Malta

It was finally time for the first trip I booked all semester Malta. It was also my first time leaving Italy(besides Vatican City) since I arrived in Florence and my first time flying the notorious Ryan Air, which was not that bad. As Ryan air does not fly out of Florence I had to first take a train to Pisa to catch the flight. As we started the descent into Malta there were some great views of the Islands, and it looked like we lucked out with the weather. After getting to our lovely hostel it was time to explore, and I got some great pictures of the beaches and bays near our hostel in St. Julians, Malta

After walking around and testing out the Malta public transportation we took a ferry from Sliema across the harbor past Fort Manoel to the Valetta Peninsula and caught the sunset.

I was even able to drive the Boat

After the ferry ride we headed back to the hostel and rested up before going out. The night life in Malta was wild, and we could imagine how crazy it would be during the summer when the island is full of tourists. I found my Benz that I forgot where I parked a few years ago

The next morning we had a bus tour of the north part of the island, followed by an hour and a half harbor tour. The morning was nice, but it did not seem it would stay nice all day. I got some more shots of the surrounding area from the Bus

We got off the bus at the Old Capital Mdina a walled medieval city near the center of the island. WE walked around some, and the winds began to pick up, and then the rain came.

Our harbor tour was canceled as the seas were too choppy, and we would have gotten even more soaked than on the bus-the windows did not close all the way so water was spraying in the whole ride home. We finally got back to the hostel and all took naps, until it was time to start getting ready for dinner and another night on the town.

The next morning I got up to get some memorabilia and take some more pictures as I found some establishments that I forgot I owned

After that it was time to head to the airport, and I spotted another very important car

I flew back to Pisa, got some great views of Malta on the way out, and the Alps on the way in. A walk, a train and a bus later and I was back at the Villa.

Next week off to Spain, Barcelona, Seville and Madrid for spring break.

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