimeter of the town are absolutely breathtaking. We had such a relaxing day in Assisi. The sun was beaming, it was a warm 65 degrees, and it was so peaceful to walk through the maze of quaint cobblestone streets that lead to piazzas with beautiful, unique churches and ultimately, the Basilica of St. Francis. Out of the many Tuscan and Umbrian towns I've been to, Assisi by far has the most charm and character. All along the quaint, narrow streets are beautiful shrines and gardens that residents have built outside their homes. Each church in the town is remarkably different, which made visiting at each one fascinating. We walked through the labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys for most of the day, stopping to along the way to visit churches and enjoy the gorgeous panoramas, but the Basilica of St. Francis was definitely the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. We were strolling through the town, following the signs for the basilica, and suddenly we saw sunlight up ahead, pouring into the end of the shady alley. When we got to the end, the giant white basilica rested on the soft, kelly-green hills at the bottom of the hill, glistening in the strong sunlight. It was so beautiful and perfect that it looked like a painting, not a real scene. The view of the landscape and the entire town of Assisi was incredible from the basilica. Returning to Rome around eight that evening, it had been a great day exploring a beautiful new town.

View from our balcony

From Sunday to Monday, my friends accompanied me on my visit to the beautiful little beach town of Francavilla al Mare to meet my distant cousin Alberto De Merolis, who owns a gorgeous beachfront hotel there. It was on my study abroad bucket list to meet Alberto and his family, so considering we had a free weekend and a good beach weather forecast, we decided to take the train to Francavilla. Meeting Alberto was a great experience! It was such a special and unique experience to reconnect with relatives and to be able to explore my Italian roots further. What made the experience even more special was that it was a great way to honor Uncle John, my late great uncle who passed away three weeks ago today. We had a great two days in Francavilla. Alberto gave us the best room in the hotel, a suite with two balconies that overlooked the Adriatic Sea. The beach had white sand and beautiful bright blue water. It was so relaxing to lie on the quiet beach for the day. When the sun started to go down, we left the beach, went for a long walk around the beachfront, and found an interesting restaurant where we enjoyed a delicious and fun dinner. I had a delicious seafood pizza, with salmon, crabmeat, shrimp, marinara, and cheese. The next day we enjoyed a large breakfast at the hotel, said our goodbyes and boarded the train back to Rome. Between my trip to Assisi and meeting my cousin in the beautiful Francavilla, it was a great weekend!

Me and Alberto

Never a Dull Moment in Rome

Trisha, Me & Angela at the Ice Club

My parents left last Friday morning, and I had a free weekend here in Rome, which turned out to be a really busy weekend, but a great one. On Friday, after a great dinner with my roommate Stephanie and her parents, we went to the Ice Club, one of the few ice bars in the world. Before entering the bar, we had to put on gloves and a heavy thermal cloak, which reminded me of something an astronaut might wear. Armed with our heavy protective gear to shield us from the elements, we entered the bar, which was a cool 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The entire club, from the bar to the walls itself, was made out of blocks of ice. We enjoyed sipping our drinks from the ice cube cups and sitting in the little igloo rooms carved into the walls. It was a fun experience and great way to cool off from the warm spring weather!

Our homemade apple strudel

On Saturday, I went with a bunch of my friends from the program to one of our favorite local restaurants for a lesson in Italian cuisine. Chef Andrea took us into the kitchen and taught us step-by-step how to make three delicious classic Italian dishes: fettuccine alla bolognese, Straccetti di Manzo con Pachino, Rughetta e Scaglie di Parmigiano (a thin cut of beef with tomatoes, arugula and shaves of parmesan, and apple strudel Italian style, with raisins and pears). The fettuccine was homemade, and it reminded me of when I used to cook with my grandmother, and we would make homemade gnocchi. The class was long, since we were in the kitchen from 10-2, but it was a lot of fun and I picked up some great tips and recipes to make for my family when I get home and for my roommates next year!

Rome Marathon

I thought Sunday would be a quiet day, but instead, I was awakened by a marching band outside my window! As I left my building to go to church, I saw the band marching up my street. Sunday was the feast day of San Giuseppe, or Saint Joseph, which is Father's Day in Italy, so maybe the parade was for that, but whatever the occasion was, it was a nice way to start the day! As I continued my walk to church, I saw large crowds of people on Via Nazionale. When I turned onto the street, I realized it was the Rome Marathon! Hundreds of men, women, kids, and dogs were zooming by, and in the distance I saw thousands of people marching towards Via Nazionale from the Vittorio Emmanuele monument. Although it was a little chaotic, watching the marathon provided me with a lot of entertainment for my walk to church...there's really never a dull moment in Rome!

