Ancient Rome!

We've spent quite a bit of time exploring the origins of the Christian church, discussing Constantine and the like. So today, after doing our final sweep of churches this morning with the wonderful Irish priest Fr. Collins, five of us decided a visit to the city that predates Christianity was in order. Although we'd been in the vicinity of the Colosseum and the ancient Forum, we hadn't taken the time to thoroughly explored the area. Today, braving the raindrops that oscillated between "sparkling" and "downpour" we got to take in Rome the way the ancient Romans would have.

We began our journey at the Collosseum. Although a bit suspicious of the people standing outside the ancient arena, offering tours, we decided to take them up on their offer and I'm very glad we did! The guide pointed out things I never would have noticed, such as the holes in the walls which were created by people pilfering iron for other buildings. Much of the building's marble is missing as well, but can still be viewed in the town's churches and palaces.

Included in our guided tour was a tour of the Forum. Due to the day's rain, we witnessed not one, but two accidents on the road along which we were walking to the Forum. What the cobblestone streets have in longevity, they certainly lack in safety!

I was very excited to stroll through the Forum, which was made possible through an irrigation system the ancient Romans devised that, according to our guide, translates into the "asshole of the world." We took lots of pictures, especially around the Temple of the Vestal Virgins. Nothing like headless statues to really make you feel good about yourself!

One day left in Rome. We're not sure what we're going to do in our final hours here, but I'm sure we'll find something spectacular as we have every other day. Ciao!

Assisi!

While yesterday was dedicated to the Benedictine tradition, last night we rolled in the hilly town of Assisi to investigate the life of St. Francis, the patron saint of Italy. The town itself is a lovely break from Rome; finally, a bit of calm! Our first impression of the town was watching the sun set behind the mountains in the distance in a raspberry-colored sky -- definitely not a bad way to begin!

Assisi definitely lends itself a little better to window shopping than Rome does. This can largely be attributed to the fact that you needn't worry quite so much about being run over, backed over, broadsided, etc., by passing traffic, as you have to in Rome. It's a fun mix of religious souvenir shops, bottegas, and speciality stores in Assisi. My favorite store we stumbled upon was an art store selling bright rendering of Assisi and nature, where the artist quietly sat in the back, working at her bench. It's always nice to be able to see exactly where your money is going, and as I placed my euro in her paint-splattered hands, I certainly felt that I was helping someone else do what they love in life.

This morning Fr. Schulte gave us a tour of the churchs and sites in the city significant to the lives of St. Francis and his female counterpart St. Clare. It was fascinating to see churches St. Francis repaired with his own hands, as well as the place where he died so symbolically. Especially intresting to hear was the story of how St. Clare defended the town of invading Muslims by standing on the balcony of her church and holding the Holy Sacrament over her head.

Now we've arrived in Florence, which seems to filled to the brim with English speakers. It will be fun to see what stories we will hear here. I'm excited for the Uffizi and Duomo tomorrow!

Getting Back to Benedict

After experiencing a bit of sensory overload in the bustling city of Rome, we packed our bags yesterday and boarded the bus to head for the Italian countryside and the town of Subiaco. It wasn't long after rolling out of Rome until we were greeted by mountains topped with little townships. Although it's winter here, the grass is still so green and the trees so exquisite that it's easy to overlook this fact.

While I suppose I've been a part of the Benedictine community for the past four years, ever since beginning at the College of St. Scholastica, never before have I felt so connected with the Benedictine tradtion as I did yesterday at Subiaco. While studying abroad in Ireland with CSS in 2005, I had the opportunity to visit Kylemore Abbey, run by Benedictine sisters in the Connemara region of Ireland. There, I not only had my eyes opened to the truly global connections St. Scholastica has due to its Catholic faith, but also purchased a copy of Benedict's Rule, ironically enough published in Collegeville, MN!

The stories of St. Benedict and his twin sister, St. Scholastica, are always in the air at our Duluth campus, but for me, it wasn't until we visited Subiaco that I realized how truly amazing and influential these two people were. This town hosts the cave where Benedict spent three years contemplating his faith, eventually emerging to form his order. Looking at the height and treacherous nature of the mountain on which the cave rests, I could only wonder how anyone would be able to find the dedication to remain in such a remote place. To think that a lowly cave could lead to the founding of a religious order that has spread across the world, from Subiaco, to Ireland, to Duluth, is simply astounding, displaying the power of individual faith in a way I had never before considered it.

Enjoying Rome

We’re finally in Rome! It certainly seemed long enough in getting here, especially with the three necessary flights, but now I’m slowly adjusting to the Italian way of life.

Some things I’m finding very pleasant – gelato, spaghetti alla Carbonara – others, like the crosswalks, are taking a little more getting used to. There’s a bit of culture shock going around, what with a more holistic orientation toward time which means much more time spent at meals than we Americans are used. It’s definitely been a measure of patience as we try to decipher maps, figure out when stores and internet cafes are open (with Sunday and the Holy Day of New Year’s Day it’s been a bit dodgy to find open grocery stores and the like), and struggle with the language barriers.

We’ve done a fair bit of wandering around the city, exploring the many churches and other intricacies of the city. Today we had a chance to walk pass by the Coliseum and the Forum. As with our viewing of the Pantheon yesterday, I’m in awe of how old these things are. After reading so much Greek and Roman mythology when I was growing up, it’s hard to believe that places that honor the ancient gods still remain. One of the most interesting things of note in the city is the celebration of Epiphany, which has filled the Piazza Navona with a Christmas market.

There’s still so much to see and do though. The Spanish Steps definitely need to be visited, as does the Trevi Fountain. The Temple of the Vestal Virgins will certainly need to be inspected a little closer as well. But until then, arrivederci! Ada

Another introduction . . .

Hello all,

My name is Ada and I am a senior English and Communication major. This will be my fourth journey across "the big pond": I have been to London specifically twice and studied abroad in Ireland during my sophomore year, which included excursions to England, Paris and Germany. I have always wanted to travel to Italy and am very excited for our impending journey. Although I tried to learn Italian during my elementary school years -- probably because my mom is a piano teacher and most of the terminology for music is in Italian -- but I ended up with a crude understanding of French, so I'm a little nervous about the language issues. Hopefully, I'll pick up a few Italian phrases before departure and while I'm over there, the Italian people will be sympathetic. I'm especially excited to see Florence, but think all of the trip should interesting and enjoyable. Ciao!