Experiences from Istanbul

After a long day of travel, we finally arrived in Istanbul.  As with all destinations during the program, I approached each one as a tabula rasa (blank slate) – with as few expectations as possible regarding what to expect when we arrived.  With that in mind, perhaps because some would arguably consider Istanbul (formerly Constantinople) the birthplace of Western Civilization; I was under the impression that we would once again step back in time to a place that looked like ancient Rome.  When we began our journey to the hotel where we would be spending the next five nights (the remainder of the program), I soon came to find that Istanbul was very different than I had imagined.  If you are of the belief that Istanbul is (at least one of) the birthplaces of Western Civilization, than you would not be surprised to hear that today it is a very western, modern city and very much reminded me of other large cities in the United States.  I do not wish to make such a generalization, but in my opinion, it was very easy to compare Istanbul to New York City – with some major exceptions which I will later describe in detail.  For some reason, my initial impression of Istanbul (less the mosques and city wall) was that it was a cross between Miami, FL and Hartford, CT, when evaluating the city during a crazy bus ride to our hotel through busy traffic.  I suppose that being a modern city is very fitting then, in that Istanbul is not stuck in one period of time, and it continues to evolve with other western cultures.

It was fairly late when we arrived at our hotel, and after checking in, the group was in search of a meal.  Istanbul is a city that has tripled its population in the past 10-years, so there is a lot of traffic and it is quite congested – a bit of a culture shock.  After walking a few blocks from our hotel, and being aggressively solicited by every restaurant host that we walked past, the group decided on an authentic Turkish restaurant where the only thing that I knew (with reasonable certainty) was that I had just ordered some sort of chicken.  To the best of my knowledge, I think most of the group felt fairly uncertain about what to expect when our meal arrived, and were concerned about the food not agreeing with our systems.  I was also unsure of the attitude of Turkish people toward Americans at this point, however my fears began to ease as a result of the friendly and exceptional service which we received.  After later evaluating many meals, I came to find that my initial impression of the servers at this restaurant was appropriate in that the Turkish have a very strong work ethic and really deliver what they promised.  Our meal of kebabs with vegetables and toasted flatbread soon arrived, which was quite delicious, and that was followed by Turkish tea afterwards.   The only part of our dining experience that seemed unusual that night was the amount of time it took to receive our bill (even after multiple requests).  I later came to find that for some reason this is very typical in Turkey, and it often times took longer to get the bill settled than it did to be served and eat the meal.

After a good dining experience, I was beginning to feel more comfortable being in Turkey, until I began to mull over something that happened during check-in at the hotel.  In order to obtain our room key, my roommate and I (as well as the rest of the group) were required to present our passports to the front desk clerk.  Initially, I thought that the clerk was going to make a copy and return the passports, however he kept them!  Perhaps due to being over-tired, I was rather upset by this and thoughts began to go through my head such as our passports being lost or sold on the black market.  This was another occasion where I definitely appreciated being in a faculty-led program, as our professors reassured the group that the practice of holding passports is standard procedure in that they have to be registered with the local police. We were also ensured that our passports would be returned to us in the morning (and they were).  Although I fully trusted my professor’s rationale, and I felt reassured, it is somewhat un-nerving being without your passport when in a foreign country.  This is because you cannot leave Turkey or enter your transfer or home airports without the passport being thoroughly scrutinized and approved.  Although I had no intention of leaving the program early, again due to being over-tired from travel, the prospect of being trapped in a foreign country makes you feel very homesick.  In addition, this experience helped me relate to some of our readings and discussion of religious toleration, namely during the holocaust.  I could empathize with the trust that many Jews put into figures of authority who required them to turn over different personal belongings (and likely identification), only to find out that they were fooled and would lose their rights and freedom.  I began to understand the rationale of how individuals or peoples can fall victim to figures of authority, when looking from the outside we may criticize their cooperation.  Of course once again I must clarify that there was no problem and our passports were returned the next morning.  I mention this instance so that if you are traveling and experience this, of course use skepticism and avoid leaving your passport if at all possible; however feel a bit more comfortable knowing that it is a standard procedure in many cities.

