Monday, September 19, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
It's a Bit Chilly in the Morning
I woke up far too early this morning to complete some work that is due. And in doing so, I realized that I would be able to enjoy the sunrise here in Rome.
The cool blues of the night meshing with the warm reds and yellows of the morning sun on the domes of the surrounding buildings are absolutely amazing. The colors are best seen on the domes of the churches surrounding the hotel. As I sit on the hotel terrace, I soak in the sights, the faint smell of smoke and the chiming of bells and seagulls. This place is truly beautiful. Though I got up quite early, I'm no longer tired. This sight and experience has completely refreshed me. I am ready for the day.
My only regret of seeing this beauty is that I'm not high enough to watch the sun start its journey over the buildings. I'm making it my goal so that one day while I'm here I get to see that.
View from the Terrace.
The cool blues of the night meshing with the warm reds and yellows of the morning sun on the domes of the surrounding buildings are absolutely amazing. The colors are best seen on the domes of the churches surrounding the hotel. As I sit on the hotel terrace, I soak in the sights, the faint smell of smoke and the chiming of bells and seagulls. This place is truly beautiful. Though I got up quite early, I'm no longer tired. This sight and experience has completely refreshed me. I am ready for the day.
My only regret of seeing this beauty is that I'm not high enough to watch the sun start its journey over the buildings. I'm making it my goal so that one day while I'm here I get to see that.
Most Epic Schedule Everrrrrr.
My Schedule is far too awesome to really be real. Must be all a dream.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
The Arkies Have Landed!
September 11th, 2011. The ten year anniversary of one of the most horrid attacks on American soil in history. Also the day that we, the architecture students of 2014, were to fly from DC to a little place called Rome.
I was so freaking excited.
No words could truly describe my feelings of angst, nervousness, joy and pure ecstasy that was held within my small body. Whatever these feelings were, I couldn’t hold it in very well. I ran. I jumped. I skipped. I climbed on the tops of the airport chairs. I quietly screamed people’s names to make them look just to say hi. I was all over the place. I was excited. I still am. Eight and one-half hours of a most wretched sleepless flight, we landed.
It was morning in Italy. The sky was blue, the atmosphere of the most interesting mix of passion and smoke. I knew, even before we landed that this year will be my year. It will be ours (as in us architects) but it will be mine. This city is soooo wonderful. Everything about it amazes me. I can’t wait to explore it to its farthest corners.
Day 1 in short:
Got:
Papers and desk sorted
Unpacked
Ate:
-Pizza Magherita and red wine - (house wine) - kind of like barefoot (at Novana Notte, a little off from Piazza Novana)
-Gelato (Soooo many flavors!)
Buildings I know seen today:
-St. Peter’s (Dome)
-Pantheon
-Albergo Sole (my lovely hotel)
-Studio (it amazes me the ceiling details and floor)
-Palazzo Massimo
-Piazza Novana
had:
an awesome day with my wonderful friends exploring and eating pure Italian stuff.
PS I shall edit this with pictures in a bit.
I was so freaking excited.
No words could truly describe my feelings of angst, nervousness, joy and pure ecstasy that was held within my small body. Whatever these feelings were, I couldn’t hold it in very well. I ran. I jumped. I skipped. I climbed on the tops of the airport chairs. I quietly screamed people’s names to make them look just to say hi. I was all over the place. I was excited. I still am. Eight and one-half hours of a most wretched sleepless flight, we landed.
It was morning in Italy. The sky was blue, the atmosphere of the most interesting mix of passion and smoke. I knew, even before we landed that this year will be my year. It will be ours (as in us architects) but it will be mine. This city is soooo wonderful. Everything about it amazes me. I can’t wait to explore it to its farthest corners.
Day 1 in short:
Got:
Papers and desk sorted
Unpacked
Ate:
-Pizza Magherita and red wine - (house wine) - kind of like barefoot (at Novana Notte, a little off from Piazza Novana)
-Gelato (Soooo many flavors!)
Buildings I know seen today:
-St. Peter’s (Dome)
-Pantheon
-Albergo Sole (my lovely hotel)
-Studio (it amazes me the ceiling details and floor)
-Palazzo Massimo
-Piazza Novana
had:
an awesome day with my wonderful friends exploring and eating pure Italian stuff.
PS I shall edit this with pictures in a bit.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Pre-Roma Post #2: Preparations
So it is now Saturday, September 3rd, 2011. Eight more days until my flight from DC goes to Rome. Some people are pretty much starting to freak out, wondering if they have everything for Rome and if this or that is enough or do they really need this and yada yada yada. But I'm not freaking out. Nope, not I.
I've travelled quite a bit and if it's one thing I've learned it's you don't need most of the things you have. You don't need all of those clothes, you don't need the extra bags, you don't need the extra shampoos and conditioners and whatnot. You just don't need it. And when I say don't need it, I mean don't need to bring it. Any normal stuff like clothes and care products you can find where ever you go. Foreign people need those things too, believe it or not.
The only things that are necessary to bring are your passport, your papers, your debit card, a second ID, and the fee money that we're supposed to pay unless you'd like to be deported. That's it. Nothing else. Real simple.
My advice for when you're packing this go around is this:
In addition to your essentials (that is, the things I listed and also any absolutely necessary things like meds and deo for this trip) is to pack an extra pair of clothes in your carry on. If your checked luggage gets lost or sent to the wrong place, it sucks. Terribly. But it sucks less if you have fresh clothes (and yes, that includes undies) that are actually yours with you. It'll seem a hassle at first as it takes up space but hey, better safe than sorry. Plus, your underwear is always more comfortable than anyone else's.
Other than that my only other advice is don't forget your camera and trace paper, and actually write down your family and friends' names, numbers and addresses in one spot so that you can contact them from anywhere, regardless of where your laptop is. Because sometimes, even bringing your laptop will be a hassle.
Be smart packers guys, see you in eight (now seven as it's passed midnight) days.
Ciao,
Erika
I've travelled quite a bit and if it's one thing I've learned it's you don't need most of the things you have. You don't need all of those clothes, you don't need the extra bags, you don't need the extra shampoos and conditioners and whatnot. You just don't need it. And when I say don't need it, I mean don't need to bring it. Any normal stuff like clothes and care products you can find where ever you go. Foreign people need those things too, believe it or not.
The only things that are necessary to bring are your passport, your papers, your debit card, a second ID, and the fee money that we're supposed to pay unless you'd like to be deported. That's it. Nothing else. Real simple.
My advice for when you're packing this go around is this:
In addition to your essentials (that is, the things I listed and also any absolutely necessary things like meds and deo for this trip) is to pack an extra pair of clothes in your carry on. If your checked luggage gets lost or sent to the wrong place, it sucks. Terribly. But it sucks less if you have fresh clothes (and yes, that includes undies) that are actually yours with you. It'll seem a hassle at first as it takes up space but hey, better safe than sorry. Plus, your underwear is always more comfortable than anyone else's.
Other than that my only other advice is don't forget your camera and trace paper, and actually write down your family and friends' names, numbers and addresses in one spot so that you can contact them from anywhere, regardless of where your laptop is. Because sometimes, even bringing your laptop will be a hassle.
Be smart packers guys, see you in eight (now seven as it's passed midnight) days.
Ciao,
Erika
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