The Conclusion to Latin Ancient Field Studies 2017--by Kelli

Julia designed a beautiful page in for us to sign in the guestbook of Villa Vergiliana.

It is difficult to put into words how meaningful the last two weeks of Latin Ancient Field Studies have been to us all.  We fit so many unforgettable experiences into the time we had together, and this Project Week trip was the very definition of experiential education.  

Not only did our students get the chance to make first-hand connections to the material they have studied all these years in their Latin classes, but they were allowed the opportunity to grow as individuals while supporting one another as a cohesive group.  For many students, this was their first time out of the United States, and for almost everyone, their first time exploring new parts of our world with a greater sense of individual responsibility as world travelers.

I personally could not have had a better experience.  These students made us so proud every step of the way and traveling with them was a real honor for the trip leaders. Leading international trips has become one of the most treasured things I do professionally, and I am so happy I had the opportunity to experience Latin Ancient Field Studies 2017 with these wonderful Overlake students. 

Below are some highlight photos from the last part of our travels at the Villa Vergiliana:

Sarah and Kelli with Mina, our wonderful host at Villa Vergiliana who also helped us with coordination of much of the Naples portion of our trip.

Happy to be at the Villa

Mina's parents, who prepared wonderful meals for us each day we were there.

Mina shows us the homemade bread production in the kitchen.

Homemade bread ready for dinner!

Some time to play at the Villa.

View from the rooftop, Roman ruins below, Mediterranean in the distance.

Enjoying the evening view from the rooftop.

Villa life.

Time to relax at sunset on the Villa rooftop.

This we will miss--A final cappuccino in Capri.

Paestum by Weston

Text by Weston, photos by Kelli

Our group at Paestum

Today the Ancient Field Studies group had a bit of an easier day. We started with switching hotels, then went on to Paestum, following that with a 2 hour, 4 course lunch before returning to Villa Vergiliana.

We started off our day a bit early, with a breakfast of croissants, toast, and espresso. Additionally, we had orange flavored Fanta, since the store where our hosts bought the ingredients was out of orange juice. The group brought our luggage outside and loaded it onto the bus. Somehow we were able to fit all of it despite the original plan being to take the luggage and then the students to the villa in 2 separate trips. 

Once we arrived at the Villa Vergiliana, the students spent a couple minutes getting some a sweet, sweet wifi dosage after going for 3 days without it. 

Arriving at the Villa Vergiliana

The Villa Vergiliana

After spending a few minutes catching up with the outside world, we loaded back onto the bus for a 2 hour drive south to Paestum. Along the way we were greeted by spectacular vistas of the Italian coast near Salerno. After a bit more driving, the group arrived in Paestum.

Paestum

Paestum is a Greek colony near the Italian West Coast, originally founded in the 6th century B.C.E. by exiles from the Greek colony of Syberis. The colony's major industry was that of lumber, as the pine trees that grow nearby were used for shipbuilding. However, the colony began to decline after they deforested the area, until it was conquered by the Romans in the 3rd century B.C.E. Paestum is best known for its 3 Greek style temples.

We arrived, first visiting the nearby museum built to house artifacts discovered in Paestum. There, the group saw the Fresco of the Diver, one of the only complete and undamaged archaic Greek frescoes. It was part of a tomb from the 5th century B.C.E., showing a person diving into a river, metaphorically representing the afterlife. The group also observed many different artifacts from the site, including intricate terra cotta pottery. 

Artifacts at the museum in Paestum

Weston enjoys the museum

Exploring the museum in Paestum

The famous Diver fresco

After the museum, the Greg gave the group a tour of the actual ruins. We first visited the North Temple, dedicated to the Greek god Athena. Next, we visited the Heroon, a temple dedicated to a local hero of the area. This one at Paestum was dedicated to the founder of the colony, but his name has been lost to history. Next, we visited the temple of Hera 2 and temple of Hera 1. They are named such because it is not actually known which Greek gods these temples were dedicated to. The temple of Hera 1, the southernmost, has an interesting construction, with an odd number of columns on the shorter sides, suggesting that the temple was actually divided into 2 separate sections, each with different uses. Hera 1 seems to be dedicated to 2 gods, the first of which is Hera, the second of which is unknown, but possibly Poseidon. The temple of Hera 2 is the largest of the 3 temples, with an extra layer of columns surrounding the Cella, or inner sanctuary of the temple. Having circumambulated around them, we got the chance to enter into the temple of Hera 2 to see it up close. Finally, the group explored the amphitheater, which was sadly only half uncovered due to a modern road's being directly on top of the other half! 