After a good night’s rest, we met with Umit, who would be our tour guide for the next two days.  Once again I must commend the Turkish work ethic, or at least that of Umit, because he went to great lengths to make sure that we understood the history of Istanbul as he explained it.  I was also very impressed with him in that he spoke Turkish, English, and Arabic fluently, and I believe one or two other languages.  It again became apparent to me during the program how disadvantaged many are in the US in that they only speak one language (including myself), and in a global economy how important it is to understand at least one other culture and language.

We were taken to Sultanhammet, which in my opinion is the Turkish version of St. Mark’s square in Venice.  It is home to the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia, as well as some other artifacts.  In contrast to St. Mark’s , which as described in an earlier blog is very historical, Sultanhammet features more modern architecture which surround the historic sites, and has a more western feel.  We then toured the Blue Mosque, which was a very interesting and insightful experience for me as I had never been inside a mosque and did not know what to expect.  Before entering, we were required to remove our shoes, however were allowed to continue to wear socks.  Upon entering, I immediately began to notice some differences when compared to a church or cathedral.  Although the artwork in The Mosque was very beautiful, what was most outstanding was the absence of human figures.  The Mosque is lit by lights which hang down from a maze/web of chains, forming a new pattern inside.  In addition, there are no seats or an altar – just a podium where the mass is celebrated from.

After our tour of Sultanhammet, our guide took us for lunch at a Turkish restaurant where we were seated on the rooftop which was about four-stories above street level and overlooked the Bosporus River.  We once again had a delicious meal of kebabs, but what happened next was the first of what was perhaps the most significant cultural experience that I had in Turkey.  As we began to eat our lunch, all of a sudden we heard loud singing coming from the mosques, which can be heard across the entire city!  It is rather difficult to describe, but it is approximately a 20-minute ritual that consists of passages which last anywhere from about fifteen seconds to two minutes.  Initially, I did not know what this singing meant, and it might have even been a bit frightening not understanding the language or culture. It was at this point however that I once again appreciated our tour guide, as he explained that the singing is similar to church bells in that it worships God and calls people to pray.   In addition, he dispelled some misconceptions that I had about the Islam religion, and I came to realize that Muslims are extremely religious and peaceful people.  The singing occurs four times per day, and the orthodox Muslims go to the mosque each time they are called to worship – true devotion!

In contrast to our time in Italy, where to a certain extent I felt safe and comfortable navigating the city, in Istanbul I initially felt quite uncomfortable not being able to interpret signs, menus, or the language.  For example, at one point or another, each one of us was plagued with allergies during the program, and when we arrived in Istanbul, it was my turn. I sought cough medicine, however  I did not know where the pharmacy was, so I asked at the hotel front desk.  With the little English that the hotel clerk spoke, all I surmised  was that it was down the hill and approximately 100 meters on the left.  I walked about three blocks and did not find the pharmacy, so I walked back toward the hotel.  On the way, I found a medical equipment store (wheel chairs, oxygen, etc.) and asked the man if that was the pharmacy.  He pointed back down the hill, and I had the impression it was only a few doors down.  There was an old indoor shopping mall, so I thought maybe the pharmacy was inside, but did not know how to find it on the directory.  At this point, I was feeling extremely frustrated, and stupid.  I had been reading Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, and this experience made me relate with the book’s Lithuanian characters when they arrived in Chicago and did not know how to find the stockyards (since the only English word they knew was Chicago)! Finally, I returned to the hotel, and again asked for directions, when the clerk this time wrote “eczane” on a slip of paper, which is Turkish for pharmacy.  That was extremely helpful, and it turned out that 100 meters was actually about six-blocks from the hotel!  In fact, it turns out that a pharmacy in Turkey, as well as Italy, uses a green cross (similar to the U.S. Red Cross symbol).  It is amazing how a simple task can quickly feel so overwhelming!

