Quando a Roma

After 10 years it was time to head back to Roma. The city was about the same as I remembered, but I need notice how many more Asian tourist there were, and abroad in general, compared with when I lived in Europe. A sign of the worlds wealth finding new hands?

This trip was with my whole Villa Program.

Another picture of our (not so) humble abode in case you wanted to see it again. So we left dark and early at 7am on Thursday and began the 4 hour ride to the city. I managed to get some sleep on the bus

and we got to our hotel around 11. After checking in and relaxing for half an hour it was time to head to the Vatican Museum and St Peters. The church was still as big at it was 10 years ago.

The Vatican Museum is beyond overwhelming, there is enough art in there to keep anyone entertained for a year. I saw the Apollo Belvedere,

As well as the Belvedere Torso

which Michelangelo copied the figure of Christ after in the Last Judgement
the ancient statue that helped to inspire Michelangelo's David. We made it to the Sistine Chapel, and got some pictures, even with the guards yelling No FOTO every few minutes.

Photo Credit to Paul, and the other guy in the picture is Jackson. After the Sistine Chapel I climbed the Dome of St. Peters and got a view of the whole city. St. Peters Square

I got one of the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II, the King who united Italy.

Naturally, it was built when Mussolini was in power. I checked out the inside of the largest cathedral in the world and was once again amazed.

The most famous work of art in the Basilica, Michelangelo's Pieta was quite a sight as well.

That night I met up with some friends from Wisconsin, KC and Kristy, who are in Rome for the semester.

Friday morning we had a tour of the Forum, similar to the one I had ten years ago. The tour guide was good, but as she did not know the Friends, Romans, Countrymen speech from Julius Caesar I could not compare her with my guide from before. The Forum still looked like its 2000+ year old self

Found the Vestal Virgins Temple, known as Vesta, the name of my apartment this past fall so I had to take a picture in front of it with my roommate Paul

We walked around the Forum, and were shown the location where Marc Anthony gave the famous speech.

I also managed to do some Parkour in the Forum

We came to the Colosseum, Big as ever

After going inside of the Colosseum we walked around some, got lunch and saw Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II up close as well as the Pantheon.

Next it was time for a nap, before meeting up with the Roman Wisconsin girls for another night on the town. After not wanting to pay the entry fee for this club Paul and I made the most of the Italian drinking in public laws and enjoyed a few beers and a great conversation on the Spanish Steps.

The following morning we hit the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps in daylight

The rest of the Afternoon was spent at the Galleria Borghese, another site housing countless priceless works of art. I was intrigued by Gian Lorenzo Bernini's Sculptures which were some of the first to express motion in a stationary statue. After the Borghese it was back on the back and we returned to the villa for Hamburgers after the 4 hour nap filled ride.

Until next time Roma