Vatican!

Wow. Today was amazing and completely exhausting, as everyday has been this week. We went to the Vatican, first for a tour of the museums and Sistine Chapel with our Rome CUA contact David. He was fabulous and gave us so much to digest about the artwork. After lunch, we met our guide at the Vatican Archives. Father Choppin is an archivist there. He took us on the most amazing tour. We saw miles and miles of documents. The reading rooms are beautiful, and then he took up us this crazy 6 story spiral staircase to a tower. O.M.G. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. It has a sundial of sorts on the floor, and a little hole in the wall, and the sunlight lines up at certain angles with the design on the floor. And the frescos, they were all amazing. No pictures, of course, then he showed us a document from 1205. Just pulled it off the shelf and thumbed through it like it was nothing special. Woah. 1205!!!! 800 years old!!

Fr. Choppin at the Archives

 

Then we went to an adjoining building to see the Vatican Library. Also amazing, also great reading rooms, also ancient books. We saw a manuscript in Greek of the bible. I don't even know how old that was. Hand-copied. And on the 4th floor, this room totally abandoned, for the moment, that was covered, COVERED! In frescos. All library pictures. Amazing.

A Reading Room at the Vatican Library

 

Miles and miles of shelves

AND we saw the door that connects this area to the Pope's palace. I did get a picture of that. To think what's on the other side of that door. Just amazing.

the door to the Pope's apartment

Then I window shopped on the way back. Took the metro back to the hotel like a pro. Met friends for dinner at our place, Li Rioni, the pizza place down the street, where they greeted us like old friends. I had pizza napoleta, which is pizza with anchovies! Yummy!! 1/2 liter of wine there is 4€, which is about $5.20. Can't beat that!

First day of class

So today was a pretty neat day. We had class all day at the Lay Center, which is run by the Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas, which is run by a religious order of the Passionists. Catholic University rents a space there so we were able to use it. In the morning, Maria, our professor ran the class, which met from 10-12:30. Then we had lunch prepared by the staff. Salad, greens, Bowtie pasta with vegetables, and chicken served buffet style. And red and white wine at the table, for sure.

  In the afternoon, our speaker was Tobias Daniels, a German scholar working at a museum or library here. It's a German institute in Italy. He's fluent in German, Italian, and English. Basically, he told us how difficult it is to do research in Italy. Libraries and archives don't like to share their resources here. They are worried that what might be illuminated would reflect poorly on things now. It's an interesting perspective. After class we took a walk to a church called San Clemente. It is a church built on top of a church built on top of a church/pagan site. It was so cool. I don't know how far down we were, but it was FAR!! And things were so primitive down there. There were beautiful frescos that have been uncovered and preserved. I couldn't take pictures down there, but I picked up a couple of postcard pictures of the things I saw. After that we went to a park that overlooked the coliseum. It was pretty, and lots of people walking dogs. I walked around a bit, and then waited for some friends who walked a different way. Then we went for dinner at the same place as last night, li rioni, and the guys recognized us. We got a great table and yummy pizza. I had Napoleta pizza, which is pizza with anchovies, and vino rosso, of course. Then we came back to the hotel. And I came up to the room to write and reflect. Now my roommate has come home and were talking about our evenings. And our lives. I like her. Tomorrow: forum, Palatine Hill, coliseum!

Weekend in Rome, pt. 2

So I already can't remember where I left off writing about this weekend. I think that I did not mention our very good fortune to get tickets for mass this morning with the Pope. David, the coordinator of the CUA program here in Rome, got the tickets for us. There was no cost for the tickets, but you had to have one to get in. We left this morning at 7:30, took the metro to the Vatican, and were seated just before 9 for the 9:30 AM mass. They said the rosary just after 9, so I got one of mine out. Then, when mass started, WOAH!! First, all the lights turned on, second we heard applause and cheering, and then, we saw the procession. We were seated to the side of the altar, and we had a great view of the Pope whenever he was at the altar. When he was sitting, though, like during the homily, we could not see him; he was between two huge marble pillars that blocked our view. The mass was completely and totally amazing and awe-inspiring. The music was fabulous--beautiful chanting and also great instrumental pieces, and the organ--HOLY COW!! The box that held some of the pipes was as big as my house, for sure. The mass lasted 2 hours, but it really didn't feel that long. The Pope rode some sort of scooter in, but i couldn't see the bottom of it. A million priests came out for communion, and there was no rhyme or reason to getting communion. Very disorderly and unlike the way Americans do it!

the line to get in

 

After mass, we went as a class to a local restaurant for lunch. Delicious pasta. Delicious everything. I started with a ball of buffalo mozzarella atop greens and tomatoes. Served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Totally great. I ate the whole ball of cheese. And all the vegetables. So delicious.