Throughout our time in Istanbul, we toured many fascinating sites, such as the Topkapi and Ottoman palaces, as well as an archaeological museum.  When touring the archaeological museum, I was once again amazed to find actual Mesopotamian artifacts which I had only read about in my Western Civilization course. We were also taken on a private Bosporus River cruise, which was quite fascinating in that on one side of the river was Europe, and on the other was Asia!  In addition to the educational points of interest in Istanbul, we also went to the Grand and Spice Bazaars, which are comparable to what we know as flea markets, with the exception that the sales people were much more forward.  It was difficult to shop, at most places in Istanbul, because if you showed the least bit of interest, the sales person would literally follow you as you walked away. Although both were interesting to see, I was most impressed with the Spice Bazaar in that the vendors offered very unique items (tea and spices), when compared to the typical flea market, counterfeit items offered at the Grand.  We also visited Taxim Square, which is basically a congested street with shops and restaurants, but reinforces the western feel of Istanbul (minus the singing coming from the mosques!).  Taxim also provided a great view of the city, and in my opinion was very representative of Istanbul in that it bridges the gap between old and new by nicely blending Turkish and western cultures.

What an amazing experience!

Days 7 and 8 – Florence/Venice

Before I begin my discussion about our final two days in Italy, I would like to address the gap in time between my posts and explain the reason for it.  In the United States, we are all very accustomed to having the internet and communication available on demand almost anytime we desire.  Although internet was available in Italy, we were dependent on public Wi-Fi hot spots, which the group soon came to realize are not always reliable, efficient, or free.  In general, much of the European computer technology that we encountered appeared to be about five-to-ten years out of date.  For example, some computers were still running Windows XP (perhaps a testimonial to this great program!) and did not always have ports for our camera cards.  It also appeared that most network servers were also of the same age, which may explain the delays and difficulty accessing the internet.  In addition, it also appeared that in some cases we were being blocked by a firewall, which limited access either partially or entirely to various sites.  Consistent with being somewhat behind the times, luckily most places we visited had internet cafe’s, but those also featured out-of-date technology.  To add to the difficulty, the computers were equipped with various international keyboards which made it very challenging to type, as well as find necessary symbols such as the @ for email and other various punctuation.

Often times, when a computer and network was available for use, our study schedule did not allow for the time or facilitate the mindset that was necessary for me to update my blog.  Given this, I was careful to keep a journal of my thoughts and experiences so that I may accurately describe my time abroad, when I had a computer and reliable network connection available.

Day seven of our trip was a re-scheduled free-day where most of the group took a side trip to Florence, which most notably is home to the Academia, which contains Michaelangelo’s David, and Brunelleschi’s Dome.  After about a four-hour ride on the Eurostar, upon arrival in Florence I once again recognized that we had stepped into a different time period – this time the Renaissance.  This was apparent in the different architecture which featured brighter colors and human images in both the sculpture and paintings.  It was also at this leg of our journey that I once again began to piece together and appreciate what I had learned in the classroom at King’s – this time primarily from my Western Civilization and Sculpture courses.  In Western Civilization, we learned about the Renaissance period and discussed the significance of The David in that it marked one of the first pieces of artwork which emphasize the human figure and suggest strong intellectual ability.  But seeing this (approximately) 17′ sculpture in person was much more meaningful and impressive than just seeing it in a textbook.  In addition, after completing a sculpture course, I took an interest in the detail and use of shadows in The David, as well as other figures at the Academia.  After attempting to make a symmetrical object out of relatively soft plaster in class, I could now appreciate the difficulty in carving this masterpiece out of such a hard material like marble.  After touring the rest of the Academia, I also learned how human sculptures are made and how masterpieces can be copied and scaled to any size – something that I will not be attempting anytime soon!

