Rome: July 4

July 4

Today we left Italy and entered the state of Vatican City. I watched "Angels and Demons" like a month ago and got TOTALLY stoked for this day. :) The museums were over a mile long. I learned so much! They were exquisite. I saw frescos, sculptures (all the "offensive bits" had been destroyed or chipped off and hidden somewhere in the Vatican!), marble ancient flooring, tapestries made with real silver and gold thread, and detailed coffered ceilings. I feel so cultured! Ha ha. The Sistine Chapel is one of those sites that actually lives up to its expectations. I learned about the wall of judgement (and the scandal about all the naked bodies in a chapel that Michelangelo had hidden from the pope until it was too late), and the man getting his special bits (our tour guide always called them "bits" which I've now adopted) eaten by a large serpant because Michelangelo didn't care for him (it was a cardinal). My favorite part in the chapel was the creation of woman, which is in the very center.
Next I entered a truly indescribable space: St. Peter's Basilica. Hundreds of several story mosaic murals, 20 foot sculptures, pillars, gold, and an enormous dome. Most of us opted to climb hundreds of stairs to the top level of the dome to see the view of Rome. Darrin says it's #2 of his bucket list, it's THAT beautiful. Later we went to the Pantheon and attended Mass. It was there I met my Italian boyfriend, Mario. Mmmm.
To celebrate the 4th of July I got really hyper back at the hotel with Jeanette, Allie, and Erica. We sang the National Anthem pretty loud in commemoration.

Laura and Josie with St. Peter's Basilica in the background

On top of St. Peter's overlooking Rome (SO BLASTED HOT UP THERE)

Wall of Judgement (so so cool!)

Creation of Man

Tapestry of Jesus who's eyes follow you down the hall

Pantheon

Rome: July 3

July 3
Because of the swift arrival of the hail storm yesterday we were unable to go inside the Colosseum, so we returned confidently with umbrellas and parkas in hand (regardless of the fact we wouldn't need them). The structure is magnificent. Larger even than I had expected. Laura and I had to swallow our normal inclination to feel embarrassed and replace it with pride (or at least a false sense of it anyway, knowing we'd never see these people again), as we attempted to recreate an "America's Next Top Model" photo shoot. As luck would have it, we actually like a handful of the photos and had a good laugh doing it.
We then met a tour guide and walked for about a hundred or so miles... She took us to see the Church of St. Clemente, Church of St. Peter in chains, Church of St. Maria Maggiore, St. Carline, the President of Italy's palace (where they happened to be changing the guards with a full band of handsome men), and finally to the Trevi Fountain. I threw in one coin in hopes that I would one day return to Rome (an old legend).

Colosseum


Allie-Berry


In front of the fire statue in Angels and Demons!


One of the thousands of adorable doors


Erica and Josie


Arch

Rome: July 1-2

On July 1, 2009 a group of USU Interior Design students left bright and early for a study abroad to Europe. Laura Andersen picked me up at 3 am for the airport. Somebody, for financial purposes no doubt, had the bright idea of giving us 3 flights wich came hand in hand with 2 long layovers. We lost a full day and arrived in Rome, Italy on July 2 at 10:45 am.

View from the plane

Tired, perhaps? Nonsense. Jetlag? Never heard of it... That's right, we began touring the city immediately. I felt like I was on drugs or something because I was so disoriented, but no time to complain: I'm in Rome!
We started by walking through some of the city, seeing the exterior of the Colosseum, ancient stonework, and bridges along the roads (so great in numbers were they, it was as if they were nothing special), and the Capitolini Museum.

Ruins we saw on the walk in the Rain

Building erected for Italian Independence

Pretty view from museum

Just keeping it G-rated :)

The part of the day most worth noting was the near flash flood we experienced right outside the Colosseum. It's like we, the teachers included, jjust thought it would stop as quickly as it had started, but we poorly misjuged mother nature. An hour later, after never seeking shelter, we were all drenched from head to toe... and so was our stuff. Many lost Metro passes, sketchbooks, and more. But I don't think a single student would tell you it wasn't outrageously fun. :)

At the Borghese Museum we saw gardens and sculptures. My favorite was the Apollo and Daphne sculpture. The story goes that Apollo was in love with Daphne and was chasing her to show her his love. In doing so Daphne prays to her father, a god, fork a solution. As a result she becomes a Laurel tree. The sculpture captures the moment of transformation as Apollo reaches for her.
Italy is charming. The buildings with their flower boxes, their shudders, and their rod-iron balconies. Most of all I am loving the doors. Such a variety I've never known! I've made a personal note-to-self that I would like to instal round topped blue Italian doors in my dream house.

Ireland

top 5

Patterns

Some of my textile designs: V&A, the Tate, and British Museum (in that order)
Some inspirations (of those that could be pictured.)

I couldn't take pics in the Tate, but the middle one is loosely inspired by something that sort of looked like this, except it was a cool painting.

Venice

Venice Top 5:

5. The laughably disgusting food. Italian food sounds good, right? You're wrong. American Italian food sounds good. Sure, that is a blanket statement that is completely out of context, but the food we had is worth noting as some of the most deceiving food I've ever had- and that includes April Fool's Day dinners.
4. Falling into the Grande Canal. I was the only one on the trip who can say that.
3. The fact that streets are crowded with people, not cars.
2. Going to church in Italy! So fun and the people are kind. It was a trick to get there, but totally worth the effort.
1. Gondola ride, hands down. If you go to Venice, don't skip it.

ROME (overall)

Rome top 5:

5. Swimming with blue caps at our hotel. We saw hairy armpit lady, topless little girl, and bottomless little boy.
4. Singing the national anthem late at night in our hotel room on July 4.
3. Hailstorm at the Colosseum
2. VATICAN CITY! Good glory. That includes the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's, the view, etc. It was the most incredible experience. And a little creepy too. Haha
1. Meeting Mario, my Italian boyfriend... Or so I'd like to believe.