So What Does It All Mean?

As I sit here, putting the finishing touches on my blog before final inspections, I am reminiscing. The infernal question, "So what did this mean to me?" keeps popping up into my head. I suppose I can try and answer it, but I have a small feeling that I will never be able to fully answer that question because this trip was too much, it overwhelmed. I experienced so many new things, fulfilled several of my life-long goals, and simply saw so much that I don't know what it can be reduced down to.

However, I do know that this trip has reaffirmed my need, no perhaps thirst is a better word, for traveling. For seeing the world. For not being satisfied with what little I have seen in these measly 19 years of my existence. Experiencing Roma and Firenze and Pompeii has only made me more parched for the rest of the world, the rest of the cultures, the rest of the architecture, the rest of everything that rests just on the edge of the horizon.

I do know that my love of architecture has significantly grown during the 8 days I was in Italia. Now, more than ever, I will be able to learn from the past and incorporate in the future. I am completely fascinated with the idea of a piazza inside a building, and Roma has only made that itch worse. The fact that Pompeii and Ostia Antica and Hadrian's Villa still stand speaks volumes about choice of building material and sustainability. As a student of architecture I must take what I see and use it later on.

I do know that I will be going back to Italia. Whether it will be in the next 5 years (perhaps my final co-op?), or in the next 50 years, I have to go back. There is no other option, I've fallen in love with Roma, and I only saw a small glimpse of it. I have yet to experience half of what that magnificent city can offer.

I do know that this class, as a whole, has helped me to be a more brain-storming student, rather than a by-the-book student. I have learned to think more analytically, which will help me in both of my majors.

All in all, I cannot simply reduce this trip to a "once in a lifetime" event, because that sounds cliche and used. Not to mention that it doesn't truly express what I felt for this trip. It was also mind-expanding, ego-shrinking, and quite simply amazing. Words don't work here. So let me end this post with the a few quotes, they aren't exactly what I want to say, but they come really, really close.

"O Rome! My country! City of the soul!" -Lord Byron

"In tears I tossed my coin from Trevi's edge... I gave to Rome my rendezvous and pledge. " - Robert Underwood Johnson

"Rome is the city of echoes, the city of illusions, and the city of yearning." - Giotto di Bondone

Day 8 - Tivoli and Hadrian's Villa

(Tivoli)

The last day was ours to do with what we pleased. I joined up with two other students who were majoring in architecture and we decided to go to Hadrian's villa in one of the (ancient) posh suburbs of Roma. We grabbed the metro to Termini, from Termini to the train station, and grabbed a train to Tivoli.

Now, let us remember that Roma is a huge tourist town. In Roma, many people speak some English (to be fair, most Europeans are bi-lingual), and are willing to speak with you if you make some effort to first speak in Italian. Going to Tivoli was a huge leap of faith in our ability to navigate, as well as to be able to speak good Italian. We found out the hard (hilarious) way, that outside of major tourist spots, no one speaks English. We ended lost while looking for the bus station, and only found our way over to the right dock after talking with 6 or 7 people in our very broken Italian. Now don't get me wrong, I loved it. I thought it was hilarious. And Tivoli itself is very, very beautiful. However, it was nice to know that we were heading in the right direction. After taking the bus down the mountain we walked the remaining 1/2 a mile to the villa's entrance.

(The scenery was just too perfect)

Let me give you some small background information on this place. Hadrian was an emperor of Roma. Among us he was called the "Architect Emperor" of Roma due to the fact that he was the one who designed (or at the very least took credit for) the Pantheon. Hadrian designed this villa to be his retreat away from the stress of work because anyone who's anyone had a villa outside of Roma (Catallus for one) (bonus points if you know who Catallus is and can say his name correctly!). This "villa" was laid out over 300 acres (Pompeii... the city of Pompeii only had 90 acres), had over 25 buildings (including several baths, a full theatre, an olympic size pool, etc), and was to house only himself and his slaves. Sadly, (or perhaps ironically or better yet poetically) Hadrian never lived to see his villa complete, or even enjoy its lavishments because he died before living in it. This place was an architect's dream. Heck, it was anyone's dream.

(We thought that view was great, but imagine this over a thousand years ago with no buildings)

Even in it's semi-ruined state, one can appreciate the grandeur of this villa. As we said numerous times throughout this trip, "Hadrian knew how to live." Everything was so picturesque, so perfect. From the trees down to the ruins, it was placed with such precision one couldn't fully comprehend it. We walked through the pool, the track, up to the baths. We rented one of those earpieces that gave you more information on the sites, but I was content just simply strolling through the grounds taking in what I could, capturing with photos what I could, and trying to somehow breathe in some of Hadrian's artistic, architectural skill. We walked by more baths, the slaves quarters, by another pool. I honestly cannot remember everything we walked through, so instead I'll show you pictures.