The architecture of Florence marked a shift from a medieval design to the Renaissance style which I described earlier.  I found this very significant in that with some imagination you go from the 14th to 15th century just by looking in a different direction.  Perhaps the most significant architectural accomplishment of that period was Brunelleschi’s Dome (The Duomo).   I distinctly remember the discussion of The Duomo in Dr. Clasby’s Western Civilization course last fall.  As a class, we read about how over 500-years ago, Brunelleschi built a self-supporting dome, which was of enormous proportions even by today’s standards.  The approximately 143 feet wide dome, was an engineering marvel and first of its kind.  I remember trying to appreciate this feat as we discussed in class, but seeing the dome in person made me truly appreciate what an accomplishment this project truly was.  I have experience working in building construction, so I could appreciate the enormity, logistics,  and craftsmanship which went into building this structure, and can only imagine the courage that the workers must have had while working on this experimental design.  After climbing the nearly 465 steps up, aside from being exhausted, I was somewhat afraid to step outside at the top of the 340-foot tall dome’s observation deck.  After a few moments however, I felt comfortable enough to walk around the perimeter and view the beautiful city below.

Being in Italy and experiencing all of the various time periods and architectural wonders, often times I was “waiting for the ride to be over” – as if I was at a theme park.  It was often surreal and sometimes overwhelming to experience the culture and all of the beautiful and mesmerizing sites.  After visiting The Duomo, I found it ironic that an over 500-year old structure provided more thrill and excitement for me than a modern theme park!

In the interest of ensuring an on-time arrival at the Venice airport, the next day we transferred to a hotel in Mestre’ – the Venice mainland.  After having visited four cities in Italy during the program, and getting the feel that they all told a story of a different time period, I began to feel that every city would feel older.  Upon arriving in Mestre’, it became apparent to me that signs of modern, western civilization are indeed in Italy.  Where in the lagoon of ancient Venice the only streets are canals, the mainland looks alot more like a western city – car dealers, modern hotels, restaurants, etc.  At that point I appreciated that a few days prior, we were able to enter ancient Venice via train and arrived to our hotel on foot.  This truly had the most dramatic feel of stepping back in time.

At the Mestre’ hotel, we had a group discussion of Roberto Bassi’s “Skirmishes on Lake Lagoda”, and the whole group was very excited that we would be embarking for Istanbul the next morning.

Day 5 – Venice/Padova

Today we visited Padova (pronounced pa-jewa), which was yet another new experience and unique town in contrast to Venice and Rome.  It is a bit less of a tourist destination, so it gave me more of a sense of what life is like in the average town in Italy.  Although I remember a time when blue laws were still recognized in the U.S. (when stores were closed on Sundays), that was long forgotten until visiting Padova, when we had to find alternate activities for the afternoon rather than shopping during our free time.  Around 4 p.m. the city began to come alive – most stores opened and there was a small festival taking place in and around the town square which included music, a pantomime, juggler, artists, and other various entertainment.  I am under the impression that this is a typical Sunday in Paova, although I am not certain, and it was very nice to experience.

The educational component of the trip to Padua included a trip to St. Anthony’s cathedral, which although is not exactly a tourist destination, it is where many christians go to pray for the sick and deceased.  Although St. Anthony’s featured pre-renaissance artwork and had a slightly different architecture than some of its Roman counterparts, what was most outstanding to the entire study abroad group (and myself) was a board where those who came to pray attached pictures of those who they seeked blessing for.  Regardless of your religious convictions, it was quite emotional to see photos of hundreds who were being prayed for – each with a unique need for blessing.  It was quite bothersome to look at the pictures and wonder what motivated someone to make the pilgrimage to St. Anthony’s to seek help.  Further, I could not help but wonder the frequency of which the pictures were removed to make room for more.

The day provided alot of time for reflection, and after visiting St. Anthony’s, I began to once again recognize the value of my study abroad experience.  Visiting various religious sites during the program, one cannot help but get caught up in the lavish designs and artwork, and although I had learned otherwise in my Western Civilization course, observing all of the sites of the Catholic church left me with the impression that the extravogance was due simply to the Italians’  strong faith.  Although faith and beliefs may had contributed to the lavish architecture, I began to recall that there was a time when The Vatican was also the primary government of Rome, and at times most of Italy.  It occurred to me that the extravogance was as much a sign of power as it was to honor God.  Also, as in Venice, in contrast we toured (what remained of) the Padova Jewish Gettho, and it was once again disturbing to see the persecution and intolerance of people of different religious conviction – demonstrated by the need to almost camoflauge their synogauge and community.

