Friday, January 19, 2007
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Boots
And for the record I have not found any boots that I can zip up all the way yet. I am still looking though.
Two Churches and a Cold
Ciao!
We are all studying hard here in Roma. However we have had an outbreak of sickness in our group- several people have got the flu and just about everyone else has a cold, runny nose, allergies, or some other ickyness. Fortunately I have only had a cold (or allergies, I can’t tell which) so the worst that I am dealing with is going through a box of tissues a day.
This week we have started learning about the early Christians. Yesterday we went to visit two medieval churches, and they were exquisite. The first is from the eleventh century or so, but it was built atop another church from the fourth century which as built atop old Roman apartments and temples. It has all been well excavated and restored, and they let people go down into the basements to explore the ancient temple and the older church. It was amazing! We could see the river that was once used to flood the Colloseum flowing through the basement, and the ancient roman temple still had stars painted on the stucco of its ceiling! Then, when you rose one level you could see the ancient church. It was so amazing. The church still had the same form, but it was much simpler and less ornate than the later churches. It also had the first instance of written Italian ever on one of the frescos, which was so cool! The walls were decorated with frescos that were still mostly intact and the floor still retained much of its mosaic work. Going up yet another level brought you into the eleventh century church, which is still used today. It has a beautiful mosaic floor made by slicing old colored marble columns and turning the pieces into a patchwork quilt-like design. The nave of the church was also exquisite. It was a mosaic done in glass paste tiles that haven’t faded over the last thousand years. It was beautiful.
The second church that we visited was a newer church that was also used as a fortification that the Pope would flee to whenever the fighting between the papal and the Imperial troops got to dangerous for him at his church. We saw a beautiful fresco there and a lovely cloister garden. The church is inhabited by one of the most cloistered order of nuns. They have as little contact with the public as possible, so getting to see the cloister was a treat. It was so calm and peaceful, with a little fountain in the middle of beds of day lilies and camellias inside a small courtyard with graceful double columns all the way around. It was a lovely way to end the day.
I hope everyone at home is doing well, and I hope you save a little of the snow for me J
Kristine
We are all studying hard here in Roma. However we have had an outbreak of sickness in our group- several people have got the flu and just about everyone else has a cold, runny nose, allergies, or some other ickyness. Fortunately I have only had a cold (or allergies, I can’t tell which) so the worst that I am dealing with is going through a box of tissues a day.
This week we have started learning about the early Christians. Yesterday we went to visit two medieval churches, and they were exquisite. The first is from the eleventh century or so, but it was built atop another church from the fourth century which as built atop old Roman apartments and temples. It has all been well excavated and restored, and they let people go down into the basements to explore the ancient temple and the older church. It was amazing! We could see the river that was once used to flood the Colloseum flowing through the basement, and the ancient roman temple still had stars painted on the stucco of its ceiling! Then, when you rose one level you could see the ancient church. It was so amazing. The church still had the same form, but it was much simpler and less ornate than the later churches. It also had the first instance of written Italian ever on one of the frescos, which was so cool! The walls were decorated with frescos that were still mostly intact and the floor still retained much of its mosaic work. Going up yet another level brought you into the eleventh century church, which is still used today. It has a beautiful mosaic floor made by slicing old colored marble columns and turning the pieces into a patchwork quilt-like design. The nave of the church was also exquisite. It was a mosaic done in glass paste tiles that haven’t faded over the last thousand years. It was beautiful.
The second church that we visited was a newer church that was also used as a fortification that the Pope would flee to whenever the fighting between the papal and the Imperial troops got to dangerous for him at his church. We saw a beautiful fresco there and a lovely cloister garden. The church is inhabited by one of the most cloistered order of nuns. They have as little contact with the public as possible, so getting to see the cloister was a treat. It was so calm and peaceful, with a little fountain in the middle of beds of day lilies and camellias inside a small courtyard with graceful double columns all the way around. It was a lovely way to end the day.
I hope everyone at home is doing well, and I hope you save a little of the snow for me J
Kristine
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Its Been Awhile
Hello!
This last week has been very busy. I am finally settled into my apartment and my classes, and I am getting to know my wonderful roommates and classmates.
On Saturday Saldi started- Italy's bi-annual sale! All clothing, by law, is a mandatory 20-30% off, and some stores are up to 60% off! I have been shopping up a storm, and it has been fun! It has been a real bonding experience to wander around the city looking for the best sales. It is also a bonding experience to attempt to walk in new heels on the cobblestones, but so far only one girl has sprained her ankle, and that wasn't a very bad sprain (and it wasn't me!).
Oh, and my camera died on Tuesday. It doesn't open anymore (?) so I am living off of the mercy of other people's pictures. It is quite depressing.
This last week in art history we covered most of ancient Rome. We discussed triumphs and the triumphal arches, the Colosseum, the Ara Pacis Aguste, Trajan's column, forum and markets, the Pantheon, and the Roman baths. We inspected the differences between the Republic and the Imperial systems and their influences on the buildings and use of space within Rome. I have learned so much so far, and I am very excited for the coming weeks. This week we start on the early Christian Church and I have my small presentation on the cult of relics. Wish me luck!
I miss all of you back home, and I envy the snow I hear you are getting.
Ciao!
This last week has been very busy. I am finally settled into my apartment and my classes, and I am getting to know my wonderful roommates and classmates.
On Saturday Saldi started- Italy's bi-annual sale! All clothing, by law, is a mandatory 20-30% off, and some stores are up to 60% off! I have been shopping up a storm, and it has been fun! It has been a real bonding experience to wander around the city looking for the best sales. It is also a bonding experience to attempt to walk in new heels on the cobblestones, but so far only one girl has sprained her ankle, and that wasn't a very bad sprain (and it wasn't me!).
Oh, and my camera died on Tuesday. It doesn't open anymore (?) so I am living off of the mercy of other people's pictures. It is quite depressing.
This last week in art history we covered most of ancient Rome. We discussed triumphs and the triumphal arches, the Colosseum, the Ara Pacis Aguste, Trajan's column, forum and markets, the Pantheon, and the Roman baths. We inspected the differences between the Republic and the Imperial systems and their influences on the buildings and use of space within Rome. I have learned so much so far, and I am very excited for the coming weeks. This week we start on the early Christian Church and I have my small presentation on the cult of relics. Wish me luck!
I miss all of you back home, and I envy the snow I hear you are getting.
Ciao!
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