Week Two

So classes started up, and they all seem like they'll be very interesting. I'm taking Italian, painting on paper, Italian design (art history) and digital imaging. For my italian design class and painting on paper classes, we've already taken field trips. On Thursday for italian design, we went to a neighborhood of Rome near the Bourghese Gardens that had really fancy-shmancy decorated buildings (but I completely forget what that neighborhood was called!)

Yesterday (Friday) my painting on paper class along with the sketchbook classes went to Tuscania, another medieval hill town. First we stopped at a church outside of town to do a painting, it was really beautiful- called San Pietro (google San Pietro in Tuscania for more offical images)

san pietro & medieval towers


this is the nice scene i butchered in my painting!


my palette.
made of a busted moped windshield that i found on the street in rome


this was the coolest goat i've ever seen. i think
i was the only one who even noticed him.

After doing a painting at San Pietro, we went into the town of Tuscania across the valley and had lunch. I had my first authentic pasta- fetuccini with spinich (mmm!) and a steak which was... interesting... about a quarter inch thick and well done. Better off sticking to thick juicy steaks in the US! :) After lunch we painted the landscape of the valley with the church in the distance. I, again, butchered it with paint! But the view was fantastic.

Today I got up early and wandered around Rome by myself for the day. I started at a "flea market," which was pretty much just tables and tables of clothes for just a few euro each. I bought a sweater, scarf & necklace. :)

flea market at san giovanni

After the flea market I decided to go explorin, and I just ended up walking in a giant circle! It was a beautiful day though so I didn't mind. I hopped on the metro and went up towards one of the shopping areas. As I was walking I saw a sign for an art museum that was having a Pop Art (1956-1968) exhibit, so I went. Interesting enough, I saw some works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Richard Hamilton and others. I managed to get yelled at twice, once for not noticing the dotted line which stuck out about two feet from the paintings - I stood inside the line for about 30 seconds and didn't notice the alarm going off and the museum guard yelling at me in Italian. The other time I got caught taking a picture. Oh well.

Lichtenstein (Pistol)

The museum did have a good view from the top, though.

On the left, Vittoriano- dubbed "The Wedding Cake" "typewriter"
and "false teeth" by the Romans.
Well, it is pretty gaudy.

After checking out the exhibit, I continued my wandering- and eventually stumbled upon the Trevi fountain. Very nice! I didn't make a wish yet, but I know I'll be back.

I also saw the Pantheon (oldest building in Rome) for the first time. It was really peaceful inside, despite the hoard of tourists.

All in all it was a very enjoyable day. I think I'm beginning to see what its really like to live the Roman life. The Romans really have a relaxed lifestyle, even though you don't really notice right away since there's so much crazy traffic and tourists. I felt like one today as I was able to stroll casually, no time restrictions or worries, and absorb the city, culture and history around me. I like this place.