Our Second Day in Rome

Our second day in Rome was incredible! The students will be sharing their own descriptions here on the blog in the very near future but for tonight, they just need some time to rest their feet and get a good night of sleep to be ready for tomorrow. 

Today included: 

-A trip to the local market to buy food items for their picnic lunches that they ate at the Vatican

-A private tour of the Necropolis excavation below the Vatican

-A full afternoon at the Vatican Museum including some time gazing up at the unforgettable Sistine Chapel ceiling

-A walk through St. Peter's Basilica 

-Trevor's favorite Gelato in Rome after dinner with an evening stroll past the  (unfortunately under construction) Trevi Fountain

Some pictures:

Buying food at the market stalls. 

In front of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. 

A private tour of the Necropolis archeological excavation below the Vatican.

Trevor guides us through the sculpture in the Vatican Museum.

Michelangelo's Pietà in St. Peter's Basilica.

Gelato to end the night!

The Market--A photo journal by Kelli

There is a market across the street from Casa La Salle where we buy food for picnic lunches.  One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to photograph the beauty of the local food.  Below is a collection of the fruits and vegetables on display when we visited this morning. 

The Colosseum

The Roman Forum in Black and White

Photos of the Roman Forum by Kelli Pleskac

The Roman Forum

Our first destination of the day was the Roman Forum. We arrived early in the morning and it felt like we had this awe-inspiring space all to ourselves. Below are some pictures of our time there. 

Reading the Latin Inscriptions

It was Harry's turn to give a presentation to the group about his assigned topic--the Arch of Septimius Severus (behind him).

Trevor and his favorite pillar made of porphory in the So-Called Temple of Romulus. 

The First Day--Words and Photos by Lucie

Today was our first day of sightseeing! We started out in the Roman Forum, it was amazing to see the size of everything! And the intricate details in the columns and walls. My favorite part of the forum was being able to look out on top of it and imagine it how it was really supposed to look 2000ish years ago, with people walking around, shopping and going about their daily lives. 

Next we walked to the Colosseum, we had the chance to get a snack and bathroom break, 1€ for the bagno! Ugh. Trevor new a guy or something so we didn't have to stand in line. Thx! The colosseum was FAB. On the first level we were so close to where all the action and fighting would have been... Scary! Then when you went up a level you were able to appreciate all the work that must have gone into creating such a big space. Actually finally being IN the Colosseum is so much better than just looking at the pictures! It makes you understand what it must have actually been like to be a roman citizen. It was such a great start to our trip!

-Lucie 

First Impressions-By Zeyad

Zeyad and a few fellow travelers enjoy the Roman Forum. 

​         When we arrived in Italy, we immediately noticed the obvious transition from Seattle to Rome. This evident shift included a wide variety of tourists from several different countries, including Russia, New Zealand, Australia, France, and England. We also recognized the humid climate, the crazy drivers on the streets and their reluctance to follow the rules, as well as Latin inscriptions and signs that we were able to read through our knowledge that we have learned from our fearless leader, Trevor, thus far. As we drove to Casa La Salle, I couldn't help but notice the two-story McDonald's on the side of the street, the size of a grocery store. That isn't something you see every day in Seattle.

​As we pulled up to Casa La Salle, most of us were quite surprised by its small size. However, once we walked inside, we realized how homey and welcoming it was, which gave us a sneak peek of the hospitable nature in Rome. After setting down our luggage and waiting until we came up with a plan for dinner, we decided to eat in the hotel, where we walked down a hallway and into a room. We were then greeted by a waiter, who had set up two tables specifically for our group. On these tables, there were plates of veal cutlets, al dente pasta, and pizza. This was probably the best food I have ever been served at a hotel. I was grateful that we were able to enjoy authentic Italian cuisine on our first night in Italy. It was very nice to be able to rest and dine on a tasty dinner after having travelled for roughly thirteen hours that day. As we walked up to our rooms and prepared to get some rest, we couldn't help but think about what else Rome has in store for us.

We made it to Rome!

After some wind delays in London we have finally made it to Rome and are resting comfortably at Casa La Salle. 

Since our arrival was later than planned, we decided to keep it simple and had a great dinner at the restaurant here at the hotel. 

We are a sleepy bunch, looking forward to a full night of rest to prepare us for our first big day touring some of the most notable sites in Rome tomorrow. 

Happy travelers at Casa La Salle, Rome. 

Traveling

We made it smoothly out of Sea-Tac and are happy to report that we have arrived in London. We are currently getting some food to refresh us while we wait for the next flight to Rome. We are looking forward to the next leg of our journey! 

Departing Sea-Tac on Saturday night.

Transferring to our next terminal in London's Heathrow Airport Sunday morning. 

Getting Ready to Go--Money Belt Madness!

We are only 9 short days away from our departure for Overlake Latin Ancient Field Studies 2015!  The students and leaders have been working hard in club meeting time to get ready for this adventure.

Part of our  time has been dedicated to learning travel safety and how smart travellers can protect themselves from theft.  It is required that all students come on the trip with a money belt or under-shirt pouch to protect their most important items from the easy reach of pickpockets.

Students who arrived to club today with money belts ready were rewarded with their first 20€ bill (their first 2 days lunch and snack allowance) to store in this safe location.

Not to worry!  Those who are still shopping for that perfect money belt can bring it to Kelli this week to earn their allowance as well.

The consensus among students was that wearing a money belt was much less of a hassle and more comfortable than imagined--and knowing that our valuables are kept in a safe location also brings us great comfort while travelling!