A Big Week in Rome

Teatro dell'Opera illuminated in the trecolori

Last week was an important one for Rome. On Tuesday March 15, was the Ides of March, which was special this year, because I got to stand near the spot where Caesar was killed and see his burial tomb in the Roman Forum. It was interesting to see the men dressed up as gladiators all around the ruins where Caesar was assassinated.  But more importantly, Thursday, March 17 marked the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy, or as the Italians called it, the festa trecolori, or the festival of the three colors, for the green, white, and red national flag. Needless to say, this was a pretty important milestone, and there were many festivities around Rome to celebrate the occasion. There were lots of parades and concerts and many of the major historical museums throughout the city had free admission and were open until 2 A.M. My favorite display though was the illumination of the major monuments throughout the city with green, white, and red. It was so cool to walk to the end of my street and see the Vittorio Emmanuele monument and forum columns all lit up with the colors of the flag. At midnight on Wednesday I was getting ready for bed, when I suddenly heard fireworks going off. I ran outside to try to get a better look, and all the neighbors were out, standing in our little piazza, watching the beautiful trecolori fireworks show. As I stood there with the neighbors watching the color bursts, I realized that despite the fact that I'm in a different country half-way across the world from my home, I'm in the same situation: whenever we hear fireworks on the Fourth of July, we all run outside and watch them with our friends and neighbors, and here it is no different. It was a really special moment standing there, because it made me realize, yet again, what an incredible experience this is. I'm so lucky to be able to immerse myself in a different culture but also find incredible similarities. I'm so lucky that I got to be here to partake in this important occasion in Italy!

Mom, Dad, Me and Aunt Carol inside the Colusseum

 Another important reason why this was such a big week was because my family came to visit! My mom, dad, and Aunt Carol came to Rome on Sunday morning and stayed until Friday. It was so great to see them, since I hadn't seen my parents since I left for Rome in January and my aunt since Christmas, but it was even better to be able to show them all around my new city. I took them to many of my favorite places in Rome, like the Villa Borghese park, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, Santa Maria Maggiore, Santa Croce, and so many more. We also visited St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Roman Forum and Colusseum thorough Dr. Dawson's organized tours. I had a lot of fun with my family, and what made it so special was that I got to show them my new life here, taking them to my favorite lunch bars, restaurants, hang-out spots, and stores, and showing them my schools and my neighborhood. When I left in January, I was so excited for the experience ahead of me, but also very nervous and afraid of transitioning into a different culture, learning a new language, and going way outside my comfort zone. However, the culture shock was minimal and I picked up Italian pretty easily, so it was so special to show my family what I accomplished here and how much I've grown from all of these new experiences

Spring Break

 During our midterm break from March 7-11, some of my friends and I traveled to Paris and Barcelona. We had a blast, and it was a great travel experience because both cities were fascinating and immensely different.

We started in Paris, spending Saturday to Tuesday there. Ever since I started taking French in elementary, it has been a lifelong dream of mine to visit Paris, and the city was even more incredible than I ever imagined. The perfect gardens, beautiful fountains, luxurious mansions, and stately monuments created an air of sophistication, making me feel like I was an important aristocrat from Louis XIV's time. I don't know if it was all those years of French or just my pure excitement, but Paris immediately clicked with me, and I conquered the confusing metro system in no time, navigating us all over the city. I was really proud of all of my hard work in my French classes, because I successfully asked for directions, ordered our dinners, and understood important touristic information.  Following the quaint city streets to the Eiffel Tower, strolling along the Seine, exploring the opulent Versailles Palace, relaxing in the Versailles gardens, and window-shopping on the Champs Elysees instilled in me a constant feeling of excitement and satisfaction, since I was finally experiencing the city I have be learning about for much of my school years.

Along the Seine

After four amazing days in Paris, it was time to head to Barcelona. Although I was not ready to leave Paris, I was excited for what was to come. I knew absolutely nothing about Barcelona before going, which actually made the trip more exciting, because I had no expectations, and I came to the city with a blank slate, ready to just explore. Going from Paris to Barcelona was a dramatic change in pace. Paris is opulent, bustling, and uptight, while Barcelona has a calm, quirky and fun vibe. Barcelona was so relaxing because of its laidback atmosphere. Everyday we just walked around the city, discovering something fascinating and new. Unlike Paris, there was no itinerary and no race against the clock to see and do everything, it was all about exploring the fascinating mix of gothic and Mediterranean architecture, the flavorful Spanish food, the exciting nightlife and the beautiful beaches and landscapes. Barcelona is a filled with vibrant colors, from the bright colors of the impressive fruit market on Las Ramblas, to the bold colors of the Gaudi masterpieces in Park Guell.