(One of the ruined baths, complete with ocular)

(The ruins of one of the many buildings)

(One of the most famous aspects of the villa - the Nile Pool)

(From atop the dome above the pool)

Day 7 - Ostia Antica

On day seven we took a train to Ostia Antica, the old port town of Roma. Back in Roma's hay-day, Ostia would be the port for all the people and goods to come in from off the Mediterranean sea. However, as history tells us, after much flooding, looting, and sacking, Ostia became a no-man's land. It is only recently, through the hard work of archaeologists, that we have rediscovered Ostia Antica (which in Latin reads as "Old Mouth", appropriate for a port city, don't you think?) (actually, Antica was added later on).

We were split up into groups, and David ended up being the tour guide for ours. Below are some pictures, because I believe it would be better to see what is left of this old city rather than me talking about it, because, to be honest, it was in pretty old shape.

(A nice scenic road in Ostia Antica)

(The theatre in Ostia)

(Arches near, what we thought was, the forum)

(Pedico above an old house)

Day 6 - Firenze

We started off the morning on the bus off to Firenze (aka Florence). The bus ride was beautiful and I took several photos while on the bus. What caught me the most was how cities, well towns really, were built into the hills. It was quite amazing, from an architectural viewpoint, as I could not picture any town I have ever seen in America doing that. I've seen houses on hills, but never whole towns.

After getting off the bus in Firenze we walked down the cobblestone roads to the Basilica Santa Croce. The church itself was one of the last great cathedrals of Italy, dating back to about the 1200s, but the outer facade is actual of the 19th century. If you're facing the church to your left is a large, grimacing statue of Dante Alighieri, author of the Divine Comedy. I am a fan of Dante's work, and could picture him staring me down in marble, but it was unnerving none the less.

(Dante Aligheri outside the basilica)

After walking into the church the first thing I noticed was the ceiling: it was made of wood. Yes, wood. Wooden beams and trusses. It was a moment of pure awe. Here is a cathedral full of stone that must weigh thousands of pounds being supported by wood. Architectural genius, I believe I must have taken at least ten pictures of the ceiling alone, but here is one of the better ones.

(Wooden beams and trusses)

The church was unlike the churches we saw in Roma, not only because they were more dome orientated while this church was Gothic (as in it has a t shape, or a cross shape with niches on either side), but because it wasn't overbearing in its decoration. Yes, this cathedral was decorated to the nines, but to me it seemed so simple. What I mean is that the decorations seemed in place, they weren't doing more than being inspirational, and they were not being, at least in my opinion, ostentatious like some of the other churches I saw in Roma were. The other aspect I loved about the cathedral was the enclosed garden. The garden/piazza was enclosed rectangular and reminded me of an old picture of a Roman hotel I once saw. Very picturesque.

After finishing the cathedral we grabbed a quick bite in the square which was hosting an international flea market of sorts. I grabbed a true German sausage (complete with spicy brown mustard) and then browsed the wares (doing a bit of quick Christmas shopping) before rejoining the group of the cathedral's steps. From there we walked over to another church, the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. This cathedral is most famous for its immense dome, constructed by Brunelleschi.

(The Basilica of Santa Maria)

The exterior is somewhat like the Basilica Santa Croce, but the interior was so much different. I didn't spend much time in the inside of this church because I opted to climb to the top of Brunelleschi's dome (a steep 463 steps... 926 roundtrip). While the climb to the top was not blog-worthy, the views were worth the effort, if you ever have the chance to climb, do it. Even if you're afraid of heights, just do it, you'll be glad you did. Words cannot express the beauty of what I saw from the top of the dome, so instead I'll just show you some pictures.

(The far-off hills of Firenze)

(A panoramic from the top of the dome - click on it for full effect)

(A view of Firenze)

After the dome we made our way to the Galleria Nationale which houses the famous "David" sculpture. I'd like to point out how big this sculpture is. I thought it would be about 15 feet tall, but no, it must have been at least 25 feet tall, maybe taller. Pictures were not allowed so I have none to show you, but it was amazing.

We left the Galleria and headed back towards the bus which was waiting for us on the river. A few of us broke ranks and sprinted down the river to the Ponte Vecchio, the bridge of gold. It is a bridge over the Arno river that houses nothing but jewelry shops. As we turned the corner to walk down it we were suddenly enveloped in a cloud of gold light. Now, I am not a fan of jewelry, but this bridge was breath-taking. Everywhere you looked was gold, silver, and more gold. We got a few ok pictures, but we didn't have much time and we had to run back to catch up with the group.

