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091704 Our Last Day... |
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written
by juliatm / 09.18.2004 |
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Itinerary |
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| Photo by Julia Mattson |
| Fontana di Trevi |
| The beautiful Kara, Helen, Keli, Amanda, Shane in front of the Trevi Fountain |
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| Photo by Julia Mattson |
| Sara discusses the use of water |
| As Sara gives her talk on fountains and aquaducts, the rest of the group listens intently and gazes ahead. |
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| Photo by Julia Mattson |
| Lovely ladies in front of lovely fountain |
| Lauren, Kirstin, Anna, Sara, Callie, Helen pose for the camera. |
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| Photo by Julia Mattson |
| Waiting for the group picture... |
| Matt, Shane, Kara, Nate, Helen sit in front of elephant obelisk in anticipation of the group photo |
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| Statua del Redentore |
| Michelangelo's Statua del Redentore inside S. Maria Sopra Minerva. |
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| Photo by Julia Mattson |
| Dinner at Ristorante S. Eustachio |
| Entire group enjoying our last dinner together. |
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| Photo by Julia Mattson |
| Group Dinner |
| Callie, Lisa, Shane, Amanda smile after a wonderful meal. |
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In preparing this last daily diary entry and recalling all the experiences we've shared as a group throughout the course of our time in Rome, I got a bit teary-eyed. I believe I speak for all of us when I say that this past month has been incredible. It seemed only yesterday that we began our journey at the Roman Forum, giddy with anticipation over all that lay ahead. Since then, it's been a whirlwind of places and faces, as well as a multitude of acquired knowledge. We've learned about Ancient Rome - including (but certainly not limited to) the markets of Trajan, Augustinian agenda, the Colosseum, and Pantheon. In moving towards the rise of Christianity in Rome, we've visited the Arch of Constantine, Catacombs of Priscilla, and churches galore. Our voyage through the Renaissance and Baroque has taken us to the Vatican Museums, Villa Farnesina, Piazza Farnese, Villa Borghese, Piazza Navona, St. Peter's, and the Trevi Fountain. We've gone on side trips to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Naples, Hadrian's Villa, Villa d'Este, and groups of us have ventured to Positano, Florence, Pisa, Gaeta... Adding to that, we've dived into the Italian language and culture, gaining insight into Italy's social stratification, institutions of family/Church, and threats to social order.
Overall, these past four weeks have been unforgettable, and it is impossible to put into words what the culmination of this month's events has impressed upon us, and all the memories we've shared in the process. That being said, this entire day was a highlight in itself. The beginning of our last day of classes (the beginning of the end...) was at the glorious Fontana di Trevi, where the gorgeous Sara gave her presentation on the site - enlightening us about fountains, aquaducts, and the use of water as a tool of political propaganda.
This discussion of the role of water in Ancient Rome seemed strikingly appropriate, as Rome was "indebted to water from the day it became a city" - selected due to its richness of flowing springs - and we first learned about Romulus and Remus our first day on the Capitoline steps. We've come in a full circle since then, a circle encompassing not only the city limits of Rome itself, but a circle that includes everything from Rome's historic past to its modern-day existence.
From here we headed towards Bernini's infamous elephant obelisk at Santa Maria Sopra Minerva to take our group picture. After all our faces were sore from smiling for the camera multiple times and taking numerous shots to assure that no one's face was obscured, we stopped inside the church (S. Maria Sopra Minerva) to get a quick view. It never fails to amaze me how, in Rome, one can walk into a tiny church (tiny being used as a very relative term here..) and stumble upon the works of Michelangelo (Statua del Redentore) and Bernini (coat of arms).
After this, we departed for our SCAVI TOUR at St. Peter's, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Here we were given a rare inside look at what lies under the basilica - sites known as the "scavi" (excations). Reminiscent of the Catacombs of Priscilla, our group was led by a guide through the excavated streets of the Necropolis (City of the Dead) underneath St. Peter's Basilica, where Saint Peter was buried. At least 14 feet below ground (we glimpsed the bottom of Bernini's foundation shafts for the magnificent baldachin), the altar monuments constructed by past popes were stacked one on top of the other "like a Russian doll," as pointed out by our guide. Excavations in the 1940s uncovered what were thought to be the mortal remains of Saint Peter, which we got a glimpse of - 23 bone fragments in total, 9 of which are now in the Pope's private collection.