On the beach in Barcelona



I had the best of both worlds on this trip. I fulfilled my dream of going to Paris where we played tourists, visiting all of the major points of interests and crossing things off our to-do lists. Switching gears in Barcelona, it was great to just grab smoothies at the fruit market everyday and lay on the beautiful, sunny beach, relaxing, talking and laughing about our great travel experiences.    

Shake the Glitter off Your Clothes Now...

...That's what you get for waking up in Venice!

Sun rising over Saint Mark's Basin

On Friday I boarded the night train with some friends from the program, arriving in Venice at 5:30 AM on Saturday, ready for a full day of celebration. We came just in time to ring in Carnevale, which officially started on Saturday. The Carnevale season started throughout Italy several weeks ago, but the actual celebration started in Venice on Saturday, February 26, and ends on Mardi Gras. During Carnevale in Venice, people dress up in extravagant costumes with elaborate masks and parade through the streets throwing confetti and attend masquerade balls and parties. Venice is already dazzling, but with the excitement of Carnevale all around, the atmosphere is incredible!

However, unlike New York, this city sleeps. When we arrived at 5:30 AM, the city was so dark and eerily quiet. Nobody was around, except for the occasional workers sweeping up confetti from the celebration the night before. Although the usually chaotic St. Mark's Square was oddly quiet, it was great to sit by the Grand Canal and watch the sunrise. We sat right by the water, in front of the gondola docks and waited for the sun to come up, watching as the dark night turned into shades of blue, then purple, pink, and finally the sun came out and lit up St. Mark's Basilica. Although I loved the excitement of the Carnevale celebration, the tranquility of the sunrise was a beautiful and relaxing way to start my marathon day.

View of San Marco from the ferry

After a long coffee break, we began exploring. There's not an overwhelming amount of things to do in Venice, but there's so much to see because everything is so beautiful. Each water-lined ally was more beautiful than the next, and the city is an incredible (and sometimes frustrating) confetti-filled labyrinth of waterways, bridges, alleys, and tiny piazzas. We crossed over the Academia Bridge and stood in the sun at the tip next to the beautiful Santa Maria della Salute church and watched the boats ride through St. Mark's Basin, in awe of the gorgeous Venetian panorama.

The island of Burano

By noon, the Carnevale kickoff was in full swing, with music, costumes, and parades throughout the streets. Katie, my best friend from home who is studying in Seville, Spain this semester, was in Venice for the weekend as well, and despite the absolute chaos in St. Mark's Square, we somehow managed to meet up! After navigating our way through the crowd, we ended up at the water's edge and got our ferry passes to go island-hopping. We went to Murano and Burano, two tiny islands off of San Marco, only about 15 minutes by boat from St. Mark's Square. The boat ride was beautiful. We enjoyed sitting out in the sun and watching the beautiful Venetian coastline and sparkling water. Murano is known for its glass art, so we got to see an incredible glass-blowing demonstration and marveled at the amazing creations in the stores. We then traveled to Burano, which is breathtakingly beautiful. The tiny island is like San Marco shrunk into a mile radius, except the houses are painted in crazy bright colors. It reminded me of the Bahamas, except these houses were bolder and brighter, and no two houses had the same color. A tiny canal ran through the town, and the residents in the colorful houses had brightly-colored boats to match. We just sat on the dock under the sun for awhile, with our feet hanging over the clear, sparkling water. Burano is truly a tiny piece of paradise.  



Wine fountain in Piazza San Marco



As the sun went down, we decided to head back toward the mainland and get ready for the official Carnevale kickoff. After a delicious pasta dinner at a little trattoria, we put on the masks we bought and headed with the crowds to Saint Mark's for the kickoff concert. The piazza was absolutely wild! Everyone was wearing crazy masks and costumes, and running around chanting, singing, screaming, and laughing. It was absolute chaos, but it I loved the sheer excitement! My marathon day in Venice was one of my favorite days in Italy so far! I was completely exhausted the next day but the great experience was definitely worth it, and coming home covered head to toe in confetti and glitter made it even better! 