(Ponte Vecchio)

I loved going to Firenze. It's slow pace and natural atmosphere was a nice compliment to the hustling city atmosphere of Roma. I will have to return to Firenze soon, because I feel as though the entire trip was rushed and I would love to experience it more.

(The Arno River in Firenze)

Day 5 - Churches and Villa Borghese

We awoke to a deluge of rain. After breakfast Professor Goldman led us around to a few churches so we could see the insides of them. He told us that this was a precursor to the churches we would be seeing in Florence. They were all really decorative; gold, brass, and marble was everywhere. I couldn't get a lot of great shots because my flash is very diva-ish and temperamental and the lighting in the churches themselves just weren't conducive to my beginning photographer mentality.

After seeing this churches we walked north from the hotel to the Villa Borghese. Well, what we thought was the Villa Borghese. Our leaders led us astray twice, but the gardens were still gorgeous to look at, even in the monsoon-like weather. We found our way to the actual Villa and made our way inside. We were not allowed cameras, so please don't go asking for them. We saw rooms upon rooms (which, were beautiful by themselves) of sculptures and paintings. It was very overwhelming. The one sculpture I found the most intriguing was the one with Apollo chasing after Daphne, the wood nymph. In case you don't know or remember the mythology, allow me: Apollo (the god of music) was in love with Daphne, a wood nymph. He chased after her, but she did not return his affection. In the end she asked her father (I can't remember who he was exactly, I want to say he was the god of the local river in the forest where Daphne lived, but don't quote me), to turn her into a being that would not bring about Apollo's affection. Her father then turned her into a tree.

Picture this if you can: a man desperately clinging to a woman who is literally turning into a tree. Her feet have disappeared, her torso is metamorphosing into a tree trunk (complete with bark) (the bark was SO intricate, I couldn't imagine the hours taken to achieve that effect), and leaves all around her. This piece really made me stop and look.

(The Villa Borghese... now the Borghese Museum)

After going through the art galleries we went off to lunch. I cannot remember what we did between lunch and night, however I do know that it was that night that we had a dinner on Dean Newrock. The food itself was superb but what really stopped me was the service. We had 5 courses, each a small dish, and each served so promptly. It was a brand new type of dining experience for me and I was happy to have another chance to try some new Italian on the waiters.

After dinner we walked back to the hotel and prepared ourselves for Florence!

Day 4 - Pompeii

We took a charter bus to Pompeii. Due to the acclimate weather (it was raining), there wasn't much to see outside so I took a short nap and listened to my iPod. Upon arriving to Pompeii we had lunch in nice restaurant that I'm sure would be booming come tourist season in the spring and summer). From there we drove the last few miles to the actual site of Pompeii. For Pompeii we had hired a tour guide and he was simply wonderful. He knew so much about Pompeii, and more than just what you could read in a book.

(Pompeii)

Our guide first talked to us about how Pompeii erupted. First there were the earthquakes which came months before the first actual eruption, then came the eruption. However, the eruption was not practically instantaneous as some people believe, but rather happened over many hours. Our guide told us how some people were able to evacuate and then return to Pompeii to save more of their belongings. We were able to see several of the plaster moldings of the people who had been frozen in the ash. I was amazed at how emotional they were, you could truly feel how horrified these people were not only through their body language, but also by the lines in their face.

We went through the basilica and the market places.

(Brick columns in the basilica at Pompeii)

We passed several temples. Our guide informed us that Pompeii was a very liberal town in terms of its religious tolerance. Pompeii allowed everyone to pray to whomever they chose because they saw how lucrative it was. We moved through the alleys (Pompeii had sidewalks, complete with places to tie up your horses), and into the baths. Pompeii was said to hold many baths, all of which were highly decorated and furnished. We even saw a tub that had "So-and-so paid for this" written in gold.

We moved through the baths and into several houses. The houses all had a similar pattern: an open front room, followed by a small garden, and rooms off the center garden. The houses we went into were all of middle to upper class status and were kept in pretty good shape. We were taken through one house, the largest house in Pompeii. Our guide told us how many square feet it was, but I could not remember. What I recall was the extremely large garden in the center of the home.

(Mt. Vesuvius)

From the large house we walked down the alleys to one of Pompeii's numerous brothels. On a side note, I took Professor Holt Parker's "Sex and Gender in Ancient Greece and Rome" 300 level seminar last spring, so I was really, really excited about this. As we made our way through the brothel I didn't hear just our guide's voice, but the voice of Professor Parker as well. The doors with the pictures painted above them. The phallus on the doors. Perhaps this reads as a bit odd, but I don't care. I loved that class, and managed a 110% (beating out most junior classics majors I might add), and learned a lot of information.

