Roma

I think now that I have a little extra time on my hands, I'll catch up on some of the experiences from last year. They will likely be in no particular order. Writing on this blog has become a way of recording my adventures, big and small alike.

Due to the insanity of last autumn, I didn't take the time to write anything here. Every effort in writing was focused solely on my M.Ed. I can read for hours for school or work, but still enjoy reading for pleasure to unwind. Not so with writing!

When I was planning my thesis trip to the ME, I found out a friend was going to be Rome for a month. Part of her time overlapped with my travels. After a quick flurry of emails, I went to my favorite flight-booking website and found that adding a four day diversion to Rome would only add about $100 to my flight. With an offer of a sofa to sleep on, it was a perfect chance to revisit the Eternal City. So, after my six or seven week stint in the ME, I flew to Germany and then to Italy. The next few days, Meredith had language classes and I wandered the city on my own. In the evenings, Meredith showed me her favorite spots for dinner and for gelato. We splurged on a Vespa Tour of the forgotten spots of Rome. The guys at Dear Roma were wonderful tour guides.

I'm not even certain what the building is in this picture. Meredith and I were walking home from dinner one night and walked around the corner to see this gorgeous view of the moon and the dome. 

Piazza Navona

This is the Piazza Navona, as seen from the restaurant of the Museo Roma. It is beautiful, even on a rainy, overcast November day. 

 I love the many alleys and curving pathways that wind through old cities. I probably have countless pictures from all over the world. I'm also particularly susceptible to the beauty of vines clinging to old buildings. :)

Meredith endeared herself to several local restaurant owners in her neighborhood. While at one of these restaurants, the owner did his best to spoil us, bringing us complimentary cookies and even limoncello, an Italian lemon liqueur. I could only handle a few sips! It is often served as a digestivo, or a drink served after a meal to aid digestion. 

This picture was taken on our Vespa Tour. We hopped off the vespas to hear more about the Circus Maximus and Palatine Hill. History is amazing.

A few quick snaps with the Vespa guides!

Arquitetura

As we walk around, I have started to love the surprises of the architecture.  The older buildings are each unique.  Some have undergone transformations, such as paint or additions of burglar bars, but others are worn and in need of repair.  I've been taking lots of pictures and trying to capture the beauty of these buildings.  I hope you appreciate their beauty as well, although a picture doesn't do justice.

This building above is right along the beach.  As you can tell, it needs a lot of work.  My parents tell me that many of these old buildings are purchased and renovated into restaurants.  I think this would be fantastic if the entire second floor would be restaurant seating with floor to ceiling glass.  The view would be purely beach and ocean.  A number of the buildings here have a rounded facade, like the building below as well as the one above. 

This is a more modern building, but there is still similar architecture.  I like the way the burglar bars are incorporated into the design of the steps.  

This last building is one of my favorites.  I love the various patterns!  The red and white part makes me think of giraffes. :)