Aperitivo con Andrea

For this program, we are required to take Italian everyday for two months, each month counting as a semester. There are only seven other students in my class and since we're together everyday for three hours, we're all pretty close to each other and our teacher. My favorite teacher was Andrea, who taught us last month. He's so enthusiastic, caring, and helpful, so he made daunting task of learning Italian enjoyable and not so difficult. Andrea is young, not too much older than us, so we could relate to him, and we all had so much fun in class. Unfortunately, everyone switches teachers after the first month, so while our class stayed the same, we no longer have Andrea. We don't see him that much anymore, but on Thursday we went out to an aperitivo with him. I went with Andrea and a few girls from class to Cafe Pompi, a restaurant, bakery, and gelato shop known for its great aperitivos and tiramisu. The aperitivo was delicious, and there was such a big selection of food. There were pasta salads, rice dishes, different types of quiche, various types of bread, tomato pie, and lots of different varieties of salad. It was a filling and delicious meal for only 6 euro. Cafe Pompi claims to have the best tiramisu in Rome, so of course we all had to try it! It was not only the best in Rome, but the best I've ever had! I think we'll all be frequenting Cafe Pompi from now on. The food was delicious and the company was great. It was so nice to catch up with Andrea and go out to dinner as a class. We're planning on making aperitivo with Andrea a regular occurence!   

Una Bellissima Panorama

On Monday, my friend Joanna and I decided to explore somewhere new, taking advantage of our class-free afternoon and the beautiful warm and sunny Rome weather. We headed to Gianicolo Park, a huge park South of Vatican City that is known for its great view of the entire city. Although the park is pretty close to our school, we got a little bit turned around and it took us three different buses and a lot of walking to get to, but half the fun of going somewhere new is getting lost and exploring new areas. I found a street that is lined with cherry blossoms, which was a surprise reminder of home. We finally found the park, and enjoyed our relaxing passeggiata. We climbed to the top of a hill in the park, and the view was absolutely breathtaking. The entire city was laid out in front of me, like it was there just for me. The view was incredible no matter where I stood. We just stood there for awhile, taking it all in. We could see all of the monuments and basilicas perfectly, and we picked them out like we were playing I Spy Rome. It was so peaceful up there, and it felt like time had stopped. As I sat there eating my Nutella sandwich and staring at the giant mural-like Eternal City in front of me, I fell in love with Rome all over again.   

Would you like some mozzarella with your mozzarella?

Fishing for mozzarella



This Saturday we went on a day trip to a small, family-run buffalo mozzarella farm about three hours from Rome in the beautiful region of Campania. Due to the fact that I consider cheese a food group, I was in heaven! We arrived at the farm around noon and went right to the facility where the family makes the cheese. Dr. Dawson and the owner of the farm gave a brief description of the mozzarella process, explaining that buffalo milk produces exceptional cheese because it is much thicker and richer than both cow's milk and sheep's milk. After the brief lesson, the real fun started...the tasting! I must admit that upon entering the processing building, I was a bit skeptical about trying the mozzarella. I knew that mozzarella was kept in water, but cheese balls floating in large vats full of cloudy water was not pleasing to the senses. I learned right then that ignorance is bliss when it comes to cheese-making, and although it did not look or smell appetizing, but I forced myself to try it. The owner got a strainer and dipped it into one of the vats, fishing out the biggest mountain of cheese I could ever imagine. The mozzarella balls were the size of baseballs! I bit into it, and it was incredibly fresh and delicious. This was the freshest mozzarella I will ever have in my life, as it was made an hour before I ate it. The owner yelled, "Who wants seconds?!" and chaos ensued. When we all scrambled to get seconds and thirds, Dr. Dawson reminded us that we were in fact eating lunch there, and looking back, we all wish we had listened. Little did I know that lunch at the mozzarella farm would be the biggest and best meal I've ever had!

The delicious antipasti course

After petting the buffalo, which were very stinky but surprisingly friendly, we all sat down for a four course meal at the farm's little trattoria, and thus began the marathon eating! The epic lunch started with an antipasti course that consisted of bread, a ball-sized mozzarella, pecorino cheese, salami and prosciutto. It turns out that the antipasti had courses in itself! While we were still working on the meat and cheese, the servers brought out a mashed-potato, quiche-like casserole, and breaded, pan-fried zucchini and gorgonzola. Finally, to top it all off, was the cheese course of the antipasti: a tray of mozzarella balls in olive oil and a mountain of fresh ricotta with honey. The antipasti course alone was amazing, but then came the pasta! The first type was linguine in creamy tomato sauce with lots of parmesan cheese. The next was rotini in a creamy mushroom sauce with peas, both absolutely delicious.

A side of mozzarella

At first, the amount of food was overwhelming, but then it became comical, as the waiters kept bringing out new dishes and we kept preparing ourselves in between courses by stretching, downing lots of water, and doing breathing exercises. The meat course consisted of grilled sausage with potato wedges. Although we thought it was impossible, we decided to give it a shot. I am glad I tried it, because it was delicious. Alas, three large courses and over a liter of water later, the dessert course arrived, and was a large sampling of many different desserts: pieces of pies, brownies, and cookies. It was a tasty and simple end to the largest meal I have ever had in my life. After a brisk walk in an attempt to aid digestion, we boarded the bus and headed for Rome, each of us happily entering into food comas.

