Musei Capitolini

Today, we toured Musei Capitolini which are museums on one of Rome's 7 hills, this hill was Capitoline. We met Claudio and Ruggero at the UW Rome Center (UWRC) at 9:30 in the morning walked over to the 'musei', and as we approached you can see the incline of hill. We walked up this sort of ramp-stair thing, which apparently is made that way because in ancient times it was made so that aristocrats could ride their horses up the hill without dismounting. Walking up the elongated ramp-stairs, you realize that this was the very same entrance that visitors, emperors, enemies and everyone entered through. Two giant statues, who were two sons of Apollo, flanked the entrance at the top of hill. Then as you walk more, you're in Piazza Nuova with a huge replica of Marcus Aurelius mounted on his horse. 

The "ramp-stairs"

Finally we made it into the museum where we met our guide, Dottoressa Daniela. The most soft-spoken guide I've ever had in my life led us all through Roman history. We leapt through time, from The Republic time period to the Empire, where Rome was at its apex. I guess that's kind of how I feel about Rome when I explore around the city everyday. It's a city comprised of the old and new. We walked through buildings that have been rebuilt again and again after earthquakes or sieges or new rule - whatever reason there was to build a palace or monument, the Romans found one. It was surreal to pass through rooms and be face-to-face with famous statues or art work that I've only seen in my art history text books. 

We also some of the older ruins. It's so hard to imagine a Rome different from the Rome of today. A Rome where there was still grass, haha. And buildings didn't occupy every available space. A Rome where crumbled temples we see now were architectural feats that tower above even the tallest building today.

Then, after 3 hours of touring, we got lunch, caffe' and gelato in the caffetteria at the top of the museum, needless to say there was an amazing view...

After our 2 hour break, it was time for afternoon class: Ital 399 with Claudio, Italian culture through cinema and Ital 390, Corsa Roma - in which Ruggero teaches us about Roman history (he is a romano himself afterall). 

Ruggero and Dottoressa Daniela

In bocca al lupo!

Everyday is fantastic and totally exhausting. The city is so loud, but beautiful. The beauty makes up for it and I easily get lost in it so that sound is almost drowned out. Not only the beauty of the city, but the contradictions of the city. The juxtaposition between antiquity and modernity. It's really weird, you know? The streets are made of chunky, square, and weathered cobblestone; and upon these roads that all lead to Rome, cars of all sizes drive, and by drive I mean speed, like nobody's business. They park in places you'd never think a car could fit. The car horn is like an extension of their hand, haha.

My favorite image so far is when we were walking somewhere, and passing us in the opposite direction was a priest listening to an iPod and smoking a cigarette. Best memory so far. He epitomizes the strange juxtapositions I see everyday in Rome.

And I thought I walked a lot in Seattle. No, I walk distances I wouldn't even dare walk in Seattle. Thankfully, we've gotten free bus passes - yay!! That'll be a whole 'nother adventure though. Traveling via bus through Rome... In bocca al lupo!

In bocca al lupo literally means "in the mouth of the wolf", and is an expression for Good luck! or Break a leg! And the response is Crepi! which means "shall he/the wolf die!". 

Baci da Roma

Did I say I was going to "sleep soon" in that post earlier? At 7:45pm?  My mistake... I meant to say I was going out all night with my flat mates. Coming straight off of the airplane from 24 hours of traveling you'd think I'd want to rest, relax, and recuperate. But despite my jet lag, sleep deprivation and a zombie-like dose of delirium of course  I had to go out to the bars with the girls.

It was my first evening in Rome and it was too beautiful to waste sleeping. Sleep when I'm dead right?

After over an hour of preening ourselves for the Roman nightlife, we met the other apartment of girls by the Vatican. Wait, did I just say our meeting place was the Vatican? I did. "Oh hey, girls meet us in front of the Pope's house around 10..." It's surreal!

All us girls in La Piazza di San Pietro in front of the Vatican before we hit the bars for the night.

My skin and hair don't like me in Rome.