19 hours left!

The countdown has begun. I'm trying to pack before going out and enjoying on last cone of gelato and pizza. I'll be in Chicago around 3pm tomorrow for a few days before going home on Sunday.

I'll post more pictures once I get to Chicago!

Ciao Roma!

My Final Week

Yesterday I finally checked out the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, (about time, I know) had the soccer finals, and wrote a few final papers. Tonight is the end-of-the-year banquet and mock elections. Pictures/results to come. This weekend my goals are : catacombs and pompeii.

Can't wait to see everyone.

Tuscany

This weekend I went on my final weekend trip - sad!

It was a weekend devoted to food and wine and was the perfect way to wrap up the semester and prepare/relax before finals. It was three full days of eating, napping, and more eating.

Friday 16 April: Welcome to Tuscany!

Villa Dievole - Guided tours of historic cellars with wine tasting

Cinta Senese Pig Farm and Goat Cheese Farm

Montestigliano - the villa we stayed at - amazing. it was a 2500 agricultural estate owned and farmed by the Donati family for over 50 years

Saturday 17 April: The Hill Towns of Chianti

Castellina in Chianti

We began the day with the town's traditional open-air market (I bought a sweet new bag)

Tour of Museo Archeologico del Chianti Senese - Etruscan History

Traditional Tuscan lunch

Cooking demonstration: Pizza and Pasta

-Tagliatelle

-Gnocchi

-Pizza 'Ciaccino bianco'

Dinner at Montestigliano

Saturday was also Lily's 20th - Happy Birthday Lily!

Sunday 18 April: Montestigliano

Olive oil tasting: Olive oil and bruschetta followed by a walk in the olive groves

"Traditional Sunday Lunch with the JFRC Family"

Thankfully I was on a school trip in the country and was not affected by the volcanic ash - the other school trip to Prague was stuck and some of the students are still not back to campus. The students that went with the school had to take a 22-hour bus ride because all flights into Rome were cancelled.

WWII Trip

This past weekend, I went on the school subsidized World War II Weekend. Two of the JFRC Alumni fly back every semester and take us on a WWII tour of Rome. They gave us detailed tours, bought us delicious meals, and I learned a ton of history of both the American and the Italian troops. (My best last minute decision.)

On Friday we visited Piana delle Orme Museum, the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, and the Anzio Port.

The Piana delle Orme Museum covered many areas of life through the centuries in the region of the Agro Pontino, the area south of Rome on the way to the Circeo promontory.

It also holds many restored military vehicles from WW2 and has dedicated sections to the Anzio Beach landings, to the battle of Cassino and other events. Among the vehicles displayed there is the only fully functional Sherman tank in Europe... maybe in the world. It was THE coolest museum I have ever been to. It was full of life-size dioramas that were interactive and moved! The plane propellers moved, the ground shook when bombs hit, and there were sound and light effects.

Next was the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial. The World War II Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial site in Italy covers 77 acres- a huge field of headstones of 7,861 of American soldiers. The majority of these men died in the liberation of Sicily (July 10 to August 17, 1943); in the landings in the Salerno Area (September 9, 1943) and the heavy fighting northward; in the landings at Anzio Beach and expansion of the beachhead (January 22, 1944 to May 1944); and in air and naval support in the regions. The memorial expressed America's remembrance of the dead, engraved with the names of 3,095 of the missing.

The wreath we brought ^ shown beneath the Brothers in Arms statue - Navy on the left, Army on the Right

Against Me!'s new album leaked, and their song 'White Crosses' disappoints me. After seeing the 7,860 marble crosses, I found the song offensive. Bummer.

Next was the Anzio Port. Anzio and Nettuno are also notable as sites of an Allied forces landing (Operation Shingle) and ensuing battle (known as the Battle of Anzio) during World War II. In January 1944 British and US forces made a landing on the beaches of Anzio, in the assault that was to liberate Rome from German occupation.

My room mate Kristen and I on the beach near Port Anzio - where the Allies landed.

After our visit to the Port, we had dinner at l'Entoteca da Vito dell'Orologio in Latina. It was a delicious 5 course meal. I sat with 5 students I didn't really know, and after mentioning the Glee season premiere tonight, I had 5 new friends.

Saturday Morning, we had another half day on the trip.

