Buono Notte
Rome has been an adventure of extremes. In the amazing pictures I've been able to take, you would never know it, but this is a very dirty, often times scary, town. Sam and I have good heads on our shoulders. Her especially, being from Chicago. We've looked out for each other, despite both of us being a little under the weather the past two days.
I didn't mention it in my last post, but Saturday was the big day. I have my aunt and uncle's Rick Steves' guidebook with us, but aside from that, we have been making/inventing our own tours and adventures about town. On Saturday, we took the Metro to the Collosseo stop, and the second we stepped out of the station, BAM, the hulking mass of ancient architectural genius loomed above us. I'm not exactly sure how long we stood there before we picked our jaws off the ground and set off to snapping shots, me with my gelatto, of course. After lunch, Sam wasn't feeling well and decided to go back to the hostel to rest. But I had to see the forum, explore Julius Caesar's temple, the alleged ruins of Romulus and Remus's house, the ancient gardens, Capital hill, Basilica of Constantine, Arch of Titus, and the Curia (senate house). All of these ruins/buildings are contained in a fairly condensed area, and are just stunning. Standing in front of the spot where they burned Caesar's body, where Marc Antony spoke to the masses, what a moment.
Tonight, we decided to treat ourselves. Raising a glass to improved health, we dined on true Roman cuisine and some delicious house wine. I ordered the canneloni al forno (rolls of egg pasta, stuffed with meat, baked in the oven) and Sam had the Rigittoni Vegetariano. The outdoor seating just a block from the Pantheon was so pleasant. The restaurant was small, and we actually shared a table with another couple from Austria. We came to find that, not only did they speak engligh (VERY exciting!), but that the woman had actually been to Knoxville before! We had a laugh about Dollywood and had a very pleasant meal together.
After dinner we wandered down to see the Trevi Fountain at dusk, what a site. Despite the crowds, we managed to take some really nice shots, and, of course, throw our coints into the fountain for a wish.
For as much as we've seen, I would have never anticipated how much traveling and site-seeing takes out of you. Both here and in London, I've fallen into bed utterly exhausted every night. But the exhaustion is more than worth the euphoria of the journey. I've met people, seen plays, and visited sites that I'll never forget or ever experienced otherwise.
One last busy day ahead of us here in Roma. I'ved loved this side-trip, but am very much ready to return to London, and back home not so far after that!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Non parlo italiano
Buona Sera, friends.
Its 2:00 p.m. in Roma. We packed in a lot today and are now ready to partake in the mid-day recovery tradition, siesta. Or, nap. Today we began at the Piazza del Popolo and sauntered down Via del Corso passing dozens of high-end boutiques, and one of the world's largest and most extravagant McDonalds.
At the Spanish steps, we contimplated negative capabilities with John Keats and saw the house where he pondered mortality for the final time and died.
There are fountains and piazzas everywhere here, they're all beautiful, and old.
Our last stop was the Pantheon. Absolutely incredible. The architecture of the enormous dome has baffled and inspired architects and artists alike for ages.
We also found the best little gelatto shop in all of Rome (allegedly). I totally believe it. I told the man to make me his favorite. Strawberry, cherry, yogurt, and whipped cream gelatto. Bar none of the most delicious things I have ever eaten. Hours later I can still remember the taste!
May be running out of time here, so I'll cut off so I don't lose the entry. More tomorrow! We're closing our tour of Rome in style with Vatican City!
Its 2:00 p.m. in Roma. We packed in a lot today and are now ready to partake in the mid-day recovery tradition, siesta. Or, nap. Today we began at the Piazza del Popolo and sauntered down Via del Corso passing dozens of high-end boutiques, and one of the world's largest and most extravagant McDonalds.
At the Spanish steps, we contimplated negative capabilities with John Keats and saw the house where he pondered mortality for the final time and died.
There are fountains and piazzas everywhere here, they're all beautiful, and old.
Our last stop was the Pantheon. Absolutely incredible. The architecture of the enormous dome has baffled and inspired architects and artists alike for ages.
We also found the best little gelatto shop in all of Rome (allegedly). I totally believe it. I told the man to make me his favorite. Strawberry, cherry, yogurt, and whipped cream gelatto. Bar none of the most delicious things I have ever eaten. Hours later I can still remember the taste!
