by Greg | May 29, 2010 | Blog Posts
It has been another beautiful day in the Eternal City. The local forecasters called for rain and it has remained sunny all day – some things, like predicting the weather, are international. Since today is Saturday there was not a scheduled class, but Michael Schwartz led a “field trip” for anyone interested to the Trastevere section of Rome. This meant that I needed to be up and waiting on the bus by 6:45 AM. It also meant that I was going to travel alone to meet up with Dr. Schwartz and the others. I left early because this was a completely new section to me, located just west of the Tiber River and south of Vatican City. I reached the agreed meeting spot with time to spare so I took advantage of the extra minutes by indulging in what would amount to three cups of cappuccino. Needed some more euros to tide us over for the weekend, I asked the barista owner for the nearest “bancomatic” or ATM. He was kind enough to walk me down the block and show me how to enter the bank in order to use the machine (I would have never figured this out because you have to slide your card along a reader outside the door, whereupon it opens automatically and leaves you securely inside to do your business). Three students and one other professor joined Schwartz for the full day before us. Trastevere, according to guidebooks, is considered by its inhabitants as the most authentically Roman. I am not qualified to make a judgment call on that, but it was filled with...
by Greg | May 28, 2010 | Blog Posts
The day began like all other days since arriving in Rome; gentle sunshine and mild temperatures. In fact, I do not think it has gone above the mid-70s in temperature. Since everyone else in our flat was asleep I decided to stretch my legs out a bit and of for a walk, which is kind of odd since that is all we have been doing this past week. I also was in search of a good cup of coffee. The apartment does not come with a coffee maker since the locals either make their own espresso or go out and buy a cup. At the last minute I bought about a dozen Starbucks instant coffee packets which Amy and I are trying to ration out. After about a block I stopped at a small coffee shop and had a cappuccino along with a croissant fresh out of the oven – all for about $2.50! I sat at a table and attempted to read the sports section of an Italian newspaper. About all I can report is that two soccer teams played but I have no idea who won. Speaking of soccer, we evidently have some neighbors that love soccer because they were up until midnight watching a game. They were loud and raucous and obviously having a good time. It was well after midnight before I drifted off to sleep. Once everyone was up and email checked we darted for the bus. By now a gentle rain had started and we realized that while we packed rain gear, we brought none of it with us for the day’s events....
by Greg | May 27, 2010 | Blog Posts
I have an apartment full of sleepy-heads – but then again they may think Dad is an insomniac. I, however, slept well and there was ready to go pretty early. Amy and I let the boys sleep a bit while we walked a few blocks to grocery shop. I am not sure how clear I have been in describing where we live, but let me add one other detail: no one speaks a morsel of English. In fact my Italian (which is nothing more than a Rick Steve’s cheat sheet) is better than local’s English. I have discovered that Clark has quite a knack with languages and has done a much better job than dad in helping us communicate. Yesterday he was very embarrassed by me when I said to a waiter: “grazie ya’ll.” Anyway, back to the grocery store: we bought some meat that looked like bacon but we found out tasted like prosciutto; some eggs; ciabatta bread; and some very tasty strawberries. No great surprise, but few things were recognizable including milk, juices, or even basic cuts of meat. Every meal is a surprise! After a late breakfast or early lunch, we walked to our bus stop and soon boarded. It is fun mixing with locals, especially when they are patient in showing us the basics, like how to properly insert your bus card and when your stop is approaching. It makes me feel good that we can provide the good citizens of Rome with so much entertainment and so many stories that they can share with their families at night. Our first tour/lecture did not begin...
by Greg | May 26, 2010 | Blog Posts
What a day! Well I should actually begin by saying our night was a restful one with a solid 8 hours from most of us. Aaron slept, as near as I could calculate, about 20. I was up around 7 AM and took a walk around our neighborhood to snoop and site see. It is definately a working class place with not much in the way of culture, but it was fun to people watch. Anyone that has traveled with me knows that my method includes getting lost and making new and interesting discoveries. Well, I did not happen upon anything covert or particularly noteworthy, but I did find a morning market selling fresh produce. I saw some of the biggest asparagus ever. Following a light breakfast of toast and apricot jelly we boarded the local bus and took a twenty minute ride to the city center. All I can say about seeing Rome for the first time is – wow. (yes, I know that is not a very academic word coming from a guy that is suppose to be on a study leave, but…well, wow!) We wandered around Rome for the next six hours just trying to understand how the streets are laid out and its patterns – there are no patterns in Rome. We enjoyed a great lunch of pasta dishes and pizza followed by the great European dessert – gellato! At 4 we joined Dr. Michael Scwartz, another faculty from Augusta State University and nine college students and toured several churches, including the great Pantheon. I have read and studied Carvaggio, Raphael, Bernnini and other great...
by Greg | May 25, 2010 | Blog Posts
The flight was happily uneventful and we arrived safe and sound in Rome this morning around 8:15. The good news is that we have the whole day before us. The challenge, of course, is staying awake so that we can have a better chance at a good night’s rest. Let me tell you, it is not easy. We took a harrowing cab ride from the airport to our apartment. Winding through the streets of Rome in a minivan was far more dangerous than our entire flight. Our apartment is a 15 minute bus ride from the city center. It is located in a residential neighborhood congested with similar apartment buildings. While not picturesque, it is more than adequate and we are only needing it for sleeping. At an effort to keep the eyelids open we walked a few blocks and found a nice place to eat a few servings of pasta followed by a shot of espresso (this was Clark’s first espresso. Amy passed and Aaron elected to stay in the apartment and engage in his favorite hobby – sleeping.) Tomorrow will be a full day, so I hope to have a bit more content as well as some pictures. I am gratefull to my First Baptist Family in allowing me this time away to take part in this study leave. I am most blessed among pastors. Peace,...
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