Upon returning to Venice, in the evening we once again visited St. Mark’s square.  It is very difficult to describe being there, and it is something that I strongly urge others to experience.  Being at St. Mark’s at night, I was able envision myself in the 1700′s, and it felt surreal.  At four different locations, there were bands playing violin and piano, and it looked and sounded just like something you would see in the movies.  St. Mark’s, and Venice as a whole, is truly a unique place, and it is remarkable that it has remained greatly unchanged for hundreds of years!  I hope that Venice is always able to maintain its heritage.

Day 4 – Venice

We began our fourth day of the program by visiting St. Mark’s basilica.  St. Mark’s is probably best described as the Venetian equivalent of the Vatican, although it is not nearly as large.  In addition, it has Byzantium features in its architecture, so although it is quite lavish it is somewhat unique when compared to the St. Peter’s and other christian cathedrals.  After this brief visit, we then toured Doge’s Palace.  I must admit that I did not have any prior knowledge or expectations of Doge’s, but was extremely impressed by it.  By visiting Doge’s, it became apparent to me how our study abroad experience is beginning to come together.  Doge’s was the primary location of government and law making in Venice.  It was also the place where Venetians could file grievances against others, and it would appear primarily Jews from the Ghetto, amongst others would be tried and possibly imprisoned on site.  The overall architecture of Doge’s was meant to make an impression on all who visited there, and it still had that feel for me today.  As you made your journey to the courtroom or office you were scheduled to visit, you would pass through many chambers which, through various decor and artwork, gave you a sense of Venice’s power.  If you were tried and convicted, your attention shifted from the lavish building to the cold prison which awaited you.  It was quite an amazing place to visit and experience.

After touring Doge’s, professors Clasby and Mares provided us with a picnic lunch, which we enjoyed in the Ghetto.  At this point, it should be noted that, at least in Venice, the Ghetto refers more to an ethnic location, synonymous with segregation, rather than a type of slum that Americans generally think of.  We then discussed two other readings which were previously assigned, and the true value of a study abroad program became apparent.  Many times we have learned about a historical place or event by reading about it in a textbook.  During our picnic, I found it amazing that we were eating at the historic location which we had just read about the night before!  This was one of many examples where we “learned live” – with one of our professors bringing real context to what others can only imagine by reading, we get to experience it first hand.  I often read material and am concerned that I will not remember it in the near future; when learning in a study abroad program, I am confident that these will be experiences which I will never forget.

Day 3 – Venice

On our third day of the program, we departed Rome and headed forVenice, where we would be spending the next six-days.  As you can tell from my blogs, I have always been fascinated with transportation, so it was very exciting for me to experience my first ride on the Eurostar high-speed train.  The Eurostar is very similar to the Acela which is the U.S.version and services Washington, DC to Boston in about 5 hours.   Although I was enjoying the experience of the high-speed ride itself, my attention soon turned to the beautiful landscape which surrounded us. As soon as you leave Rome, the countryside becomes rather undeveloped, with the main industry appearing to be farming.  As I had mentioned in a previous blog, I was surprised to find that Italy is not very flat, considering it is primarily farmland, but rather has slopes which range from gentle to small mountains.  It is much different than traveling through the United States, where you primarily see shopping centers and malls, as well as many urban areas.

