Arrividerci, la città eterna!

Last day!

Rome has been getting a lot of rain these past few days, causing the Tiber River to flood a bit, but this morning was absolutely gorgeous! First, I packed up a little more and brought three (three!!) bags of clothes/shoes to a local church. Then I got on the tram, going in the opposite direction of where I would usually go to school. I had been curious as to what was down that way but never got the chance to explore until today! After a few stops, I decided to get off because I didn't really see anything too interesting. Well, I'm so glad I did get off when I did because there was this great little marketplace with open fruit, meat, cheese, and clothing stands. Why didn't I know there a market there?! It would have been so neat to get my fruits and veggies from there, if I knew about it!

From there I made my way to the Trastevere train station and jumped on a train to Roma Termini (the main train station here). I knew that a few blocks from the station was the church, Santa Maria della Vittorio. Here is where another wonder from Bernini can be found: The Ecstasy of St. Teresa. Teresa of Avila had three divine visions, which she wrote about in her autobiography. In this particular vision, an angel appears by her side with a golden arrow and pierces her heart. The sculpture depicts the moment directly after the angel removes the arrow. As a result, Teresa was overwhelmed with the love of God, therefore inspiring and motivating her to live a new and more fulfilling life.

After finding the church, I figured I would head to the Trevi Fountain one last time and then take the scenic route home. As I was walking down the street from the church, I saw a sign for the Palazzo Barbarini - another art museum that I had been wanting to go to, but didn't think I'd have time for it! How lucky for me to be walking right past it!

After the museum, I made it to Trevi and got a last "cono piccolo" of gelato! Then I went to the Pantheon and sat inside for a while, just thinking and taking it all in. On the way home, I walked through Piazza Navona and saw the Carnival again. I watched one of those really hilarious "mute" street performers who interacts with the crowd for a while. It was fun!

I walked across one of the bridges - and boy is that river flooded! We can see the Tiber from our apartment now - we're just hoping the weather is okay in the morning so that we can get outta here on time!

I'd like to post another blog after I get home, with recommendations, do's and dont's, my expectations of this semester and if they were fulfilled or not. I may do that on this blog, or I might start a new blog - we'll see what I feel like doing when I get back! For those of you who have been reading throughout the semester, I am so grateful and glad that I had the opportunity to share my experiences with you. Thank you for your support and for following along! I'm looking forward to seeing some of you after I return - at school, church, or with the kids (who I have missed so much!). Please email me to say hi or to make plans!! This ending is definitely bittersweet: Of course I'm sad to leave this wonderful country, but I also have so many great things to look forward to when I get home.

I feel that seeing The Ecstasy of St. Teresa was a great way to end my time here. I see it as Rome, piercing me with its arrow, changing my life forever. I threw my coins in the Trevi Fountain today. I'll be back. :)

Con amore,
Gillian

I can't stand it!

No matter how great and interesting my classes are, taking the tests will never get easier.

Goodbye Renaissance Rome, Hello Ancient Rome/Mythology......

Lots of updates

Two finals down, three to go.

The Weekend Updates:

Friday I went to the Roman Forum with Zach, who helped me study for our Ancient History of Rome final. We found this really neat area under excavation, so we explored that for a while. Were we supposed to be there? Who knows, but it was fun. And not blocked off...so why not?!

- I also found hard hats...teehee. -

I went back to the Colosseum and because I already had a ticket (I bought a Roma Pass, which my dad actually told me about when he was here), I got to avoid the MASSIVE lines and walked right in. A small bit of advice when going to see the Colosseum: Buy your ticket in advance. No lines = a happy tourist!

After the Colosseum, I headed up the street and went to a Luciano Pavarotti exhibit. It was incredible! If you don't know about him, head to his website - read about him, but more importantly, listen! Here's a video I took of the exhibit. It was small, but really great. He is so honored.

Here he is singing "La Donna È Mobile" from Verdi's Rigoletto (and I give you a tour of the exhibit!):

- Just a sample of his many, deserved awards. -

Saturday, I actually went back to the Pavarotti exhibit and sat and listened for a while. I got to see some of Pavarotti's most famous performances and they also played some of the hundreds of duets he sang with other great artists throughout his life. I had no idea he sang with some of the people he did. They also had many of his costumes from the operas he had been in. It was really neat and special to be able to honor this man who was such an amazing person, on and off the stage.