From the brothel we made our way down the street to the theatre.

(The theatre at Pompeii)

It was a nice place to conclude the tour and the walk back to the museum presented us with several stunning views of Napoli and the Mediterranean Sea. All in all, seeing Pompeii was a once-in-a-life time experience. It was really interesting to see how much archaeologists have found and were able to preserve.

(Looking down one of the many streets of Pompeii)

Day 3 - Colosseum and Roman Forum

Day 3 of my Roman Holiday began with taking the metro down to the Colosseum. One thing I love about the Roman metro stations is how well their entrances are planned. You come right out of the Colosseum exit of the Roman metro and there it is, just right there, blocking out the morning sun, in all of its ruined glory. Thankfully, the group stopped so we could take some good pictures before walking across the street. We were supposed to have had a tour guide waiting for us at the Colosseum, however he/she was no where to be found so we made do with Professor Suckarieh and the Colosseum group. I took a moment to stop and take a few pictures of the outer concourse of the Colosseum before following the group up the stairs to the second tier. It reminded me so much of my previous ideas for our second PBL (the one where I was to create a new stadium for our new nation). If I could sum up the Colosseum in one phrase I believe I would call it 'calculated simplicity'. I say this because when the first thing you think when you see this giant stadium is "Wow"; you're in pure awe. The next thing you think of (well, at least I thought of), is how simple it all seems. It's basically arch after arch and the Romans are known for their arches so really, it should have been simple construction. However, then you really start to think about the construction and the math and architectural structures behind it (that is if you're an architect or architect major), and you realize how intricate it is, all of it. It's really calculated simplicity

(The Colosseum)

The group dissipated as we made our way around the Colosseum. I took some great photos, including some good panoramic ones.

(A panoramic of the interior)

The most interesting aspect of the Colosseum was the exposed catacombs. Historians and archaeologists alike still debate over aspects of the inner workings of the Colosseum, especially if it could actually flood itself. While the underbelly I saw couldn't answer any of my questions, it was impressive to see none the less.

(The catacombs of the Colosseum)

I also took several minutes to look at what recent actions have been taken to stabilize the Colosseum (aka the buttresses and the marble stones placed on top). Going back to what I said earlier about the calculations and math of the building, it was very nice to see that we could save and preserve this stadium by using simple construction methods.

After a walk (hike) to the Piazza de Navona and lunch we collected everyone outside the arc near the Colosseum before moving on to see the Roman Forum. Inside the Forum we were broken up into groups, with each group getting a member of the Forum PBL team. Our group ended up with Philip and he led us through the Forum. We saw the Basilica (which is the city seat, not a church), the temple of the Vestal Virgins, the Arc of Titus, and several other key areas. However, unlike the Colosseum or Baths of Caracalla, there isn't really anything left, so it is very hard for anyone to decipher what is what or if stuff is gone or not; basically, there is no definite blue print. However, the Forum was interesting none the less. The one thing I found the most interesting was the marker in the middle of the Forum that was the measuring point for all roads out of Rome.

(The temple of Romulus, founder of Rome)

(Arc of Titus)

(The basilica)

After the Forum we were done for the day. After heading back to the Hotel I joined a group that was headed to the Spanish steps to see the Christmas tree. We took the metro over. The tree was actual a bunch of electric lines made into a cone-like shape. Sometimes all the lines were the same color, but sometimes they alternated colors. It was very festive, even though it was very different.

(The Christmas tree at the Spanish steps)

It was nice to see the Spanish steps and the piazza, even though I'm not a shopper (I took some pictures of the Dior and Gucci windows for my sister who is a shop-a-holic). After grabbing some dinner we then rode the metro across the river to the Vatican to see their Christmas tree. It was huge, of Rockefeller-size proportions. Although it wasn't lit, it did have tiny glass bulbs on it that reflected the light of St. Peter's square and basilica. Also, it was slightly drizzling so the bulbs really sparkled in the rain, it was so pretty and very tranquil.

(St. Peter's Basilica)

After the Vatican we made our way back to the Hotel at which point I went to bed. So ended the third day.

Day 2 - Circus Maxiums, Baths of Caracalla, Theatre Marcello, and the Pantheon

DAY 2:

We started off with taking a short walk to a famous Church. We went into the crypt (?) which was decorated from baseboards to the ceiling in human bones. It was amazing, once you got over the initial shock that they were, in fact, actual bones. We were not allowed to take any pictures, but I'm sure most of us will not need them to remember that crypt. From their we took the Metro A-line down to the Circus Maximus to truly start our day. I was in the group that studied the Circus, so I was very excited to finally see what I had been studying (and I was also excited that we were the first group to lead a tour). Below is a picture of the Circus Maximus in its entirety.