Ciao buffalo!

The mozzarella is almost ready

Rome Weekend

This weekend I stayed in Rome, which was great because my favorite thing to do is to just go on a walk and find something new that I've never seen before. What made this weekend even better was that Loyola's Cork, Ireland program visited for a long weekend! It was so much fun to show my Loyola friends around my city. I showed them my school here and my favorite places to shop and eat, but I also got a chance to play tourist and discover new places with them. On Saturday we went to the Pantheon, which I hadn't been in yet, and explored the area surrounding the Colusseum and the Arch of Constantine. On Sunday morning we walked through the Jewish Ghetto of Rome and got pastries for breakfast at one of the area's renowned bakeries. We then headed to St. Maria in Cosmedin, where the famous Bocca della Verita or Mouth of Truth sculpture is located. We had a great weekend, and it was so cool that we were able to just meet up in Italy! We're already planning another reunion, this time in Ireland!

Under the Tuscan Sun

Sunny Piazza del Campo in Siena

This weekend we went on a Tuscan holiday to the gorgeous, ancient towns of Siena, Arezzo, Pienza, and Oriveto, and the Tuscan sun was beaming for us the whole time, accentuating the breathtaking landscape in every town. First thing Saturday, we toured the Medieval town of Siena, where I marveled at the incredible Medieval churches and frescoes and the enormous Piazza del Campo, where the famous Palio horse races take place. For lunch I enjoyed a bowl of a Tuscan classic, ribollita, a hearty vegetable stew with cannellini beans. It was delicious!

Part of the flea market in Arezzo

We then traveled to Arezzo, where we toured several ancient churches and studied some famous frescoes. Dinner at the hotel that night consisted of typical Tuscan cuisine, which was...interesting. The first course was good, penne in a meat sauce with bread on the side. The bread in Tuscany has no salt in it because long ago, the Romans put a tax on salt so the Etruscans decided to do without it. The next course was different, to say the least, as it consisted of two common Truscan game meats: rabbit and duck. The rabbit was a non-starter for me, but despite trying to convince myself that the duck was just like chicken, I just couldn't eat it. One of my adventurous classmates actually enjoyed the rabbit, and asked for seconds. However, his breaking point came when the waiter served him the paw of the rabbit. Studying abroad is all about trying new things, and I have been very flexible and open-minded, but I couldn't be this time. But we all got a good laugh out of the interesting meal, and it prompted a hilarious game of "would you rather."

Grounds of Castel del Trebbio

My favorite part of Arezzo was the huge flea market that commandeered the entire town. I could have spent the entire day browsing all the fascinating antiques. Sunday night was my favorite part of the trip: wine tasting at Castel del Trebbio, an ancient castle and vineyard outside of Florence. There we toured the castle and its enormous wine cellar where the owners make olive oil and internationally award-winning Tuscan chianti rufina wine. We then sampled the different types of wine with some delicious bruschetta and biscotti to complement the taste. My favorite was the vineyard's red wine, it had an incredibly rich and smooth flavor. We enjoyed a delicious and fun group dinner at the vineyard's restaurant, one of the finest vineyard restaurants in the world. I certainly acquired a taste for good wine after this experience!

  

Pienza

On Monday we toured the little towns of Pienza and Orvieto, which had breathtakingly gorgeous views of the beautiful Tuscan landscape, forcing me to ask the cliche question again, "is this real life?!" Orvieto is perched on top of a steep mountain so we had to take a funicular, a little tram that runs on an incline. There we saw the Duomo and the monastery where St. Thomas Aquinas wrote Summa Theologica. By the end of the trip I was ready to return home to Rome, but also sad to leave the beauty of Tuscany. Rome is beautiful in an architectural sense, but there's something overwhelmingly beautiful about the way the sun hits Tuscany's untouched sweeping hills and stone cottages.     

Tomb Raiders

Today I tagged along with Dr. Dawson's Liturgical Art and Architecture class to the Catacomb of Priscilla. Located on the Via Salaria, the oldest road in Rome, this catacomb is a Christian burial site dating back to the second century! Going into the catacomb was creepy and morbid, but actually an amazing site to see. It's basically a cave that goes several stories below the ground and continues for 140 kilometers. Our tour guide led us through portions of the dank cave with a flashlight, pointing out the significant ancient artwork in the tombs and on the walls and ceilings. The catacomb was filled with beautiful frescoes dating back as early as the year 220. These paintings depicting important Biblical events were actually in pristine condition. They have been cleaned over the years, but never retouched, yet the colors are still so vibrant and the details so clear. It was here that we saw the world's oldest image of Mary holding baby Jesus! It's incredible that 1,800 years later, the image is still so colorful and clear!