May be running out of time here, so I'll cut off so I don't lose the entry. More tomorrow! We're closing our tour of Rome in style with Vatican City!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Arrived Safely in Roma!
I,m writing this from a computer in our Hostel in downtown Roma. We are given 30 free minutes of internet usage per day, but the hostel is fairly large and as you might imagine, computer use is in high demand.
So far the trip here was a little bumpy, but we made it! Just trying to recover and get our bearings this evening and planning out the rest of the weekend. The accomidations are nothing fancy, but adequate, which is what we paid for. They provide breakfast in the mornings and dinner on weeknights. They also have a connection with a sister hostel a few blocks over that offers free pizza every night. We are exhausted but excited to begin the next leg of our adventure! If only we knew some Italian!!
So far the trip here was a little bumpy, but we made it! Just trying to recover and get our bearings this evening and planning out the rest of the weekend. The accomidations are nothing fancy, but adequate, which is what we paid for. They provide breakfast in the mornings and dinner on weeknights. They also have a connection with a sister hostel a few blocks over that offers free pizza every night. We are exhausted but excited to begin the next leg of our adventure! If only we knew some Italian!!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
London Times
Friday, July 10th
We saw "The Winter's Tale" last night. It was the longest and most elaborate of productions so far. Being a "tracicomedy", it was also the most sentimentally diverse. Greg Hicks played Leontes (as well as Caesar on Monday) and was positively fantastic. Likewise, Hermione was incredibly passionate and deelply dimensioned as the both despairing and enraged wife of the King. The performance beconed us all, as Paulina instucts Leontes, to "awaken our faith" and experience the "magic" of theater.
This morning, I woke up early for a run. I winded down a lovely wooded walking trail and followed the signs to Anne Hathaway's childhood cottage. What a picturesque route. Only in Stratford. This entire town seems plucked out of a storybook, and I suppose that in many ways, it is exactly that!
I can't believe we've been here almost a week already. We leave on Sunday for London, and I'm begging the days to slow down and allow me to fully absorb every last drop of knowledge, of experience.
I've decided what I love about theater...the impossibility to see the same show twice and the endless possibility of variety in Shakespeare. Every performance of Julius Caesar tells a different story despite all calling from the same script. Endlessly fascinating.
Sunday, July 12th
I can't stop smiling. What a gorgeous day full of sweet July sunshine. We left Stratford behind this morning and sojourned to Kenilworth Castle, home of Dudley of Leciester, whom I've always been convincedwas Wueen Elizabeth I's one true love. What a gorgeous landscape of ruins, gardens, and rolling English countryside. Even now as we ride our coach onward, London-bound, I feel like I could burst with excitement. These people, the history, the traces of a lost time...We're able to stumble around in awe, snap our shots in earnest, and somehow hope to preserve this excitement, this appreceation, this unique satisfaction and utter contentment...feeling the fresh British breeze on my face, through my hair, soaking the sun into my skin, trying to capture or somehow contain everything around us. Through pictures, through words.
I feel such a joy. in the hum of Knoxville and routine, I'd forgotten the freshness and awakening power of experience, adventure, and boldly strolling into days to come.
Adele's CD has conveniently become my soundtrack for the trip and it's absolutely perfect. No wonder Purkey fell in love with this place!
Thursday, July 16th
Finally caught up. I don't have the time to catch you all up on this week, we've done and seen so much, and I'm borrowing time on a computer that we're all trying to share. All is well, embarking on Adventure Rome tomorrow! Wish me luck. Love and miss you all :)
We saw "The Winter's Tale" last night. It was the longest and most elaborate of productions so far. Being a "tracicomedy", it was also the most sentimentally diverse. Greg Hicks played Leontes (as well as Caesar on Monday) and was positively fantastic. Likewise, Hermione was incredibly passionate and deelply dimensioned as the both despairing and enraged wife of the King. The performance beconed us all, as Paulina instucts Leontes, to "awaken our faith" and experience the "magic" of theater.
This morning, I woke up early for a run. I winded down a lovely wooded walking trail and followed the signs to Anne Hathaway's childhood cottage. What a picturesque route. Only in Stratford. This entire town seems plucked out of a storybook, and I suppose that in many ways, it is exactly that!
I can't believe we've been here almost a week already. We leave on Sunday for London, and I'm begging the days to slow down and allow me to fully absorb every last drop of knowledge, of experience.