We visited the Fosse Ardeatine, Museo della Liberazione, Via Rasello and then lunch at L'archetto. The lunch on Saturday was definitely one of my top 3 meals in Italy. The place is famous because they have 100 types of spaghetti. We had appertivos, spaghetti of our choise, wine, and dessert. It was fantastic. 6 types of bruschetta! (pronounce it bru-sketta, or they'll kill you)

Fosse Ardeatine - the caves where the Germans massacred 335 Italians as a reprisal for the partisan attack on Via Rasella was our first stop. We worked in reverse chronological order. First we saw the caves, cemetery, and memorial for the reprisal for the attack. Then we saw the Nazi prison were those murdered at the caves were held, and then we saw the street on which the attack took place. There were still bullet holes in the sides of the buildings.

Via Rasella - where the partisan attack took place. Communist students filled a metal garbage bin with TNT and set it off as the German soldiers walked through the street.

Bullet holes from some of the partisans that opened fire on the Germans.

Not a very uplifting trip, but I certainly learned a lot. After lunch we were free for the afternoon, and I spent it with a few girls wandering the gardens at Villa Borghese.

Tomorrow brings Calcio playoffs. After Team Chocolato's upset of the semester last week, (we beat the #2 ranked team, some thought it couldn't be done..) we are set in the brackets against Team Orange. Results to come. There was another broken leg last week... I'll do my best to avoid injury.

Holy Weekend

I spent Holy Thursday with my super-cool room mate Kristen. She is awesome, I don't think I could have lucked out any more with my living situation.

On Good Friday (now known as Great Friday), I went to the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum and was able to get my first peak at Pope Benedict. We were very close and the weather was beautiful.

Lots of people out and about. We were there about 3 hours early and met up with a bunch of people from the JFRC.

Where Pope Benedict stood and spoke, I don't have a great picture of him.

A bunch of JFRC-ers in the crowd.

Then on Saturday we joined the line at 3:00 p.m. for the Easter Vigil mass having already reserved tickets back in January. We went in a big group and were some of the first people there which was nice. The following picture is my room mate Kristen and I taking a gelato break in front of the Vatican doors.

As the doors opened at 7:30 it was madness. Thousands of people were running, screaming and pushing to get into St. Peter's. Nuns, priests, deacons, and hundreds of sneaky seminarians were cutting ME in line. You would think a bunch of honest Catholics would honor a line on EASTER. No. We ended up being in the back of St. Peter's, but at least we were able to get seats. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience I do not ever need to repeat. Very frustrating.

10,000 people were let in for the 4 hour Latin Easter Vigil. Here is my last picture of the seats outside - they probably had a better view of the Pope than I did, but he walked right past us up and down the isle!

Saturday was a beautiful day to be outside. The school gave students tickets for the 10:30 a.m. mass Easter Sunday... it poured the whole 3 hours that they waited. As nothing was open yesterday, I ate my Easter Feast at a local Chinese restaurant. It was definitely an Easter to remember. Last night we screened Angels and Demons in one of the classrooms which was very exciting to recognize all of the streets, monuments, and churches right here in Rome.

Today has been a rainy sweatpants/laundry/homework kind of day. 3 more weeks in Rome.

Hope you all had a Buona Pasqua - Happy Easter.

I definitely missed the Shireys/Denhofs yesterday.

Side note: The girl I volunteer with had her wallet stolen on her way to the Vatican Saturday. I have never been happier about my steal strapped theft-proof purse! (Seen in all of my pictures)

A Series of Awkward Solo Pics from London

After many errors I'm going to post mainly photos from my trip to London last weekend. London was awesome and a ton of fun. The worst part had to be the exchange rate for the British Pound- worse than the Euro! After a few minor problems with our flight back to Rome from London we were on our way Friday morning. British Airways was still on strike, but we had our plane crewed by a different airline.

Friday night in London we were able to get discounted tickets to see Sister Act. It was awesome.

Embarrassing. Self explanatory.

Unfortunately the flag flying meant that the Queen was NOT home, so I didn't get the chance to see her or the handsome princes.

I'm standing in my red coat and hiking shoes (what else is new) - seriously, it looks as if I traveled everywhere in one day. Annnyway, this is where King Henry used to have his jousting tournaments. (Love the Tudors!) This is also where the 2012 Olympic Volleyball games will be played. Fun facts!

Oh ciao Big Ben!

The Tower Bridge.

Sunday we went on a free walking tour of the different palaces and were given a lot of history and then checked out the London Bridge (disappointing), Tower Bridge (Way Cooler), and then the Tower of London which was unfortunately closed.

RIP Anne Boleyn

Orvieto

Last weekend was a much needed weekend in Rome.

On Saturday, about 30 students went on a school sponsored day trip to a neighboring town - Orvieto. It wasn't terribly exciting, but we were given a DELICIOUS and FREE lunch.

We drove about 2 hours by bus and then had to get into this tram to take us to the top of the hill/mountain.