Seeing these ancient and historical frescoes was amazing, but being in the catacomb was pretty creepy, since the narrow passageways are lined with bodies! Dr. Dawson explained to us that although the catacombs seem morbid to us, early Christians celebrated there because they saw death as a reunion with Christ. The remains of Christians from the second to fourth century are in the thousands of tiny tombs throughout the catacomb. The guide explained that ancient Romans were short in stature, which explained why the tombs were only about four feet long. Most of the tombs were excavated, but some tombs are still closed, with the remains intact and the person's name painted on the front at the time of burial. We all wondered where the remains are, and our tour guide explained that until recently, visitors could view the remains in a gallery, but it has since been closed to the public because tourists would steal bones as souvenirs! So sorry to disappoint any of you who were expecting bones from ancient Romans as souvenirs, because it looks like you'll just have to settle for magnets and keychains!   

SALDI!





The first word I learned here was saldi, which means sale. We had just arrived in Italy and were on the bus going to the hotel. We passed tons of stores with SALDI signs everywhere, and it was a sight for sore eyes! Italian stores have two annual sales, a summer sale for the month of July, and a winter sale for the month of January, which I have been so fortunate to partake in! During a saldi period, all merchandise, except new collections, is up to 70% off!



Inside Coin

To say that the shopping in Italy is great is an understatement. There are stores literally everywhere, all over Rome and from what we saw of Florence. There are plenty of street markets that sell really cheap scarves, which are essential parts of Italian outfits and fashion. I mostly window-shop at small boutiques and designer stores, but I have made purchases at the few department store chains. OVS Industry is similar to a Forever 21 in terms of prices, but it also has health and beauty aids and home goods. Thanks to the saldi, I bought a cardigan for 5 euro and a shirt for 7! Coin is a typical department store, similar to Macy's. The prices at Coin stores are a bit higher, but they carry many different brands, several of which are American. Lastly, there's Upim, which is my favorite so far. As it is similar to a Target, walking into Upim was like my golden arch. The prices are really good and it has clothing, home goods, books, and health and beauty products. I have never been to La Rinascente, but it is quite upscale and appears to be like a Nordstrom or Neiman Marcus, so I should probably steer clear in order to avoid the temptation!   

Mangia Mangia!

This weekend we stayed in Roma, which was actually really exciting because everyday when I go to and from school, my Rome to do list multiplies, so I was perfectly content to spend the weekend exploring my new city. On Friday night we went to a traditional Italian aperitivo in Campo di Fiori, which was glorious! An aperitivo is basically happy hour, but when you buy a drink that's a minimum of 5 euro, you get an all-you-can-eat buffet for free! Katie and I decided to try one of the restaurant's specialty beers, and since we had never heard of any of them, we went for the one with the best logo, which was La Chouffe, because it had a cute little picture of a gnome on the bottle. As a result, we learned to never judge a beer by it's cover! Despite the cute logo, the beer was pretty gross, but we got a good laugh out of it! However, the buffet was great, with tons of bread, pasta, and a wide variety of vegetables cooked many different ways. I only spent 5 euro for a delicious dinner, so I think aperitivos will become a Friday ritual for me!

Io parlo Italiano molto bene...

Although Italian is a beautiful and eloquent language, learning it here has been a challenge, to say the least. It's a difficult language to learn and it's a far cry from my second language, French. However, the Italians are very helpful when foreigners try to speak the language, because they appreciate the fact that we are attempting to learn a language that is spoken by so few people in the world. With three hours of Italian class everyday, the teachers told us from the start that the structure of these classes would be very different from the way we've learned languages in the past, and I immediately found that to be the case. The program emphasizes speaking, and places little importance on writing, since the goal is to quickly get us speaking Italian. Since this program focuses so on immersing us into the Italian language, our teacher has spoken to us only in Italian since day one. Naturally, since I came here only knowing how to say "ciao" and "grazie," this was very frustrating. I quickly discovered that learning Italian requires faith, patience, and a good attitude. I was so frustrated that we weren't getting vocab worksheets or learning grammar and sentence structures, but after just three weeks of Italian class, I can actually understand Andrea!

Living in a homestay is the best way to practice, but it's incredibly frustrating when Paola asks me questions and I have absolutely no idea what she's talking about. The first few days I felt so helpless and confused because I had never been in a situation like that before. By now, I understand most of what she says and I'm even able to carry a simple conversation with her! She's really impressed with my progress and I'm really proud of myself. I discovered that helping her cook is a great way to bond with her. When I told her I like to cook, she got really excited and she loves showing me around in the kitchen. Even though I still can't say a whole lot to her, just spending time with her in the kitchen is fun. The other night she needed to go out and get some bread for dinner and she asked me to come along. We walked to a bakery a few streets over, and she gave me a little tour of the neighborhood, showing me her favorite restaurants, shops, and markets. That trip to the bakery was really special for me because it was nice to spend time with her, and I she seemed to really enjoyed showing me around.