I've decided what I love about theater...the impossibility to see the same show twice and the endless possibility of variety in Shakespeare. Every performance of Julius Caesar tells a different story despite all calling from the same script. Endlessly fascinating.
Sunday, July 12th
I can't stop smiling. What a gorgeous day full of sweet July sunshine. We left Stratford behind this morning and sojourned to Kenilworth Castle, home of Dudley of Leciester, whom I've always been convincedwas Wueen Elizabeth I's one true love. What a gorgeous landscape of ruins, gardens, and rolling English countryside. Even now as we ride our coach onward, London-bound, I feel like I could burst with excitement. These people, the history, the traces of a lost time...We're able to stumble around in awe, snap our shots in earnest, and somehow hope to preserve this excitement, this appreceation, this unique satisfaction and utter contentment...feeling the fresh British breeze on my face, through my hair, soaking the sun into my skin, trying to capture or somehow contain everything around us. Through pictures, through words.
I feel such a joy. in the hum of Knoxville and routine, I'd forgotten the freshness and awakening power of experience, adventure, and boldly strolling into days to come.
Adele's CD has conveniently become my soundtrack for the trip and it's absolutely perfect. No wonder Purkey fell in love with this place!
Thursday, July 16th
Finally caught up. I don't have the time to catch you all up on this week, we've done and seen so much, and I'm borrowing time on a computer that we're all trying to share. All is well, embarking on Adventure Rome tomorrow! Wish me luck. Love and miss you all :)
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Catching up on sleep, Shakespeare
Writing from a public library a few doors down from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, where we are having our classes/lectures/discussions during the day. The rate is actually pretty steep, I've got 15 minutes to catch you all up on everything!
Tuesday we went to Oxford and a town called Cotswold. We took a bus and a jolly lady named Claire served as our tour guide for the bus ride, subesequent touring, everything. She was like a living local encyclopedia, friendly and fascinating for the most part, but after a long day of wlking and scattered showers, we were all ready to be home as she guided us through an hour of rolling hillside and meandering, somewhat pointless local anecdotes. She was absolutely lovely, but much more infatuated with every note of the town's history than our travel-weary attention spans. The best part of Cotswold was some soft serve...
In Oxford, the most interesting moments were hearing and seeing where C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Toilken studied and hung out. Both former students, they returned as professors and frequent the "Eagle and Child" pub. Lewis's lectures were always packed and he was adored by his students despite being completely absorbed and pre-occupied with creating his literary masterpieces. Our tour guide had recently met his stepson and recanted his battle with Disney wover the Narnia movies and their insistence on altering detail of the storylines. His stepson refuses all changes, of course, because of the intricate and elaborate symbolism in every detail of the chronicles.
Tuesday was long, and most of us had a quiet evening in, enjoying the often bizzare hilarity that is British television. The weather over here has multiple personality disorder. Rain and sunshine turn on and off like light switches, and the temperature is anybody's guess at any given time.
Wednesday we heard a lecture by one of the well-known resident scholars and held a Q & A session with the assistant director of Julius Caesar, which was fascinating. We also toured Shakespeare's childhood home. And ate Subway for lunch.
Last night, we saw As You Like It, which was brilliantly fun. We met a few of the actors at the Dirty Duck after the show, and that was a thrill. Rosalind was a joy to watch, as well as Jaques, whom we all agreed comically resembled Beetlejuice on some occasions!
Today we've had follow up discussions and lectures on As You Like It and will be seeing The Winter's Tale tonight, which I'm particularly looking forward to, it's one of my favorites.
Computer time's about up and need to get off to our mock voice lessons with the Royal Shakespeare Company (the enesemble of players rotating through the productions).
This trips becomes more memorable and incredible with each passing day. Not exaggerating or trying to be cheesy, honest. Wish you all were here, but on the other hand, it would take a true English major's heart to fully enjoy. My nerd levels have grown catastrophically since arriving.
Hope everyone is well, will update again when I can!
Cheers!
Tuesday we went to Oxford and a town called Cotswold. We took a bus and a jolly lady named Claire served as our tour guide for the bus ride, subesequent touring, everything. She was like a living local encyclopedia, friendly and fascinating for the most part, but after a long day of wlking and scattered showers, we were all ready to be home as she guided us through an hour of rolling hillside and meandering, somewhat pointless local anecdotes. She was absolutely lovely, but much more infatuated with every note of the town's history than our travel-weary attention spans. The best part of Cotswold was some soft serve...