At the end of our remarkable tour, many of us rushed back to finish up our Sociology papers before the unofficial 5:59pm deadline, so we could freely enjoy our closing lecture and subsequent group dinner. Our final sociology class ended up being an enlightening facilitated discussion about our group - describing our social group, how social order is maintained within our group, and how violations to this social order are dealt with. Only rule? No names. =D The second half of class consisted of an informal lecture on the power of analysis to reveal patterns in one's own society, and a detailed view of the core idea of Sociology.
Intellectual discussion continued into our final group dinner, held at Ristorante S. Eustachio, by Piazza Dei Caprettari. Lively conversation and delicious food was shared by all - and enormous amounts of food at that, including bruschetta, gnocchi, a marinara pasta, veal/fried vegetables, salad, and berry "tiramisu." Many of us marvelled at how, over the course of this trip, time had played a trick on us in that our first day felt like an eternity ago, yet we felt as if we'd only been here a day, how we'd done so much yet had so much left to see.
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Highlights |
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| Photo by Julia Mattson |
| Tossing coins for good luck. |
| Everyone lines up and tosses coins over their left shoulders - some toss three in hopes of eloping before our quickly fading time here in Rome. |
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| Photo by Julia Mattson |
| Going past the Swiss Guards |
| Lisa talks with one of the Swiss Guards as we walk past the restricted-access gate. |
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| Photo by Julia Mattson |
| Ufficio Scavi |
| Students pose in front of the official entrance to the scavi tour. |
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| Photo by Jeff Eaton |
| US Ambassador to Slovakia |
| After asking for a picture, I'm given a 'reward for my bravery' by Mr. Weiser - a small pin with the Slovakian and US flags on it. |
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After Sara gave her presentation on the Trevi Fountain, everyone lined up to toss coins into the fountain - according to Sara, "Shortly before departing Rome, you should turn your back to the fountain and toss the coin over your left shoulder. Tossing three coins promises love and marriage to an Italian. Italian currency goes to the municipality. Foreign coins are donated to the Italian Red Cross."
The scavi tour in and of itself was definitely one of the top highlights. Our personal "brush with fame" today involved meeting Ronald Weiser, the US Ambassador to Slovakia, who accompanied our group (along with his wife Eileen, a member of the Michigan Board of Education) on the scavi tour.
Another highlight of the extremely packed day was the wonderful group dinner at S. Eustachio - 27 of us seated at a long giant table (formed by 14 two-person tables) that spanned the length of the restaurant.
I'd like to take this opportunity to express thanks on behalf of our entire group of students to those who dedicated their time and effort into making this program happen.
Lisa - thank you for organizing everything (and I mean EVERYTHING). It is no secret that this program wouldn't have existed without you. We greatly appreciate all the countless hours you've spent putting this program together, in making sure that every detail fit perfectly into the grand scheme of things. It is because of your endless motivation that our time here in Rome has been incredibly memorable, and your obvious dedication to all of us - as well as desire for us to get as much out of Rome as humanly possible - has provided us with as trip we will cherish forever.
Dr. Hechter and Dr. Friedman - thank you for a wonderful introduction to sociology. We admire your commitment to providing us with a basis for which to look at things with a "sociological eye," and your willingness to teach us despite our lack (for most of us) of a previous foundation in sociological theory. Each and every one of your lectures have been intellectually stimulating and we've been fortunate to have both of you as professors. Additionally, thank you for your hospitality, especially at group dinners each week.
And last, but certainly not least, Sabrina - we could not have asked for a better Italian instructor. You have been so patient with all of us, and your class has been both beneficial and entertaining. Thank you so much for your undying enthusiasm and eagerness to help us - with Italian, with our sociology projects, with Italian cuisine... You're truly amazing.
Thank you Rome Center staff, UW Honors Program staff, and everyone else who made this wonderful trip possible. Grazie mille!
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Images |
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| Photo by Julia Mattson |
| Walking toward the caffe |
| Making our way through the streets of Rome. |
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| Photo by Julia Mattson |
| Sara's first cappuccino |
| Sara smiles and prepares herself for a taste of her first cappuccino ever. |
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| Photo by Julia Mattson |
| Orange Juice Girls |
| Aware of keeping a healthy diet, several girls enjoy Roman orange juice. |
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This is a picture of us making our way through the streets of Rome toward La Casa del Caffe Tazzo d'Oro for our cappuccino break. The back of Matt's head is on the left, and Alexis' head is on the right. (I put this up to spite Shane.)
At Caffe Tazzo d'Oro, Sara tries her very first cappuccino and can now no longer claim to be a cappuccino virgin. In the picture below, Anna, Helen, Martha, and Alexis choose healthy juice alternatives to the usual coffee selections.
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