Firenze

This past weekend, I ventured to Firenze (Florence) with most of the students in the program. It was a great first trip out of Rome, but it was quite a whirlwind, as we were only there for a little over 24 hours. Since a lot of us have a class on Friday from 2:30 to 5:30, we decided to take the 8:15 AM fast train on Saturday morning, which got us to Florence at before 10. The moment we stepped off the train, we sprung into gear, attempting to cross everything off our Firenze bucket lists by our 1:15 PM train on Sunday.

After dropping off our luggage at the hostel, (I'd like to add that for the first time in my life, I packed extremely light, bringing only a backpack and a purse. My mom would be proud) we headed to the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, also known as the Duomo. After looking around the church and seeing Brunelleschi's tomb, we embarked on our epic climb to the top of the Dome. I've been missing my daily trips to the Loyola gym, but forget the FAC, climbing those 463 steps was the best workout I've ever had! Since the basilica was built in the 13th century, the steps are very uneven and steep, with dangerously low ceilings. However, all the huffing and puffing and soreness were worth it, because the view of Florence and the countryside from the top of the Duomo was absolutely breathtaking! We also got a great view of the incredible, painstakingly detailed painting on the inside of the Dome depicting Heaven, Hell, and the life of Jesus. The Duomo can be seen over all the rooftops and because of its central location, it came in handy when we wanted to meet up with others in the group. 

Stephanie, Me, Katie & Trisha at the top of the Duomo

Our next stop was the Uffizi Gallery, the former Medici family residence, which boasts an overwhelming collection of ancient sculptures and paintings dating back to the 1200s. With famous works by Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Botticelli, and Caravaggio, the Uffizi features thousands of paintings that depict mythological and Biblical events. It was fascinating to see the many different variations of the Madonna and Son paintings, and the famous "Birth of Venus." The Uffizi has the largest art collection I have even seen. There was art everywhere, and it took us an hour into visit to notice the frescoes on the ceiling!

The Ponte Vecchio

We then hit the leather markets and had an amazing dinner at a little ristorante near the Duomo. Fortunately, my first hostel experience was quite positive. Three of my friends and I shared our own room with a private bathroom for only 17 euro each for the night. The hostel was very clean and well kept with many amenities. Day two started with coffee and cannoli for breakfast in a little cafe off of the cobblestone streets near the Duomo. We then walked across the Ponte Vecchio and did some people-watching in the beautiful Piazza della Repubblica. We were all anxious to return "home" to Rome. Florence is beautiful, but we all missed Rome! That homesickness for Rome was actually comforting in a strange way, because it reaffirmed to me how much I love Rome, and I am proud that I am so comfortable in my new city. We opted to take the cheaper slow train back, but the four-hour ride passed quickly due to the beautiful Tuscan countryside that we passed through the whole way home.

San Pietro



My roommate Stephanie and I in front of San Pietro



Last Saturday, January 15, we left Italy for a few hours and ventured into a tiny neighboring country...Vatican City! With an area of only a few acres, Vatican City is the world's smallest country. It's amazing to think that I can travel to a different country just by walking a few blocks from school or taking the metro a few stops from my house! Although the country is so tiny, it is overwhelming to stand in the square facing St. Peter's Basilica (San Pietro). Although the square is enormous and there are tourists everywhere, the incredible beauty of the architecture takes your breath away and makes you feel like you're the only one standing in the middle, witnessing it all. 



View of San Pietro from PNAC



Outside of St. Peter's square, Vatican City is very mountainous, and it was quite a trek up to the Pontifical North American College, where we started our day. PNAC is the American seminary in Rome where seminarians from the United States come to study for the priesthood. Once their training is complete, usually after three to five years, the students return to dioceses in the United States and are ordained. The seminarians gave us a tour of their beautiful campus (which has an incredible view of the city from the rooftop garden) and cooked us a delicious American breakfast, a welcomed change to the tiny Italian breakfasts to which I am not yet accustomed. The seminarians also brew Dunkin' Donuts coffee, which was quite a treat, as the Italians prefer tiny cups of cappucchino or espresso, which just doesn't cut it for a coffee lover like myself. Over breakfast, the seminarians discussed with us ways in which to get more involved with our faith while in Rome. They invited us with open arms to their weekly Sunday Mass and brunch, an opportunity that I will definitely take advantage throughout the semester. Coincidentally, one of the seminarians graduated from my high school a few years before me and plans to return to the Archdiocese of Washington when his studies are done. It's amazing to think that I didn't know him at school, yet we met in Italy of all places!