View from Orvieto ^ and Brendan tempting fate.

My friends Ryan (LeMoyne) Brendan (John Carroll) and Mike at the top

Sweet Cathedral in Orvieto

(Nick that's the sweatshirt I bought you..)

We were back by dinner time and headed to my first Roma game!

The game was a ton of fun and our section was FULL of JFRC-ers.

(Mike is pictured way top left in blue)

I'm the only one not in a Roma shirt-

(Nick I'm again wearing the blue Italia jersey I bought ya :)

The girl behind me, was wearing a Yesterdog sweatshirt recently,

and I found out she went to City High. Small world.

I go to Rome and meet Grand Rapidians.

VICTORY!

DUBLIN

This is my last Spring Break post - promise.

Dublin had undoubtably the nicest atmosphere and people of the 3 countries we explored. AND they spoke English - but it had to have been the hardest of the 3 accents to understand.

Friday morning Mike and I arrived in Dublin - as RyanAir is based in Dublin we did not have a 2 hour shuttle into the city like we did in Barcelona and Paris. The weather was gorgeous and we were given towels at our hostel - bonus. Took much needed showers and headed to the Guinness Storehouse. Dublin is home to both the Guinness Storehouse and Jameson Distillery.

The Guinness Storehouse is the tallest building in Dublin, and after finding out all about the founding of the Guinness Factory, Arthur Guinness, and how it is made/brewed, we were given a free Guinness on the top floor overlooking the city. Undoubtably the freshest Guinness I'll ever have.

Dublin was in no way the 'prettiest' city that we saw, but I loved it.

Saturday was a Rugby day-

Wales vs. Ireland

Six Nations

The game was awesome. Our seats were incredible.

Both of our first experiences of professional rugby.

And... Ireland won!

Sunday we wandered around before our flight,

bought our souvenirs, and saw Trinity College.

All in all, best. spring break. ever.

This weekend seems to be the J-Force weekend for Dublin.

At least 20+ people headed to Ireland including my room mate and the rugby boys.

I am headed to London, and thanks to the British Airways strike, will not be back until Monday! I watched Harry Potter 1 in preparation as King's Cross will be on my agenda. (embarrassing)

Paris (Belated)

After getting into Paris very very late at night, we found our way to our hostel thanks to Anne Marie and Nick navigating us about the metro system. Here is a picture of our hostel called the "Young and Happy" haha.

Atleast Nick was happy! I wanted some sleep..

We woke up bright and early and Anne Marie and Nick took a water bus tour, and Mike and I went on a free English tour by the same company that gave us our Munich tour. We both saw all the sights and learned a lot about Paris. There was so much to see! My student visa was able to get me into the Louvre for free, and we were told it would get us in free to Versailles, but the workers in Versailles were not as accommodating with our lack of mastery of the French language.

The Mona Lisa was very secure. And SMALL!

These few pictures really do not do Paris justice.

It was awesome.

The next day, we met up at the Hard Rock

and said our good byes as Anne Marie and Nick were off to Venice.

Pictured: Ice Water

Not Pictured: Cherries

-------------------

Mike and I spent the afternoon at Versailles - which was awesome.

King Louis became King at the age of 5, and grew up very paranoid.

He moved the whole court out to Versailles - all the nobles.

The palace, grounds and gardens were absolutely huge.

SB Part 2 - Barcelona!

You're supposed to be able to see the Mediterranean from there!

Very early Sunday morning, the four of us headed to Barcelona and arrived around noon. We had our first RyanAir experience - which is one I never want to repeat. 3/4 flights were on time over spring break, but RyanAir is nothing but organized chaos. No seat assignments makes for an interesting free for all. Our hostel was great! Just off the main strip Las Ramblas. We wandered for most of the day and Mike acted as our tour guide as he had been there before. Monday we woke up early to do a hop-on hop-off bus tour. As soon as the tour started, it began to snow! Barcelona sees snow about once every 6 years and we were there that one day. A couple inches ended up sticking to the ground making the bus ride interesting. They eventually cancelled our tour, which was fine because we had seen the two main stops that we were interested in - Gaudi's Park Guell and Familia Segrada.

Tuesday however was beautiful! Sunny with a high of 75. No joke.

We walked to the beach and tried so paella (not a fan..) and explored until our flight Tuesday night to Paris.

Mike and the paella. ^^

Today is a beautiful day in Roma, and I'm headed on a day trip to Orvieto tomorrow.

Calcio news - our star player tore her ACL in our game on Wed. after getting a hattrick.

I have unbelievable bruises from this week's game.

But my team chocolate prevailed over team purple.

Ciao, Lex