(The Circus Maximus)

There were several different Circus Maximuses, two of which were made out of wood, but were then burnt down. The third Circus Maximus (and the one we see in our imagination, the one Ben-Hur raced in, the one our group primarily studied) was made of stone. It was over 600 meters long and about 250 meters wide. Historians and archaeologists are still arguing and debating an approximate height of the Circus Maximus, but can imagine that it was very, very tall as it seated thousands and thousands of spectators. For more information you can read my past blogs and the blogs of my teammates. While we were at the Circus Maximus several of us climbed the hill to the right (as you come off the Metro, looking down the track to the buildings) and took a view good photos. Here is one of the better ones.

(Here is the Circus Maximus from on top of the hill)

After leaving the Circus Maximus we made our way to the Baths of Caracalla. Alison led this short tour, but we mostly explored the inner and outer-lying ruins for ourselves. While the baths were point of interest in one of our PBLs it was Alison who focused on this topic, so I all know is what I remember from our presentation. Caracalla was actual Marcus Aurelius and the baths were made in his honor. The baths were open to the public, however there was an entrance fee and because of the expense to get in as well as the time one would spend in the baths, most of its users were of the higher class status. There were hot saunas, frigid baths, a gymnastics center, a full pool, and many other relaxing additions. All of the floors were heated by use of steam, as were the hot baths.

(The ruins of the Baths of Caracalla)

Outside the baths were vendors of soaps, oils, and other wares. The first thing that hit me about the baths was how incredibly large they were. Even thousands of years later (years of sacking and looting and natural disasters) it still stands. As a student of architecture, it really made me stop and think about the sustainability of some of this buildings versus the ones we are constructing today. However, the Romans did use marble and stone, so that may play a huge role in why they are still standing. While all of the ceilings were gone, many of the exterior walls (and a few of the interior walls) remained. The huge spanning arches were beautiful and the mosaics that were leaning up against the wall (or in some cases still embedded in the floor) really helped you to imagine what the Baths would have looked like in their prime. Below are a few of my better pictures from the Baths.

(A cool shot looking down through several arches in the Baths)

(One of the many arches of the Baths)

After finishing the Baths we walked the streets east to reach the Theatre of Marcello. I honestly don't remember that much information about the Theatre of Marcello, but what I do remember (and what I really wanted to see there) were the pillars. The Theatre had three levels and each level was assigned a different class of pillar. It went Doric to Ionic to Corinthian at the top (can you tell I love columns?).

(The three tiers of the Theatre of Marcell0)

After the Theatre we all split up into groups to find lunch and to meet at the Pantheon (which lay North-East of the Theatre) by 3 pm. I ended up tagging along with Philip and Ashley from the Forum/Scroll group and we ended up having a great lunch at a small bistro off the beaten track (We wanted to "immerse ourselves" in the culture, rather than looking for a simple pizzeria). We actually ended up deep in the Jewish Ghetto after lunch because we took a few wrong turns. While the word "ghetto" may have a negative connotation, this cultural locale has experienced a transformation in the past decades and has become a brighter section of Rome, while keeping its deep roots. After wandering somewhat aimlessly down numerous Roman alleyways (many aglow with dangling icicle lights), passing through the Piazza de Navona three times, and checking the map about 15 times (my guesstimation) we finally stumbled our way unto the Pantheon... 30 minutes late. Just in time for my camera batteries to die, so I was unable to take any pictures of the inside of the Pantheon.

(The piazza outside the Pantheon)

On a side note: I love the Pantheon. The summer before my senior year in high school I was allowed to take part in a summer architecture program at the University of Notre Dame, and while I was there I drew (to scale) the Pantheon's front elevation, its entire floor plan, and section cut. It took me almost a week (take pity on me, I was new with drafting), and from that point on I was in love with the Pantheon. So for me, simply walking into the Pantheon was like a dream. I was finally able to see what I had drawn, finally able to understand how each of the niches stood, and finally able to look up from the Pantheon and see, for myself, the clouds go by instead of hearing it from one of my professors. To be honest, I didn't give one thought to the group who presented on the Pantheon (later I thought back to their presnetation), but for the time I was in the Pantheon I simply walked around with my jaw hanging open like an idiot. Sitting here, I now wish I had snuck away someday and went back to take pictures, so at this point I'll have to steal them from my fellow students.

