Hello all!
This past weekend I left Spain for the first time since I arrived in early January. We didn't have classes on Friday because of the feast of St. Thomas and therefore my friend Shannon and I decided to use our long weekend to see Rome! One of my close friends from Temple, Sara, is also currently studying abroad in Milan, Italy. Before we both left we had talked about meeting up and within a month of arriving, we got to see each other.
Shannon and I left from the Oviedo airport early Friday morning and arrived in Rome around 2PM. At the airport we had a first taste of experiencing a culture in which we couldn't speak the language at all. We eventually managed to find the train station and buy ridiculously over-priced train tickets to Termini Station, the Grand Central Station of Rome. At the ticket office we were told we only had two minutes before the next train left which actually translated to 30 seconds. Luckily the men in front of us were able to hold open the door so we could board at the last second (for a minute I thought Shannon was going to get crushed in the door or we were going to be separated). After a direct train ride to Termini station, our directions were put to the test as we headed out to find the Basilica of San Clemente. Although we got slightly lost, thanks to the lack of street signs in Europe, and almost got run over on several occasions, Italians don't like to stop for anyone so crossing the street is a dangerous task, we found the church. It was a gorgeous church, but the current building is not the best part. Visitors are able to tour the remains of the three other churches that stood on the same site (from the 1st, 4th, and 9th centuries). The staircases to these remains allows you to see ancient frescos and rooms used for worship and other purposes. Needless to say, it was worth the 5 Euro entrance fee. Next we headed to the Pantheon which doubles as the Basilica of St. Mary and Martyrs. There we saw the burial site of the artist Raphael and had the opportunity to sit (our feet needed it) and admire the artwork on the walls and the artwork of the structure of the building. After we had our first taste of Italian gelato (I had mixed berry and chocolate hazelnut) before taking a frustrating walk to try and find our hostel. After about an hour and half of walking and angrily wondering why Europe doens't invest in better street signs, we found our hostel and checked in. Shannon and I than had about an hour to rest before the other girls arrived.
My friend Sara and her two friends Ashley and Amanda met up with us at the hostel and after getting to know each other a little bit, the five of us went to a pizzeria on our street and all got our own pizzas. They were absolutely delicious!!! We called it an early night because we had an early morning the next day.
Saturday we got up early and had breakfast provided by our hostel. First we headed to the Colosseum and spent about an hour admiring the building and the history of it. It was increible to imagine the Colosseum filled with Romans waiting for the events of the day to start. One of the signs we read said that after the events people would recieve free meat from the animals killed that day. Anyways, next we headed to the Roman Forum (right next door practically) and saw the ruins of several temples and the marketplace. I said to Shannon, "this is the Reading Terminal Market of ancient Rome!" (Reading Terminal Market is in Philly). We didn't spend long at the Forum before heading to the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Not only is the church amazingly beautiful but it also hosts relics of the crib of Christ. Yes, you read that correctly, the crib of Christ! How cool is that, or as we say in Spain- que guay!
We decided that our feet needed a break and so we took the metro to Vatican City. Ashely, Shannon, and I took a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica while Sara and Amanda enjoyed time at a cafe and toured St. Peter's on their own. The Vatican museums are truly increible. They are filled with tons of artwork including things like numerous rooms with Raphael's frescos, ancient statues, tapestries from the 1520's, and 2000 year old mosaics as the floors! Shannon and I kept looking at each other in utter disbelief. The Sistine Chapel is more amazing than a post card or an art textbook can capture, you could spend a day just looking at the ceiling. It was commissioned by Pope Sixtus in the early 1500s (1508 I believe) and was painted in four years. Michaelangelo also painted the wall behind the altar. This piece took him five years and is titled the Last Judgment. It includes a self-portrait and in hell, he painted the face of his enemy, a cardinal, who consistently criticized his work. When the cardinal asked the Pope to have it removed, he replied that he had no influence in the matters of hell and so the portrait remains to this day. Finally we headed to St. Peter's, the largest church of Rome, and I think my favorite that we saw. All the popes have been buried at St. Peter's and the main altar is over the site of St. Peter's grave. If you want to know more information about what I learned just ask, but putting it all in this blog post would take all day.