I'm glad I went back, because there was an entire room of the exhibit that I had missed the first time! There was a piano in the center, Pavarotti's sports jerseys, old tennis racket, his personal agenda, hats, and many pieces of art painted by him. I'll put more pictures up on my picture website, but here are just a few from the "secret" room:

I really didn't know he had so many hobbies! That's so great! It inspires me, because I know I certainly have more than one hobby and feel torn between them at times. Seeing this part of Pavarotti's life gives me hope, because no matter where I end up in life and whatever I end up doing, there are always other outlets.

On Sunday I went to my last Porta Portese street fair (the one outside our window). The sun was so bright and there were so many people - I didn't stay long. In the afternoon I met up with Caitlin and took the small Bus 116 to the Galleria Borghese. The area where this gallery is was gorgeous! It was a green, fresh park. It was kind of far, which is why I haven't been up there before. The Museum holds some of Bernini's and Caravaggio's most famous sculptures/paintings. I'm surprised that none of my roommates knew what this place was! That's why I took Caitlin, the art history major. :)

I can't even describe how amazing Bernini's marble sculptures are. You have to know about them and see them to truly understand. The way he sculpted the figures make it look like he used clay. They are so realistic - from the movements, expressions, creases and hairs on twisted, life-like bodies...incredible. So no pictures allowed, but Caitlin and I decided to be complete stalkers and walk around the building so we could sneak in some pictures from outside.

- The Rape of Prosperpina - This sculpture tells the story of Pluto (Hades) as he takes the girl to the Underworld. My favorite part about this sculpture is Pluto's hand on her thigh. You almost forget that this was made out of marble and not a softer, more malleable substance. Bernini paid close attention to details - small tears can be seen on Prosperpina's cheek. - Apollo and Daphne - The nymph is running from Apollo and prays to the gods to help her escape, and is therefore turned into a tree. The depiction of the moment of her transformation is BEAUTIFUL. Her toes are turning into roots, her skin into bark, her hands into branches; it's breathtaking. What is it with these dominating, aggressive men in Mythology? At least Daphne can turn into a tree. I wish I had that ability. ;P **Do a Google search of these sculptures to see the sculptures in closer detail! You will be amazed! ** -

The Galleria Borghese is also home to Bernini's David, which some may favor over Michelangelo's more famous (and way larger) David, in Florence. Look it up!

Later that night, we went to Piazza Navona, where there is a "Christmas Carnival"!! Everyone has been calling it a market, but it really is more like a carnival. There is even a Carousel!

My dad forwarded me an email last week, with this video of a man who owns a "Steelers" Bar in Rome. He seemed like a really cool, fun guy from the video so I was excited to check this place out! Caitlin had actually been there and knew him, so she took me there and introduced me. He wasn't as welcoming as I thought...and the place wasn't covered in Steelers stuff as he made it seem in the video, so we really didn't stay long. We went back later on on the night, just to catch the score (he was playing it from his computer). But it was still neat to see that the Steelers have a little fanclub in Rome!

- Andiamo Steelers! ;P -

We then met up with a few others from the "Peanuts gang" and had a nice dinner. They've been really good friends and it's nice to know that we all live fairly close to each other back in the States! Caitlin even lives in New Jersey.

All this week I've been studying at home, relaxing, and not trying to stress about my upcoming finals. By Friday afternoon, I'll be completely done and will be able to enjoy my last day and a half in this beautiful city.

Until Friday....
G

I love i film italiani

I have so much to blog about! Some really cool things happened this weekend!

Be on the lookout for these updates:
-Studying at the Roman Forum/Colosseum (ps. Like my new panoramic? It's an awesome look at the inside of the Colosseum.)
-Luciano Pavarotti
-The Borghese Gallery
-Piazza Navona "Carnival"
-Steelers Bar

I've been studying for my Italian Cinema final all day. I wish I would have been able to further explore the topic of Italian cinema and its history, but you know, I had four other classes to "worry" about too. Between Ancient (ancient, ancient) Rome, Renaissance Rome in the 1500s, and Italy in 1940's-1980's, you can see how I've had a hard time focusing on just one area! And actually, they're all SO interesting - and this is the first time I can ever truly say that about every single one of my classes in college. It's great to finally see how everything in my cinema class relates and that I'm more than happy to be studying it. I'm so excited to share what I've learned about how history has deeply affected Italian film when I get home.

Italian movie night when I get home? I think that would be a yes!

DICEMBRE?!

Well, it's December, classes are over, and I have ten days left of this exciting experience!

Tomorrow I'm going to study at the Roman Forum. (I'm taking advantage of saying that before it's too late.)

Updates? Finals start this Saturday...then I'm leaving on a jet plane the following Sunday! I'll update a couple more times before I leave.

Thanks for reading, amici. :)