After the wonderful breakfast at the seminary, we returned to the square, where Dr. Dawson, program director and Rome history and theology expert, gave us a fascinating tour of St. Peter's Basilica, which is by far the most amazing place I have seen in Rome so far. Here I realized, yet again, what an incredible opportunity this semester abroad is. Catholics from all over the world yearn to make pilgrimages to St. Peter's Basilica, and I have already been twice and can go back any time I want.

        

Stepping into the basilica is absolutely overwhelming. The sheer grandeur and size of the building took my breath away. Although it is the largest Christian church in the world, it was designed to look small and inviting, and oddly enough it is, once you let your eyes get used to everything. Everything about St. Peter's, every little detail, is beautiful and significant. The basilica was designed to be breathtakingly beautiful in order to attempt to convey God's beauty. The spot on the floor where we stood when we entered looked like just a part of the tile pattern, but it was actually the exact place where Charlemagne was crowned king after conquering Italy! The way Dr. Dawson mentioned these incredible facts with a "no big deal" attitude was hilarious. The nave of the church has statues of the saints who founded the religious orders, and I was thrilled to see a huge statue of St. Ignatius Loyola holding a book that says, "ad maiorem Dei gloriam," which is the Jesuit motto, and therefore Loyola University Maryland's, meaning, "for the greater glory of God." The hundreds of beautiful mosaics, sculptures, and altars made me marvel at the artists' and designers' brilliance. The geometric perfection of the colonnades and the way Bernini skillfully added movement and texture to his marble masterpieces is absolutely incredible. The trip to St. Peter's was so significant for me because everything I've learned at church and in theology and history classes came together. Stories from the Bible, the life of Jesus, and history all tie together to provide an incredibly moving and significant experience. Touring St. Peter's yet again reaffirmed why I came to Rome.     



Sculpture of St. Ignatius Loyola



Do as the Romans Do



The Christmas tree and Nativity scene at the Vactican



Ciao, greetings from Roma! I arrived in Rome on January 7, the last day of the Christmas season, so I was lucky to be able experience the festivities. Everyday while I pass the Colusseum on the way to class, I have to pinch myself because I can't believe I'm actually here (or as we say at Loyola, "is this real life?"). Everything about Rome is beautiful. Whether it's one of the thousands of breathtaking historical sites or monuments, or just an office or apartment building, everything in Rome has an old-world charm that I love.

I named my blog La Passeggiata after a common Italian ritual in which I hope to partake during my time here. In the evening, after work and school, the Italians like to stroll through the piazzas with friends and family members. They leisurely walk through the streets nearby and catch up with neighbors and friends, while enjoying the atmosphere. I love walking through Rome. Everyday is new and exciting here, filled with amazing sights, sounds, and tastes! Rome is so rich, and the best way to take it all in is to do what the Romans do, which is la passeggiata, leisurely walking through the city and enjoying the beautiful surroundings.

 



View of Rome from the Spanish Steps



The Italians are classy people and always look sharp. Why they are all so thin yet eat the world's best cuisine everyday still remains a mystery to me! However, the Romans do have a very healthy lifestyle, which I am enjoying. Rome is filled with little bars (lunch cafes) that have panini that are delicious and fresh, and cheaper than a mediocre sandwich at Loyola! My favorites are the caprese panini and pomodori and fromaggio tramezzini, which are toasted triangle sandwiches.

I live with my friend Stephanie from Loyola in our host mother Paola's apartment in the Centro Storico neighborhood, the historic center of Rome. Paola, a retired teacher, is a great cook, and makes a delicious and healthy three course meal every night. First is the pasta, my favorite, and Paola makes the best pesto I've ever had! The next course is meat and salad, usually Paola's delicious caprese salad, followed by the dessert course, which is always fruit at our house. She makes homemade marmelade that we spread on our bread at breakfast. Paola speaks very little English and I just started taking Italian, so communicating is a challenge, but a great learning experience. Learning Italian is difficult but it is an absolutely beautiful language.



Courtyard of the CUA Rome campus



I love exploring the city and seeing something new everyday. The program is in a great location, which makes getting around and seeing the sites very easy. The campus is close to the Vatican, and my host mother's apartment is a block from the Colesseum, and within walking distance to most of the major sites. Our Italian school is off of the Piazza Spagna, near the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. We walked through the Villa Borghese park during a break from class. Rome has a great metro and bus system that takes you everywhere, but despite the city's large size, everything is in walking distance. Rome is so rich with history and culture, I hope to make the most of every second here...when in Rome!