After the Pantheon Philip, Ashley, and I went looking for a store we found while we were lost, ended up lost again (this time in the rain), found our way into a very decorated (well, at that point I thought it was decorated... after seeing more churches I realized that they were ALL decorated), and finally made it back to the Hotel with five minutes to spare before heading off to an art exhibit at the Galleria Nationale, right next to the President's Palace. After the exhibit, our little group went in search of food and ended up back at the Piazza de Barberini (where our hotel is located) and ate in a glass-box restaurant called "Ciao Bella". That dinner, was quite simply the best food I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying. The service and atmosphere was truly Italian and just what I wanted to experience. Three hours, one meal, and several drinks later, Ashley, Philip, and I made our way back to the hotel. Such was my first day (well, in my eyes first true day) in Rome!

Day 1 - The Flight and Hotel

(Us in CVG Airport)

Before going to Rome I believed myself to be a seasoned (if although, domestic) traveler. I've made my way across the States, I've even been to Bermuda three or four times. I loved flying and didn't find it as stressful others might. However, that first eight hour flight to Rome really made me stop and erase everything I've said about me being a flyer. I stayed up the previous night so I would be tired enough to sleep on this flight, and I was, but for some reason could not get comfortable.

While the flight was a learning experience, landing in Rome, seeing everything in Italian, and hearing Italian on the speakers made me forget everything but the simple fact: I've made it to Rome! After purchasing my train and metro ticket (and speaking my first Italian) we made our way from the airport to Termini (the metro hub of Rome), and from there to our Hotel. (Us at the train station heading for Termini)

After placing my bag in my room, having a brief meeting upstairs, and getting a quick dinner / lunch (it was only 3 pm) I barely made it back to my room before passing out. I believe my lack of sleep finally caught up to me. I was upset that I didn't get to go "see the sights" with many of the others, but I was too tired. I slept until 6 pm, got up and read for two hours before passing out again and not waking up until morning. While I call this "Day 1", I do not count this day as my first true day in Rome, but rather the travel day.

(Our hotel)

First Impressions

WARNING: THIS BLOG ENTRY IS NOTHING MORE THAN A STUDENT'S FIRST IMPRESSION OF A TRIP TO ROMA. NO CONNECTIONS, NO STRING-A-LONG IDEAS BETWEEN CLASS AND TRIP, NO DEEP THOUGHTS....

Now that that's out of the way...

There are no words for what it was like for me to go to Rome. It was everything I expected, everything I wanted, it was perfect (for lack of more imaginative words). I've always been interested in traveling, whether it is within the US or outside (preferably outside), because one can never really, truly appreciate anything until they see it through another culture's eyes. On a more personal note (patriots beware): I think it is every American's duty to get out of the country (Mexico and Canada do not count) and see the world so we can come to understand that we are just a small group in this big (and yet ever-shrinking) world. We can't just sit back, balance on our (old) laurels, and go around bragging about ourselves (how self centered are we?). But my politics aside...

I love Roma (yes, I call it Roma; as I call Florence Firenze). I love the food, the sights, the sounds, the architecture (oh GOD the architecture!!), the people, the language. Everything was so new and yet it was so old. So refined. So tested. So sure. Like the century old cobble stone streets, everything seemed so strong. I suppose that is why Roma is the 'Eternal City': it will always last.

I have to go back. Sooner or later, in 5 years or 10, I will somehow get back to Italy. I have yet to see Venice and Milan, and there is so much more to experience. I know that I will somehow, and it's a comforting thought. Perhaps I can talk my co-op adviser into letting me double-back my co-op and find a firm in Roma that will take me on for 6 months (and because I have plenty of time before that will happen I can teach myself more Italian). Either way, I'll be back. I will not say "Arrivederci, Roma".

So my apologies for not making connections in this post, but I assure you my next posts will include connections and deeper thoughts. However, as it is Christmas Day I am going to return to my family and enjoy a bit of well deserved R&R.

The Second Group Of Presentations

Due to the fact that I have been worse than lazy and are only getting around to this post now, a week after the presentation, I cannot for the life of me remember what order the groups went in. So please, bear with me, I do remember all of the presentations.

One of the presentations was on the Theater Marcellus. The group did their presentation as though they were filming a pilot episode for a new series on BBC on ancient Rome. They found a sarcophagi, and within it certain artifacts. I remember they found a scroll with a name on it (later turned out to be the name of an architect... starts with a V), some coins, and some other things. Overall, the project was really good, a great start to the presentations.

The next presentation dealt with the Pantheon. This group's back story was the Prime Minister of Italy had bought himself a crypt in the the Pantheon and the Vatican, along with the public, were outraged. This group had both a live action sequence and a movie sequence of several people (a Vatican representative, an architectural historian, a nobleman of Rome, and a member of the Socialist Party). Each of these people spoke about a different aspect of the Pantheon, for instance its history, its uses, and they each answered the question "Should the Prime Minister get away with buying himself a crypt in the Pantheon?". Each of the representatives answered "no". This presentation blew me away. Between the flawless transition from real life to video and back again, the commercial in the middle, the production was amazing.