 For my next course, I had pasta with sausage and red sauce. Also delicious. Then I had some sort of Nutella mousse thing, yummy. And we all finished with limoncello. Even me, hater of lemony things. Tried it. Liked it.

Then we came back to the hotel, and my roommate Megan and I went up to the terrace to do some writing. Mostly, we talked and didn't write. Then, she went off to meet some people, and I came back to our room for a nap. That was great. Carol and I went for dinner at a pizza place nearby--fabulous. White wine tonight. I wasn't terribly hungry, but the company and the great food did it. I got a pizza with anchovies--so good and salty. And here it is 11:34 at night, and our class starts tomorrow morning at a very nice hour of 10:00, so I can sleep in a little. We will be walking to our class site, which is a few blocks from here. Europeans walk EVERYWHERE. I like it, but I am not used to it! I am not able to upload pictures from my ipad to blogger, so I'll have to wait until I get home to do it from my PC. Beauty abounds in Rome.

First Weekend in Rome

Rome is as fabulous as I remembered, and I'm having a wonderful time. The trip got off to a slightly crazy start because the first leg of my flight was delayed by an hour, which meant I would've missed my connection to Rome. So after spending a long time on the phone with US Air, I was able to get a seat on a flight out of Dulles, which also had four members of my class on it. So we met up in the waiting area at Dulles and got to know each other a bit. The flight itself was fine; I was in economy plus class, which had plenty of arm room and leg room, but I still didn't sleep very much. When we arrived in Rome, the five of us took two taxis to the hotel. I sat up front with our driver, who was so kind and gave me lots of good information and advice on how to enjoy Rome NOT as a tourist. We checked into our hotel--so quaint. It is a couple of blocks from the Coliseum, and we have a nice view of it from the rooftop terrace. 

 

  Then, two of the older students and I went on a walking tour of the area for about six hours. We walked around the Coliseum and the Forum, we looked at a building nicknamed the Wedding Cake, and then we found several churches that we could go into and visit. The churches here are simply amazing. We went into Rome's cathedral, St. John the Baptist, which is just humongous!! It has cloisters and a little museum, and they all have gift shops. We had a nice lunch near the Colisem, where I had a caprese salad on bread. Delicious.

When we were winding down our walk, we got a gelato. I got mango--so yummy. We came back to the hotel, showered, and got a nice dinner at a nearby restaurant recommended by our hotel. Some things that are interesting here include our hotel: we have twin beds in our room, which is totally fine. It has marble floors, a teeny bathroom, and no screens on the windows, but there don't appear to be problems with bugs or birds. We have to leave the one key there is to the room at the front desk when we leave and then ask for it when we return.

 Rome is loud. LOUD! People drive like maniacs in little tiny cars. This morning, we went to mass at the Vatican. The pope said mass at 9:30, but we left here at 7;30. We walked to the Metro stop at the Coliseum and then took the metro to Termini, where we switched to the other line and rode it to the Vatican stop. Then we walked a good distance, close to a mile, I think, to St. Peter's. We got in line with our tickets and waited there for a while. It kept moving, but it was a long line! When we got up to the front of the outside section, a man waved us all through, and then we followed another guy through the metal detectors and then around the side of the church, up a small staircase, and into the church from the side. We sat to the right side of the altar, about 100 feet away from it. A little after 9, they said the rosary. It is very beautiful in Latin. More later. Heading out for a little bite to eat tonight.

Upcoming events...

So in nine days and 18 hours (and a few minutes), I am leaving the States for two weeks to study abroad. In Rome.  As in Italy.  YES!! ME!!!  I know that it's hard to believe.  Of course, this trip class has absolutely nothing to do with being a school librarian, but it has PLENTY to do with me, my interests, and my soul. I can't even put into words how very cool it will be to study at all these facinating historical places.
When we went on our Mediterranean cruise a few years ago, we spent a couple days in Rome before the trip.  It was beautiful, awesome, and if I missed the boat, I could've stayed in Rome forever.  So when this trip class came up through the school where I got my master's, at first I thought, "how cool would that be?!?!!?" And then I thought about it some more and said, "Yes! That would be VERY cool!"
Here's the itinerary for all the fabulosity hard work we'll be experiencing in Rome:
Schedule: Visions of Italy, Summer 2012

Saturday, May 26: Arrival:
Sunday, May 27: Acclimate/Group Lunch
Monday, May 28
Course Goals and Overview, Cultural Heritage institutions in the U.S., in Italy/Rome
10:00 a.m. Meet at Lay Centre
Course Goals, Assignments
Public Programs, Outreach, Exhibits in the U.S./Washington, D.C.
12:30 -1:30 p.m. lunch
1:45 p.m. Talk: Cultural Heritage Institutions in Italy/Rome: Presenter, Tobias Daniels, Ph.D. Biblioteca Hertziana - Max-Planck-Institut für Kunstgeschichte, Rome
7:30 p.m. Group Dinner

