Tuesday, August 31, 2010
I think I’ve finally gotten my sleep turned around! I went to bed at 11:30 pm after talking to my parents on the phone. I knew they wouldn’t pick up because they wouldn’t recognize the number, but when the machine kicked in and I said, “Hi, Mom and Dad… pick up the phone, it’s me” they did! I thought it might storm last night. Thick, dark clouds rolled in and the wind really picked up, but nothing came of it… all show! I woke up at 2:22 am, checked the time and stayed in bed. Next thing I knew, it was 6:30 am and the sun was shining!
I decided to check out another map I have and try and find where my apartment is on that map. My cousin Gwen is coming for a week in October and I thought it would be a good map to give to her. As I looked at the map with several sites marked on the map, I realized I could live here for a year and never see everything! I also read that the Pope often “addresses the crowds” on Wednesdays from his apartment. Darn, I work on Wednesdays; maybe I’ll run into him buying gelato!
My morning didn’t start out so well. I went to use the “conditioner” I bought yesterday and it turned out to be soap! I thought it was conditioner because it said Extra Hydrating on it and it sat next to the shampoo. I think it would have been easier to get back into the shower with the travel-size conditioner I still had and start over, that brush through my hair, but I guess I was determined I’d get it done. Then I went to put hand lotion on my legs, and I realized that bottle was also soap! It was on a different shelving unit separate from the shampoo and “conditioner” with what I thought were other bottles of hand lotion. At least I have plenty of soap! My plan was to go to the Dollar store and find real conditioner and real hand lotion (I got my Italian dictionary out and wrote down what I needed to look for), then to the bakery and get breakfast, but by the time I finished getting ready, I just went straight to the studio as we had a 10 am. meeting.
After two meetings, Cheri and I decided to get lunch then check out a new park area that we decided to include in our 470 Identity project. We took the bus up to the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.
I got off, but the doors closed before Cheri was able to step off. I followed the bus as it drove around the basilica, but then it took a right turn! The bus stopped about half-way down the block. I stood at the end of the church yard to make sure she came back that direction. The basilica is huge! I couldn’t even get it completely into my camera frame. And, it is beautiful!
This was the first day I’d worn a top with sleeves, so I was ok, but Cheri had on a sleeveless top, so she borrowed the wrap I keep tied around the strap on my bag to wrap around her shoulders, so we could go inside. The actually had white disposable wraps that visitors could use to cover their shoulders and knees (out of respect). I wish I had taken more pictures of the interior, but I didn’t think they were turning out due to not using a flash.
We continued on to our goal: the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. It is the largest piazza in Europe that is home to the ruins of the “Trofei di Mario” (Trophy of Mario) and the remains of a fountain built by Alexander Severus. This fountain was also the secondary branch given off by the Aqua Marcia aqueduct.
This is the most ethnically-diverse area of Rome. I took lots of photos and Cheri found a group that was set up trying to promote the park. They gave us a few packets of information to share with our students. There were two huge movie screens on opposite ends of the park where they showed films nightly during the Autumn Film Festival.
We got back to the studio just after 6 pm, and continued working until 8:30 pm. I’ve had my days mixed up. I thought class orientation was tomorrow, but they have the housing orientation tomorrow. I’ll meet with the students the next day.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
All good plans are subject to change! The housing guy decided to meet the kids at their individual apartments, so he cancelled the housing orientation. About 75% of the students showed up anyway, so gave the neighborhood tour. We were done by noon, but then we needed to make sure the projector would work for tomorrow, had a faculty/staff meeting, and once again it was close to 8 pm before we left the studio. We didn’t get anything accomplished on setting up our north field trip. Brenda Jones (painting) arrived at the studio. She flew in yesterday and teaches tomorrow. Brenda has been teaching in Rome for 15 years! She’s here almost year round. I had supper with her tonight at her favorite “greasy spoon”. The owner of the restaurant was so happy to see her, he came over to our table and just talked and talked and talked. I just smiled; I had no idea what he was saying, but I could tell he was very happy to see Brenda. She spent the month of August in Iowa.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
I went to the Campo di' Fiori Market this morning and back again in the afternoon to take pictures of how the space changes its “use” at different times of day. It was pretty hot out, so I stayed home in the later afternoon, but decided to go back out early evening.
I walked down to the Colosseum, since I haven't been there yet. It's a hot spot for wedding photos! There were at least three couples getting photos taken around the grounds. There was a concert in the nearby park. I would have liked to stay and listen, but it was just starting to get dark and I knew I should get home before it got dark. The streets leading to my apartment are narrow and can be very dark. It wasn't long before I didn't recognize anything, but I saw a sign for the Trevi Fountain, so I knew I was going the correct direction. I just kept going west, never turning toward the fountain because that would be farther away from home... and eventually I ended up by the Aurelian Column, built between AD 180 and AD 196 as a gift by the Senate and the people of Rome to emperor Marcus Aurelius.
It reminds me of Trajan's Column, but isn't. I remembered how Cheri and I had walked home from there. Once I arrived at the cat sanctuary, I tried to decide which way would be the most well lit way to get home, but it was also the longest way home, so I decided to cut down the street we always take. A man approached me, very friendly, and asked me if I wanted to go get a drink. He was from Bangladesh and wanted to "talk" with me. I told him I was meeting friends and I was going to be late if I didn't keep going. He wanted to walk me to where I was meeting my friends, but I told him no. He asked why; I said because I didn't know him. He was persistent, so I finally agreed to "try" and meet him on Sunday at noon by the cat sanctuary. I don't plan to be there, and I only told him I'd try but that I didn't know what my plans were.
I walked down to the Colosseum, since I haven't been there yet. It's a hot spot for wedding photos! There were at least three couples getting photos taken around the grounds. There was a concert in the nearby park. I would have liked to stay and listen, but it was just starting to get dark and I knew I should get home before it got dark. The streets leading to my apartment are narrow and can be very dark. It wasn't long before I didn't recognize anything, but I saw a sign for the Trevi Fountain, so I knew I was going the correct direction. I just kept going west, never turning toward the fountain because that would be farther away from home... and eventually I ended up by the Aurelian Column, built between AD 180 and AD 196 as a gift by the Senate and the people of Rome to emperor Marcus Aurelius.
It reminds me of Trajan's Column, but isn't. I remembered how Cheri and I had walked home from there. Once I arrived at the cat sanctuary, I tried to decide which way would be the most well lit way to get home, but it was also the longest way home, so I decided to cut down the street we always take. A man approached me, very friendly, and asked me if I wanted to go get a drink. He was from Bangladesh and wanted to "talk" with me. I told him I was meeting friends and I was going to be late if I didn't keep going. He wanted to walk me to where I was meeting my friends, but I told him no. He asked why; I said because I didn't know him. He was persistent, so I finally agreed to "try" and meet him on Sunday at noon by the cat sanctuary. I don't plan to be there, and I only told him I'd try but that I didn't know what my plans were.
When I got to the Jewish Ghetto, I stayed on the main street, which was filled with people enjoying a Saturday night, for awhile to make sure he didn't follow me before I walked to the apartment. I guess I should have left the Colosseum about 10-15 minutes earlier! By the time I made my way upstairs it was dark outside.
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