The third presentation focused on Pompeii. This group's problem set was that the Earth had been covered in a dark fog, they world leaders were holding a summit, and the Greek god Apollo had come back to life in Pompeii. This PBL centered around Pompeii, specifically how it would become the new standard for sustainable, "green" living. This group presented their findings through a video and a skit. The skit itself was quite funny, with the group members each dressing up as a certain part (including Apollo and his body guard Hermes (as in the messenger god)). The presentation was funny and gave us a lot of information on Pompeii. The legend that Apollo smited Pompeii with his hand and caused Mt. Vesuvius to erupt was really interesting.

Our group was the fourth group. I think our group did great. Alison introduced us and gave the back ground story. Nick talked about the past information of the Circus Maximus, all the while his amazing Google Sketch-Up rendition of the stadium whirled around on the screen.Andrew was, quite frankly, hysterical and I don't know how I kept straight face through his part of the presentation (I mean, this was better when he was Sean Connery for Jeopardy and his "your mama's table" answer). he played the "seller" for our new stadium. Then it was my part. I won't mix words, my part brought down the group. The model was bad, however I believe my information saved my part of the presentation. If I were to be honest, I believe we did a much better job of our first PBL, but I still believe we did a good job for this one.

The last group focused on the "Carthaginian Scrolls". After a few technical errors, they were able to play their (mind-blowing) video. It was really great. It basically took us all through the history of the scrolls, what they meant, and how they applied to today's world (aka the fall of the American "empire"). The production on this video was amazing. It was interesting to think that a document that is thousands of years old could quite possibly predict the future of this country.

All in all, these presentations were a step above the first ones, and it looked like we all had fun with them. I'm glad to have these done, now all I have to focus on is not getting the group lost when we do the fountain tour aspect of our trip!

Our Second PBL

First of all, my apologies for this being way over due.

As I've said in my last post, our group's second PBL was based on the Circus Maximus. You can read it in full form below, but here is a brief summary of what we had to do:

1. Can we prove, by what we found, that this is in fact the Circus Maximus?
2. Construct a model of the Circus Maximus from back in the day (my words, not the PBL's)
3. Explain what roles this stadium played in Rome's culture
4. Construct a model for a new Circus Maximus in the year 12,200 AD
5. Explain what roles this stadium would play in our culture

My part of this PBL was to build the new model and to explain its role, particularly the technology behind it. I volunteered to build the second model because Nick had already done an amazing job with the first model and I was the only other person in the group with model making experience (I had dabbled a little in my two quarters at DAAP). You can see all of my prelimenary sketches and ideas two posts down from this one. I suggest you check that out before continuing on in this post. I decided to build the model out of chipboard, mostly because that was the only material I had experience with, and I decided with one week left, it wasn't the time to be taking chances on learning a new material. So below you can see several pictures I have taken of the new model of the Circus De Maxima I built. This model is of the level of a bad high-school art student, you've been warned.


Here is the entrance to the new stadium. I added a drawing of what it would look like when completed. Basically, with this model, it was a prelimenary sketch of a model. There was no way to actually build, whether physically or with a computer, the stadium we wanted. No one in our group had that kind of technology or experience, so this is what I did.






Here is a top-slanted-side picture of the model. You can see the surrounding rim and the inner most ring of the stadium. Again, I suggest reading my first post on this PBL so you can imagine what I was trying (failing) to do with chipboard and rubber cement.







Here is the final picture I took of the model. You can see the entrance, the general shape, the inner most ring, and the ring around the top.












Below is the link to the paper I wrote out (with major help from Alison, the Business major of the group) explaining the nitty-gritty aspects of the building such as cost, technology, seating levels, etc. This document is hosted on Google Documents so anyone should be able to view it. If however you cannot, shoot me a comment and I'll send it to you via email as an attachment.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dzxjsr9_8gxx2x2f7

There you have it, my little part of a big picture.

So Is This What A Panic Attack Feels Like?

So it's 6 pm... this time tomorrow I'll be over the Atlantic Ocean... and I'm freaking out. I've done almost everything I've supposed to have done. The major exception being printed out directions to the fountains I'll be taking people (that in it of itself is a task because I don't know how much time I have or where to go, I've decided on three, they're all in walking distance, I don't want to fail this class so should I plan more????). Other than that everything is basically ready to go. I've packed my suitcase, my carry on is ready, my passport and debit cards are safe (with a copy of them in my suitcase in case I lose them (God forbid)), I've picked out my "airport friendly" traveling attire, I've withdrawn money, I've told my bank I'll be in Italy, I've done enough laundry to clothe a developing country, I've charged my phone, I've charged my iPod, I've packed four books (two of which are travel books (a Fromer's and Fodor's)), unplugged and stowed my xbox for winter break, defrosted my fridge, checked in with all my professor's to make sure I'm not missing anything, freaked out about my grades three times today (1 pm, 3 pm, and now), talked to every single relative I have that is alive and in reach of a phone and assured each and every one of them that no, I won't die over in Italy and I'll be fine, and still haven't done all my required blogging yet.