In Oxford, the most interesting moments were hearing and seeing where C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Toilken studied and hung out. Both former students, they returned as professors and frequent the "Eagle and Child" pub. Lewis's lectures were always packed and he was adored by his students despite being completely absorbed and pre-occupied with creating his literary masterpieces. Our tour guide had recently met his stepson and recanted his battle with Disney wover the Narnia movies and their insistence on altering detail of the storylines. His stepson refuses all changes, of course, because of the intricate and elaborate symbolism in every detail of the chronicles.
Tuesday was long, and most of us had a quiet evening in, enjoying the often bizzare hilarity that is British television. The weather over here has multiple personality disorder. Rain and sunshine turn on and off like light switches, and the temperature is anybody's guess at any given time.
Wednesday we heard a lecture by one of the well-known resident scholars and held a Q & A session with the assistant director of Julius Caesar, which was fascinating. We also toured Shakespeare's childhood home. And ate Subway for lunch.
Last night, we saw As You Like It, which was brilliantly fun. We met a few of the actors at the Dirty Duck after the show, and that was a thrill. Rosalind was a joy to watch, as well as Jaques, whom we all agreed comically resembled Beetlejuice on some occasions!
Today we've had follow up discussions and lectures on As You Like It and will be seeing The Winter's Tale tonight, which I'm particularly looking forward to, it's one of my favorites.
Computer time's about up and need to get off to our mock voice lessons with the Royal Shakespeare Company (the enesemble of players rotating through the productions).
This trips becomes more memorable and incredible with each passing day. Not exaggerating or trying to be cheesy, honest. Wish you all were here, but on the other hand, it would take a true English major's heart to fully enjoy. My nerd levels have grown catastrophically since arriving.
Hope everyone is well, will update again when I can!
Cheers!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Hello, Jet-lag...
I'm writing on the window sill of my bedroom in the Quilt & Croissants. The journey here was long and sleepless for the most part thanks to an obnoxious kid on the plane. Most of us didn't sleep. We took a 3 hour bus ride from the airport to Stratford and I dozed a little.
Upon arriving, we began to settle in. I'm sharing a room with Samantha in an attic-esque space at the top of a 3 wind-ey, tiny staircases. We have our own bathroom and even an extra bed from a girl who dropped the class last-minute, not to mention our own tea & coffee tray. The owner, Sue, is super-friendly. Others are staying at the "Forget-me-Not" ironically owned by a John and Kate!
We followed Dr. Stillman to a local pub for food. I ordered Magner's Pear Cider, naively unaware of it's alcohol contents, but it really was delicious. It reminded me of sparkling white grape juice...with a little kick. I ate a Ploughman's (sandwich) which came out as a some-assembly required sandwich that was quite good. The cheddar cheese was nothing like back home; a bold, strong, almost overwhelming flavor.
Tonight, we've been invited to an "Evensong" service at the local Trinity Church where Shakespeare was buried!
The town of Stratford is just great. History on every quaint little corner, ready to be explored.
Tomorrow we'll be seeing Julius Caesar.
Friday, July 3, 2009
The Eve of Departure
Mostly packed, thinking of things I'm forgetting every five minutes, or so. Realizing that I'll be much too excited to sleep tonight!
Our flight leaves from Knoxville at 2:20 pm tomorrow. We will fly from Knoxville to Charlotte, NC, and from Charlotte to Gatwick, ENGLAND! We should arrive in Gatwick around 7:10 AM on Sunday morning (London time). Once we arrive in London, we will take a coach to our Bed and Breakfast lodgings in Stratford-upon-Avon.
I had proudly planned to gradually adjust myself to the time difference over the past few days by going to bed earlier and earlier, but...this did not work out.
In Stratford, we will be going to see five Shakespeare plays:
Troilus and Cressida
A Winter's Tale
Comedy of Errors
As You Like It
Julius Caesar
A special word of thanks to my friend, Sarah Purkey! She's sent me a great list of must-see's and must-try's while in London and I can't wait to begin checking them off!
Another word of thanks to my family, for their support and flexibility, without them this trip would not be possible!
Nothing else worth noting tonight. To close family and friends, I will call and write when I can! Otherwise, I will try to also post here as much as possible to provide those that are curious with an update!
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