Archives: May 2008
Fri May 30, 2008
Cerveteri and Wedding Castle of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
Italy has been more amazing then I could have ever thought. We have been to numerous places in the past two and half weeks. Italian culture has definitely made an incredible impact on me already. The last place we visited was Cerveteri, the site of Etruscan tombs. The tombs were quite interesting and it was amazing how intricately put together they were. The tombs varied in size and there was one that I remember quite well and it was absolutely enormous. From viewing the tombs, it is really interesting to think about how, with no technology whatsoever, these tombs were constructed. I can only imagine how difficult it was, especially during that time period. The tomb sites were placed all over a very large area.
Once we left Cerveteri, we traveled to the Bracciano, where the castle of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes wedding took place. The town is so cute and pretty small, which is very surprising for the fact it accommodated such a large group of people when there wedding was there. It's kind of interesting as well in that the town was not all that happy about the wedding because many roads were closed off. Other than that though, I can completely understand why they picked this beautiful castle. Looking from outside the walls, it looks very plain but once you step within the gate, the beauty overtakes you. You walk up a stone drive and pass through a beautiful entrance .The castle has greenery growing up the side of it, giving it such charm and the view is breathtaking. It overlooks a lake, with mountains arising behind it. Inside the castle is even more amazing. There are numerous rooms, still housing furniture from the Renaissance when it was built. The castle was probably one of the most romantic places ever and cannot believe we got the opportunity to explore it. 
[0] Trackbacks [0] Pingbacks
Sun May 25, 2008
Pompeii & Positano
I am still blown away that I am in Italy right now and experiencing things that I never thought possible. I love the town of Ariccia and the Castelli Romani, I can't wait to stay in town during a weekend and really soak it in.
This past Wednesday we visited Pompeii. We were planning on hiking up Mt. Vesuvius (the volcano that erupted and buried Pompeii.) It was really neat to see this town that had been there since before Christ. It really is pretty mind-blowing to see the ruins and the artifacts that remain. The main "town square" / central part of the town by the temple has huge marble stones that cover the ground. The people of Pompeii were killed by the fumes of the volcano. The city was then covered by ash and pumice. One-third of the city of Pompeii is still underground; archaeologists are going to save it for the next century for people to see.
Next we went to Positano and the Almalfi Coast. This was an optional trip for the group. Positano was the most beautiful place that I have ever seen in my life. It is now my favorite vacation spot. We went down 800 stairs to get to our beachfront hotel which was amazing!! (And then had to go walk up them on our way back) We would open the balcony and let the ocean be our noisemaker:) A few of the girls went to Capri for a day trip and got some handmade sandals. Every day the majority of us laid out on some colorful beach chairs and enjoyed the warm weather, a change from the rainy weather in Ariccia we left behind. We had dinner at beachfront restaurants every night. Positano was neat because it was totally a touristy town, so the majority of the Italians spoke English, making it a lot easier for us.
So that’s a snapshot of our past weekend! I can't wait to go on more weekend trips!!!
[0] Trackbacks [0] Pingbacks
Thu May 15, 2008
Ciao!
As the bus pulled into our hotel in Ariccia, I couldn’t believe we’ were actually staying here for three months! It’s a beautiful white building with green shutters, surrounded by lush, green trees and bushes. I could only describe the town of Ariccia as a quaint, friendly city. We wake up every morning to the birds chirping and the fresh breeze blowing through our open windows. And walking to class in the mornings is a beautiful site as well. We walk over this gorgeous bridge, which overlooks the city. The sun shines on the buildings, showing off their brilliant colors. And trying to blend in is not an option, only because when you see a group of girls wearing only the brightest colors on the planet and open-toed shoes, it’s impossible not to attract some attention and some stares. But as we walk around this city, the people here are just so welcoming and always smile as we pass.
We attend class in the Palazzo Chigi, a real palace. And our professors here are so amazing! Our language and history professors, Mary Lou and Marco are the sweetest teachers I’ve ever had. Their son Maurizio is one of the most knowledgeable people I’ve ever met. He is so energetic and full of personality.
Since we’ve been here, my favorite activity was visiting the city of Nemi. As we learned, this small city is known for its strawberries and mini strawberries. The city is located in the hills overlooking Lake Nemi, a beautiful, circular lake. The buildings give off this powerful glow of vibrant colors. And the most stunning, colorful flowers are everywhere! For lunch, Maurizio took us to this picturesque restaurant, full of windows with a view of the lake. I was lucky enough to sit across from Maurizio, and listened to his interesting stories. The meal we had was also my favorite so far. The linguine and mini strawberries topped with cream were marvelous! I could have sat there all day, eating and talking with the girls and Maurizio.
I am so excited about all the adventures coming our way. I hope to learn so much more about the Italian culture, people, and customs. And living in another country will be a perfect opportunity for me to broaden my horizons and put myself out there, in order to become a more independent person. I love the girls too! They are all so sweet and easy to get along with! I can’t wait to build strong friendships that I can carry with me forever.
The beautiful town of Nemi!
[0] Trackbacks [0] Pingbacks