After the tour the three of us met up with Sara and Amanda for a pasta dinner with wine in front of the Pantheon. The view was amazing and the food was nothing to complain about. After we headed to the Trevi Fountain to toss in two coins- one for our return to Rome and the other for a wish come true. Finally we went to the Spanish steps (Shannon and I can't get enough of Spain). We ended the night with some gelato. I think it was the perfect cherry on top of a most perfect weekend. We all went to bed at around 10 because our bodies thought doing anything else was a hilarious idea.
On Sunday, Shannon and I had a long day of travel. We left the hostel at around 8:30AM after saying goodbye to Sara, Amanda, and Ashley. It's amazing how quickly the five of us became friends and I'm so happy I got to see Sara again. We didn't get back to Oviedo until 9:30ish, but the weekend was worth a long day of travelling and hanging out in the Madrid airport.
Life in Spain continues to be wonderful, I think I love Oviedo and Spain a little bit more everyday. Of course there are moments I wish I could pick up the phone and call my mom or text a friend, but I know I will be with them in no time. Time is truly flying and I would like it slow down!
I hope everything is wondeful at home!
Lots of amor,
Ana
PS I posted lots of pictures on Facebook if you want to see!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Holy Toledo!
Ok, so I know I talked about our trip to Toledo in my last post but I forgot to share this bit of information. Toledo was once the capital of Spain, but now even though the capital moved to Madrid, Toledo remains the religious capital of Spain. Thus, the phrase Holy Toledo! I feel like I could say Holy Toledo after just about everything about this trip. Everything has been amazing.
Since nerviously arriving in Oviedo to a bus stop filled with anxious host parents all trying to find their new host children, I feel like so much has happened. My host parents are incredible, I couldn't have asked for anything better. They are both very young working adults, but they are so kind and understanding. I feel like I have learned so much in less than a week of living with them. Plus they tell me where to go and where not to go. There is another student living here from Milan, Italy but only until the end of January. We get along really well, I wish she was staying.
In the Asturias, they have a special drink called sidra (cider) that waiters pour from very high. It tastes kind of like olives. I live on the street that has most of the sidraerias which is really nice. We all had our first taste of sidra together on Monday for my friend Shannon's birthday.
Tuesday we started classes and I think they should be manageable. To be perfectly honest, they seem easier than my classes at Temple, but that will leave me more time to explore the city.
We have been doing activities with the group for foreign exchange students. On Tuesday we did a walking tour of the city, but I don't know if it was that effective because I still haven't figured my way around yet. Tuesday we took a VERY long hike up a mountain to a statue of Jesus that overlooks the city (over five miles, I think). I will post the pictures to facebook within the next couple of days. The view is astounding, although it took a little less than two hours to reach the destinations and my dogs were barking to say the least (thanks for the phrase Uncle Bob). Tomorrow night there is a dinner/party to attend and Sunday a mini roadtrip. I will share more details later. Tonight my Temple friends are going to go a salsa lesson (we'll see how this goes with two left feet), I told myself I would be open to trying all new things here, so here we go!
I miss home of course, but I couldn't be happier here. lots of amor from Oviedo!
Ana
Since nerviously arriving in Oviedo to a bus stop filled with anxious host parents all trying to find their new host children, I feel like so much has happened. My host parents are incredible, I couldn't have asked for anything better. They are both very young working adults, but they are so kind and understanding. I feel like I have learned so much in less than a week of living with them. Plus they tell me where to go and where not to go. There is another student living here from Milan, Italy but only until the end of January. We get along really well, I wish she was staying.