When stepping off the train in Venice, I could immediately distinguish many differences in the two cities (when compared to Rome).  Of course Venice is iconic for its canals and gondola taxis, however I did not realize that the canals are the only method of transportation between points in the city.  There are no streets or cars (a huge difference from the busy streets of Rome).  Being inVenice was literally like taking a step back in time, and sometimes I really had to try to remind myself that I was not at a theme park.  It was quite refreshing to see a more simple life, where goods are moved via boat, windows do not have screens or air conditioners, but rather shutters and large window panes which open inward.  Most restaurants offer outdoor dining, and the temperature is perfect for enjoying a great meal.  Although Italians do not begin to eat dinner until around 7:30, I was surprised to find that all of the stores close, and street vendors pack up fairly early and you pretty much have no option but to retreat to your quarters by about 10:00.

Aside from enjoying the beauty of Venice, the “study” portion of the study abroad program really began.  We were assigned various readings, including Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, which artistically depicts dealings between a Catholic merchant and Jewish banker in The Venetian Ghetto.  As a group, we visited, and discussed our assignment in The Ghetto.  It was at that point that I began to draw a parallel from the affluence of The Vatican (and other Christian/Catholic cathedrals), to the modest and almost camouflaged synagogues in which the Venetian Jews worshipped.  Although the gates and drawbridge which divided The Ghetto from the rest of Venice are no longer in use, it is hard for me to imagine a time when citizens of different religious and ethnic affiliations were not allowed to assimilate with the rest of civilization.  It was also very disturbing and chilling to be reminded of the ultimate persecution that the Jews faced, when I visited the Holocaust memorial located in The Ghetto (out of respect I did not photograph this).  At the same time, I thought of the lavish cathedrals and churches which Christians were able to freely enjoy during the same time period, such as St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice, and began to truly appreciate the diversity which we now take for granted in the United States.

Day 2 – The Vatican

On our second day in Rome, we visited The Vatican.  I am not sure what I expected it to look like, from seeing it in movies I envisioned a compound surrounding St. Peter’s square which would feature fortress like walls and high security.  What I came to find was that it is separated into two parts – a museum, and St. Peter’s square and cathedral.  The museum, and cathedral are once again indescribable and my attempt at taking photos really only gives you an idea of what I saw, but really does this incredible place an injustice.  The museum was enormous and one room seemed to lead into endless others full of beautiful paintings, sculptures, and tapestries, and the rooms were painted and decorated to perfection with no detail left unturned.  All rooms featured marble floors and painted ceilings.  It is very difficult to summarize, because I could literally write pages about only one or two things that I saw in the museum.

St. Peter’s square and cathedral was also an amazing place to see.  I was surprised to find that the square is open and accessible from the street (not a fortress) but of course we had to go through security to enter the cathedral.  The cathedral is also very difficult to describe.  We had been to some other chapels and cathedrals inRomewhich were very beautiful, but St. Peter’s was much, much larger and spectacular.  St. Peter’s has alters on both sides as you approach the main alter (similar to stations of the cross at a Catholic church), and a mass (and confession) is offered in every language. Although these were smaller places of worship to the sides, as a whole I would estimate that you could fit at least four normal size churches in the main corridor!  That estimate may even be a bit conservative, because the shear magnitude of the cathedral was a bit overwhelming and hard to truly put into perspective.  TheVaticanis the headquarters of the Catholic Church, and they have spared no expense to make it as beautiful as possible and iconic symbol of the Catholic Church.

I had mentioned previously that I had expected to see more security around St. Peter’s square.  I came to find that this idea was not unrealistic because during periods of political instability, the Pope became a target and needed to retreat to safety.  A few blocks away from The Vatican is a fortress, which has a tunnel for the Pope to escape to safety through.  The street between The Vatican is proof that Rome has been attacked in the past, as you can tell from the different architectural styles which exist.  This street is wider than most and features larger buildings with brighter colors (referred to as “arms of the city”), and is symbolic that Rome can come back from attack and oppression.

After spending the greater part of the day touring The Vatican, we then traveled on foot to see the Spanish Steps, as well as some other sites along the way, and were afforded some personal time to shop and explore.  We then had a nice, authentic Italian dinner, followed by gelato, and burned off the calories with a nice walk back to our hotel where we spent our final night in Rome.