And I can't sit still. I'm too nervous/excited/panicked/freaked out. To borrow a line from Byran Fuller... "If I could breathe, I'd vomit." Yeah, that's basically it. Only I can breathe, but I'm not sick, I just feel like it. I have a feeling I'll stay up all night and do nothing just so I can sleep on the plane tomorrow and not waste my iPod's juice. Oh well. Am I rambling? I tend to ramble and I apologize.

So, I just felt like posting something about this trip before actually going. I am excited, have no fear of that my readers. I'm so excited. Uber-excited. I just am so nervous that I'll forget something and then screw up and either A) fail this class or B) end up in the bad area of Rome (is there a really bad area? Like the East Village was in NYC, back in 80's and 90's) (why did that reference just jump into my brain?) with no money, no passport, and under the assumption that I'm someone else.

Oh well, I better end this blog. I should be blogging about the last presentation.... maybe I'll do that tonight... like at 3 am when I've done everything else, but still need to stay awake. Either way I'll get it done. Promise.

So arrivederci i miei amici!!

Prelimenary Sketches

As promised, here are my preliminary sketches of the new model of the Circus Maximus. This first page was my first concept sketch of the Circus Maximus. I wanted it to have an open center, much like the stadiums we have now. Although this "culture" of ours is underwater, I wanted this Circus to be open. The back story here is that we would build the Circus inside a membranous sphere which would keep the water out, allow natural sunlight in, and (miraculously) expel abundant amounts of heat (actually... even today that is somewhat possible by using special glass. They did it in the One Bryant Park skyscraper by Fox Architects... why do I know this? Hmm...). I also wanted the stadium to be elliptical, and round. Whenver I think of underwater I think smooth edges, rounded corners, and a nice flow of movement, so I wanted this stadium to have the same connotations. Ironic, I wanted a nice flowing stadium which would house fights, races, gambling, and other "sharp" events. The second sketch on this paper (if we're going clockwise) is my idea for one of the entrances (or perhaps the big entrance?) to this stadium. IT was to be oval and large so one could see the second ring of the stadium (bricks, stones, columns, arches, etc). I also wanted to have gigantic statues on either side of the entrace as you can see in my sketch. I did this guy with a roman gladiator helmet, but a neptune trident. I was thinking maybe doing Neptune by himself on either side, but I thought that might be too "under-watery-little-mermaid-theme".

This second piece of paper shows some sketches I did for the upper, outer rim of the stadium. I did some of these quick sketches while thinking about UC's rec center and the Birds Nest in Beijing. I was partial to the idea of the first ring of the stadium being completely made of some sort of futuristic, light spectrum bending glass, and then support them with steel beams running cross ways through it. However, I brought myself back to reality by reminding myself that I would eventually have to build this thing and my model making skills are that of a bad high school art student. Still, in my mind it looked fantastic. On this page you'll also see a cross section of the stadium. You'll notice that it is goes underground as well. The idea was to have the above superstructure floors be seating only and the substructure floors hold the shopping and food and gambling districts. In the beginning I thought we'd have 6 floors, but it ended up being 8 (5 seating, 3 floors below). The other sketches around the two main ones were ideas of how I was going to present this information. I thought I'd do a big foam board of sketches, cross sections, and elevation drawings to match the model I would be making. In the end, it just came down to two drawings I projected on the screen and the model.

Here is my final prelimenary sketch for this new Circus Maximus. The way the stadium would be set up would be as rings. The outer most being the shell, the second being the concourse, and the third being the actual stadium floor and seating. While I was brainstorming and sketching this new Circus I must admit I was having illusions of grandeur. Cast stones, arches snaking around the entire second ring, corinthian columns, unlimited ceilings. One of these illusions was to have part of the second ring (the concourse) have an open walkway to the first ring on the second floor and above. It wasn't impossible, but I forget to draw lines in places. That's what happens when I don't pay attention to what I'm doing, I don't draw exactly what I'm seeing. It's like typing and you leave out three words because in your mind they're there, but your hands forget to put them in .

So there you have it, my prelimenary sketches. For my next post I will put up my final part of the presnetation (aka model pictures and sketches) as well as reflect on how we did as a group and how the other group's presenations went as well. Ciao.