In the Asturias, they have a special drink called sidra (cider) that waiters pour from very high. It tastes kind of like olives. I live on the street that has most of the sidraerias which is really nice. We all had our first taste of sidra together on Monday for my friend Shannon's birthday.
Tuesday we started classes and I think they should be manageable. To be perfectly honest, they seem easier than my classes at Temple, but that will leave me more time to explore the city.
We have been doing activities with the group for foreign exchange students. On Tuesday we did a walking tour of the city, but I don't know if it was that effective because I still haven't figured my way around yet. Tuesday we took a VERY long hike up a mountain to a statue of Jesus that overlooks the city (over five miles, I think). I will post the pictures to facebook within the next couple of days. The view is astounding, although it took a little less than two hours to reach the destinations and my dogs were barking to say the least (thanks for the phrase Uncle Bob). Tomorrow night there is a dinner/party to attend and Sunday a mini roadtrip. I will share more details later. Tonight my Temple friends are going to go a salsa lesson (we'll see how this goes with two left feet), I told myself I would be open to trying all new things here, so here we go!
I miss home of course, but I couldn't be happier here. lots of amor from Oviedo!
Ana
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Orientation Week
Hello all,
On Thursday we did two walking tours of Segovia and Avila. Both cities as you can imagine were absolutely beautiful. I will try and post pictures as soon as possible. Segovia has a Roman acueducto that is roughly nine miles long and ends in a castle (alcazar) that Walt Disney based one of the castles off of. In Segovia we ate suckling pig which didn´t taste like anything I had ever had before but I ate it! Avila is where St Theresa of Avila was born. We got to go to the church that was built over the place where the house where she was born. We also saw her finger- kinda weird. Avila is also home to the oldest Cathedral in Spain and has amazing walls.
We spent Friday taking a walking tour of Toledo which was once the capital of Spain and continues to the be the religious capital. It has the most ornate Cathedral I have ever seen. Unforunately I can´t post pictures of the ridiculous inside because you can´t take pictures. We also saw El Greco´s most famous painting. Our tour guide knows everything about everything about everything. He´s a genius I´m pretty sure!
Today we spent the day in Madrid and went to el Palacio Real and El Prado art museum which hosts galleries of many famous paintings and is Spain´s most popular art museum. El Palacio Real is no longer the home of the Spanish monarchs but it is extremely ornate. It´s first residents was Charles III or IV (now I can´t remember) and family.
Tonight is our last night in Madrid, we have been experiencing the culture. I´m still getting used to the eating schedule and huge meals as well as staying out to all hours of the night. Good thing there are scheduled naptimes! I´m trying to be open to trying all types of food, I had swordfish for lunch. I know I can´t believe it either. Oh and I´m rooming with two other girls, Shannon and Lily, and we have become fast friends. I really like all the people that came. There are some serious characters but everyone, although really different, is getting along really well. Even though we have only really known each other for a week, it seems much longer.
I miss you all and hope all is well at home. We´re Oviedo bound in the morning!
Ana
On Thursday we did two walking tours of Segovia and Avila. Both cities as you can imagine were absolutely beautiful. I will try and post pictures as soon as possible. Segovia has a Roman acueducto that is roughly nine miles long and ends in a castle (alcazar) that Walt Disney based one of the castles off of. In Segovia we ate suckling pig which didn´t taste like anything I had ever had before but I ate it! Avila is where St Theresa of Avila was born. We got to go to the church that was built over the place where the house where she was born. We also saw her finger- kinda weird. Avila is also home to the oldest Cathedral in Spain and has amazing walls.
We spent Friday taking a walking tour of Toledo which was once the capital of Spain and continues to the be the religious capital. It has the most ornate Cathedral I have ever seen. Unforunately I can´t post pictures of the ridiculous inside because you can´t take pictures. We also saw El Greco´s most famous painting. Our tour guide knows everything about everything about everything. He´s a genius I´m pretty sure!