Tuesday, May 29
Palatine Hill/Forum/Colosseum
10:00 a.m. Meet Palatine Hill/Forum Tour: Inge Weustink, specialist, Roman archeology
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Tour Palatine Hill/Forum/Colosseum
12:30 - 2:00 p.m. Lunch
2:00 - 4:30 p.m. Tour Coliseum

Wednesday, May 30
Libraries in Rome/Piazza Navona Churches
10:30 – Biblioteca di storia moderna e contemporanea, meet with Rosanna De Longis/Angelica Zucconi, staff
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-3:00 Biblioteca Nationale Centrale, visit and talk with staff
3:00 p.m.: Biblioteca Hertziana visit/Tour Piazza Navona Churches with Tobias Daniels,  Ph.D. Biblioteca Hertziana - Max-Planck-Institut für Kunstgeschichte, Rome
Thursday, May 31
Vatican Museums/Library/Archives
10:30 a.m.-1:30 Tour Sistine Chapel/Vatican Museums with David Dawson Vasquez, Ph.D. Director, CUA Rome Campus
1:30-2:30 p.m. Lunch
3:00 p.m. Vatican Archives/Father Marcel Chappin, Vatican Archives
5:00 p.m. Vatican Library/Sister Jacinta Coscia, Vatican Library

Friday, June 1
Museum Exhibition/Scuderi del Quirinale/Your Choice
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Tour and Talk with Chiara Eminenti, Ph.D., Registrar, Scuderi del Quirinale
12:30-1:30 p.m. Lunch
Afternoon:  No scheduled events, though you should visit a cultural institution of your choice and include analysis in your journal.
Suggestions (also applicable to June 7/unscheduled time):
Pantheon
Trevi Fountain
Piazza di Spagna/Spanish Steps
Campo de Fiori
Largo di Torre Argentina
Capitolini Musei—Lux in Arcana Exhibit
Villa Borghese
Saturday, June 2/Sunday, June 3
No scheduled events
Monday, June 4
Digital Libraries in Italy/Cultural Heritage Institutions in Florence
9:45 a.m. Digital Libraries in Italy: Laura Ciancio, Librarian and Coordinator, Internet Culturale, Italy
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.:Lunch
1:45 - 3:30 p.m.: Cultural Heritage Institutions in Florence: Presenter, Tobias Daniels, Ph.D. Bibliotheca Hertziana - Max-Planck-Institut für Kunstgeschichte, Rome

Tuesday, June 5: Florence
Travel/Archives in Florence
8:00 a.m. -  9:00 a.m. Train to Florence
12:00 p.m. (est.) Arrive in Florence, check in Brunelleschi Hotel
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Lunch
3:30-6:30 p.m.  “Archives in Florence” Santa Maria Novella Church, Florence
8:00 p.m. Group Dinner
Wednesday, June 6: Florence
Archives and Libraries in Florence
9:00-12:00 Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Tour and Talk
12:30-2:00 Lunch
3:30-6:30: “The Medici Granducal Archive: Organization and Structure” Santa Maria Novella Church, Florence
Evening: Palazzo Vecchio
Thursday, June 7
Travel/Your Choice
8:00-12:00 Return to Rome, check in, Hotel Capo D’Africa
12:30-1:30 Lunch
Afternoon: No scheduled events, though you should visit a cultural institution of your choice and include analysis in your journal:
Suggestions:
Pantheon
Trevi Fountain
Piazza di Spagna/Spanish Steps
Campo de Fiori
Largo di Torre Argentina
Capitolini Musei—Lux in Arcana Exhibit
Villa Borghese
Friday, June 8:
Contemporary Art Exhibition/Wrap up
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Galleria nationale d’arte moderna e contemporanea
Lay Centre 1:30-4:00, lunch and  Wrap up/Discussion/Final Assignments
Saturday, June 9: Depart
Final Assignments Due: (Awaiting date final grades are due)

So, you can see that the schedule is simply amazing grueling and exhausting.  I will keep this blog updated, and you can always get the uncensored version of things on my FB profile.
Arrivederci!

Farewell, Murray.

Sweet Maurice Sendak died today.  I have always liked his work, although it was never written for the adult me.  Maurice was only concerned about the children.  But how I loved this grumpy old man! Just recently, I watched him on Stephen Colbert, and oh, my, he was SO FUNNY!! He was the epitome of a curmudgeon. 

He will be missed, but his work will live forever.