Day 1 travel experiences and Rome

It was so exciting to depart for my first trip abroad!! Although I have travelled extensively in the United States, I have never felt so excited and unsure of what to expect at my destination, as in this trip. The airport, and flying internationally are unique experiences which are quite different than traveling domestically. The airport security was about what I expected – unfriendly! However the process did not take quite as long as I had anticipated, and we then went to our gate to wait for our departure. While waiting, I was so excited to see our plane taxi in – it was an Airbus A-380, which I believe is currently the largest plane in the world. It is larger than a Boeing 747 in that it has two decks of seats. I have watched many television specials about the 380, so I was very excited to board! Most people are familiar with the complaints related to air travel – unfriendly service, cramped seats, delays, etc. My experience was totally different. In fact, traveling abroad had that certain romanticism which I had always associated with going to Europe. When boarding the plane, each seat was equipped with a pillow and blanket for the six-hour flight. If my plane ticket did not indicate to the contrary, I would have been certain that I was seated in first class! Each seat back was equipped with a monitor which allowed you to watch various movies and television shows, however my favorite feature was the live cameras mounted outside the plane which allowed to watch the takeoff and view the ground while in-flight. The monitor also allowed you to watch a GPS map which gave constant updates as to our progress. Periodically we were offered beverages which included complimentary beer and wine if we so desired. In addition, we were periodically given steaming hot towels to refresh ourselves. A full dinner was served, and we were provided metal utensils (very surprising to see) which were engraved with the Lufthansa insignia. After dinner drinks were offered, and we then took a few hour nap. Upon waking, we were once again given a towel and also a continental breakfast. At that point we were almost to Frankfurt, so I switched my monitor and watched in real time as I for the first time landed in Europe! After a brief layover we then embarked for Rome. Flying over Italy, I was surprised to see that it has alot of farm land and is not largely developed.

Upon landing, we were greeted by a guide who led us to a luxury bus which took us on the one-hour commute to our downtown Rome hotel. At this point, I can honestly say that I am not sure if I was or was not seeing what I had expected. For the most part, with the exception of some variations of mountains and farmland, as well as the absence of strip malls, it felt very similar to traveling through Brooklyn, NY. There was alot of traffic and old buildings which generally gave you that big-city feel, however it also had a certain charm and character which helped me to look past all of that. At this point, we had been awake nearly 24-hours (less a short nap on the plane), and I felt as though I had lost all sense of time. I remember my sister, who is a psychologist, mentioning that a cognitive test which is performed to test a patient’s mental state is to ask what day and time it is. At this point they would have taken me away, because I honestly could not answer! But our professors’ plan was for us to tough it out and continue to tour Rome, which would require staying awake for about another 9 hours and walking many miles. Although the thought of this was a bit hard to fathom, we all trusted their guidance and began our journey.

As we walked toward the Coliseum, thoughts of being tired soon vanished. My initial opinion of the city began to change as in the horizon appeared the famous Colosseo which I had learned about in my Western Civilization course this past fall. It was hard to describe the feeling of being in a structure which was built over 2,000 years ago. I had so many thoughts going through my mind, but probably the most prevalent was how much I would have liked to been a spectator at a Roman show there. Perhaps this is a bit barbarian to say, given that the gladiators were sometimes forced to fight lions barehanded, ending in the fighter’s demise. But the great amount of detail that went into staging these performances really made me wonder what it would be like. As I walked around the second level of the Colosseo, I was amazed how something more fascinating appeared around every bend, such as Constantine’s arch. We then walked further into Rome, and the cityscape changed again as we went from the lost city to the newer, medieval section. The beauty of the old buildings and narrow streets almost did not seem real, and I sometimes had the feeling like I was in a theme park. We went to an open-air dome chapel which it would be extremely difficult to describe with words and pictures, as the beauty and overall feel would be far undersold.

We then had dinner at an authentic outdoor cafe, and took the bus and subway back to our hotel for a well-needed rest (I have never slept so well!!)