Today we spent the day in Madrid and went to el Palacio Real and El Prado art museum which hosts galleries of many famous paintings and is Spain´s most popular art museum. El Palacio Real is no longer the home of the Spanish monarchs but it is extremely ornate. It´s first residents was Charles III or IV (now I can´t remember) and family.
Tonight is our last night in Madrid, we have been experiencing the culture. I´m still getting used to the eating schedule and huge meals as well as staying out to all hours of the night. Good thing there are scheduled naptimes! I´m trying to be open to trying all types of food, I had swordfish for lunch. I know I can´t believe it either. Oh and I´m rooming with two other girls, Shannon and Lily, and we have become fast friends. I really like all the people that came. There are some serious characters but everyone, although really different, is getting along really well. Even though we have only really known each other for a week, it seems much longer.
I miss you all and hope all is well at home. We´re Oviedo bound in the morning!
Ana
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
I made it here!
Hello all,
I made it to Madrid on Tuesday morning at 8:00 AM Madrid time. Shannon, another Temple student and the girl I sat next to on my flight, and I took a cab together to the hotel. After we wandered the city for a while until we could check in. Today, as a whole group (there are 26 of us), we went to San Lorenzo de Escorial. The church/monastery/school/ palace there (all in one building built by King Phillip II in honor of his father King Charles I in the 16th century) is the burial site for all (every single one) Spanish king except two. It's about thirty minutes outside of the city. Saint Lawrence (San Lorenzo in Spanish) was grilled (literally) for his faith in the Roman period and so the symbol of the grill is all over the building.
The Spanish eating schedule is vastly different. Breakfast is a little snack (a bread roll or something of that nature). Lunch is late (around two) and dinner is later (nine is really early) but the meals are HUGE!!! They serve 'table' wine with both meals. You have to add a soda water to it otherwise it tastes funny, but wine is like getting a glass of water at an American restaurant. It's no wonder there is a specific time of day devoted to napping in Spain each day. We've participated in that both days as well.
We are headed to Segovia and Avila tomorrow and Toledo on Friday. Saturday were going to Palacio Real and the Prado in Madrid before heading to Oviedo on Sunday. I will try and post again sometime soon. Hopefully when I get settled in Oviedo I will be able to post some pictures of what I've been up to.
Also Happy Epiphany (tomorrow)! The coming of the three wise men is a very big celebration in Spain and there is a big parade today. This is when the kids get their gifts. There are Christmas decorations all over the plazas in Spain.
~Ana
I made it to Madrid on Tuesday morning at 8:00 AM Madrid time. Shannon, another Temple student and the girl I sat next to on my flight, and I took a cab together to the hotel. After we wandered the city for a while until we could check in. Today, as a whole group (there are 26 of us), we went to San Lorenzo de Escorial. The church/monastery/school/ palace there (all in one building built by King Phillip II in honor of his father King Charles I in the 16th century) is the burial site for all (every single one) Spanish king except two. It's about thirty minutes outside of the city. Saint Lawrence (San Lorenzo in Spanish) was grilled (literally) for his faith in the Roman period and so the symbol of the grill is all over the building.
The Spanish eating schedule is vastly different. Breakfast is a little snack (a bread roll or something of that nature). Lunch is late (around two) and dinner is later (nine is really early) but the meals are HUGE!!! They serve 'table' wine with both meals. You have to add a soda water to it otherwise it tastes funny, but wine is like getting a glass of water at an American restaurant. It's no wonder there is a specific time of day devoted to napping in Spain each day. We've participated in that both days as well.
We are headed to Segovia and Avila tomorrow and Toledo on Friday. Saturday were going to Palacio Real and the Prado in Madrid before heading to Oviedo on Sunday. I will try and post again sometime soon. Hopefully when I get settled in Oviedo I will be able to post some pictures of what I've been up to.
Also Happy Epiphany (tomorrow)! The coming of the three wise men is a very big celebration in Spain and there is a big parade today. This is when the kids get their gifts. There are Christmas decorations all over the plazas in Spain.
~Ana
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