On My Own!

Hey y'all!
Today was a day of exploring Rome, partially by myself!  I got up super early to go downtown to the Roman Forum and Colosseum to meet my art professor for an on-site lecture.  I had my doubts, but it's been a long time since I've taken that many notes in one class lecture!  He had so much to say, and he knows SO much about art and architecture.  I'm lovin' it.  We went around the forum learning about how that was the center of Roman commerce and just the best place to hang out centuries ago.  We saw the Senate building (not where Caesar was murdered) but we did see where he was cremated!  We learned about the Vestal Virgins, whose job it was to keep the fire burning in the temple.  If they strayed away from their duties they were buried alive.  I think I would be following all the rules at that point...

Next, we wandered around learning about the triumphal arches, and finally on to the Colosseum. That building, like St. Peter's, never really gets old.  It was beautiful this morning.  We learned about the different types of columns, arches, and building materials.  I mostly love the stories about the gladiator fights.  I found a gladiator fight class online.  I really want to sign up....there's a Roman Gladiator School.  We'll see.

After class, Jenny and I walked to a farmacia (pharmacy) to find shampoo and cold medicine.  I bought conditioner. Apparently the Italians don't use it, or it is guaranteed to make my hair shine until the day I die because it is so expensive here.  I better have luscious locks for the rest of my life.  We went to a  little restaurant that I had seen a few times and wanted to try.  We tried the caprese salad, and enjoyed paninis while watching the tourist groups walk by and being glad that we are locals...:)

After a charming little lunch, I wanted to do a little museum hopping and Jenny needed to go back to school.  She didn't want to take the bus by herself, but I told her she could do it.  I waited with her by the bus stop as she held her schoolbooks.  I felt like I was sending her to the first day of Kindergarten....but she made it successfully!  I found my way to the first museum on my list: La Giocanda.  That is the Italian name for the Mona Lisa.

I have been wanting to go to this museum since I saw it one day when I was riding the bus.  It was so much fun! It was a pretty big exhibit to just discuss one painting.  Of course the original is in the Louvre in Paris, but I learned more about it in this exhibit!  A photographer had gone through with a special lens and photographed Mona Lisa to discover what the original would have looked like it.  The Mona Lisa on the left is what it looks like now, and the right is what it would have looked like when it was painted.  Did you know that Leonardo DaVinci held onto this painting until the day he died? Pretty special!  After I finished browsing, the curator asked me what I thought of the exhibit (in Italian).  I was so excited to be able to chat with her about it in Italian.  I guess when you like to chat as much as I do, you'll figure out how to do it in any language...

I had another museum on my list for today: Museo Napoleonico.  Right on the Tiber River, it is a collection of paintings, clothes and jewelry, furniture, and sculptures from the Napoleonic period in Rome.  It has things from all of the Napoleons...and let me tell you, that family was powerful, but not attractive (not in a mean way, of course.)  It was beautiful inside!  The guards watched me like a hawk.  I'd like to think it was because they were bored and I was the only person there, but I think they saw my beady eyes on the jewels....kidding!  But really, they would look much better on me than in the glass case! :)

Not a very good photo of some jewels, but you can tell why I liked them!

Next, I took the bus back toward the Colosseum.  I got off and strolled along the monuments on the way to the Via dell Corso, one of the shopping streets.  I wanted to walk and I figured that doing a little window shopping had never hurt anyone.  I walked the entire street up and back down!  Some of the stores I understood, but others needed my help.  Little me can't help everyone though.  All the while, I was trying to look like the little Italian I am becoming, but it was hard while wearing my very American looking flip flops.  I couldn't help it, I have such bad blisters from this week of walking in my flats!  Luckily for me, I found a way to remedy this heinous fashion blunder...y'all can use your imagination.

Anywho, my new sandals are cute and on sale.  I am going to the Amalfi Coast this weekend and I didn't pack sandals, so I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to get their wear in while also protecting my poor toes.  Today was especially nice because I got to get around Rome by myself and rely on myself without Internet or a map to find my way back.  It's great.  I feel so self sufficient.  And I was back before dark--bonus points.  (Of course, Mom, I would never be out by myself after dark.  And I will be back to school by 11:59 pm because nothing good happens after midnight....)

On the way home, I had to transfer busses twice.  When the bus arrived, it was so overcrowded and I knew there wouldn't be enough room for one more person who had a large backpack.  But some guy grabbed my arm and yanked me into the bus.  Then he told me in English that I just had to go for it, it's the Italian way.  Loved him.  Paid it forward today by giving a little old lady my seat on the bus.  Grandmas LOVE that.  She was the cutest little Italian lady I have ever seen.  And she still had on cute little shoes and was toting around her little purse (which looked heavy.  probably to hit people with).  Our bus got stopped by a truck in the way and our bus driver had a fit and started screaming at him.  I am totally unphased at this point.  There is a lot of screaming on public transportation...

Speaking of transportation, I am going away for the weekend so I won't post again until Sunday night!  I am so glad y'all are reading this, and I hope you are enjoying reading about my adventures as much as I am enjoying living them!  Shoutout to Anne & Mike, my generous benefactors who are letting me study abroad--love y'all! I'm behaving!

Sidebar: Anne is the busiest empty nester I have ever heard of.  Getting in touch with her is like a full time job...she has so many activities...

 Buona Notte!