Our group learns about the history of Paestum from Greg

Exploring Paestum

After finishing with Paestum, the group went to a local farm for a spectacular 4 course formal lunch. 

The Agriturismo Azienda Seliano outside of Paestum where we had lunch

Weston enjoys the anitpasti plate

A great meal

After dessert we are a happy group

The antipasti consisted of a charcuterie plate, with fresh prosciutto, grilled artichokes, buffalo mozzarella and ricotta cheeses, as well as a savory pastry filled with vegetables. The primi plati was a simple gnocchi dish with a pomodoro sauce and Parmesan cheese, the gnocchi being so light and fluffy. Our secondi plati was a simple beef stake with grilled vegetables in olive oil, finally followed by a chocolate amaretto cake. The meal, as is always done in fine dining, was finished with a shot of espresso.

Espresso for the group!

Espresso

Espresso

Espresso

Once lunch had been completed, the group then went on a short tour of the water buffalo farm, where our the milk for our cheeses eaten during lunch was produced. We began by seeing the bull buffalo, then moved on to see the calves, and female, milk bearing buffalo. 

Visiting the water buffalo farm

Water buffalo

Newborn water buffalo

Water buffalo

After the buffalo farm tour, we began the drive back to Naples. After arriving at the Villa Vergiliana, the group settled in before dinner, and ended their day with a relaxing chill out time on full and satisfied stomachs.

Dinner back at the Villa Vergiliana

After-dinner tea and coffee in the Villa

Our last day spent in Capri by Michael

Text by Michael, photos by Kelli

Waiting for the ferry to Capri on the dock of Naples

Today we visited the Island of Capri. The main thing I was excited to see was the classic element of the island, however it turned out to have so much more to offer.

In the morning we rode the hydrofoil out to the island, which was a completely new experience for me. It was so unsettling to be going so fast and nearly not even feel like you are moving. When we finally reached the island, my stomach was completely out of whack, and I could hardly stand. As I write this on the way back to Naples, I can only hope that it will be better this time. 

Arriving at Capri after disembarking the hydrofoil ferry

Capri

After arriving to the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen, we got off the hydrofoil and immediately boarded a tiny bus, packed in like sardines. I was so nervous as we wound up the hills. The was road barely even wide enough to fit one American car, but somehow passing busses were able to squeeze by one and other. Looking out the windows, I saw the indescribably blue waters of the Mediterranean. 

The view from the bus on winding roads of the marina below

Once we arrived to the small hillside town where we spent most of the day, we were really able to get a sense for the feel of the area.

The streets of Capri

Capri continues to be a higher-end place to live, something that has not changed since the time of the Roman Emperors. This isn't surprising, considering the incredible views we had all over the island. However, one in particular took the cake.

In order to get to one of Tiberius' palaces at the top of a mountain, we had to ride a rickety, one-person chairlift. Personally, I had no trouble because I used to ski on a team, but some other members of the group were pretty nervous. 

The start of the chairlift up the mountain

I think I can speak for everyone when I say that it was worth it at the top. We could see for miles in every direction, and it felt like we were the rulers of the sea. I didn't think it was possible for a view to command such power.

The view from the top

The view of the island from the top of Monte Solaro

After having a light packed lunch overlooking the island and the surrounding seas, we went back down the chairlift, and spent the rest of the day wandering through the town, enjoying the beautiful ocean air and sunshine. 

Coming back down to Anacapri from on the chairlift

Coming back down to Anacapri from on the chairlift

Michael rides the chairlift down the mountain and over private, terraced gardens

I had an incredible time on the whole trip, and the trip to Capri was the icing on the cake.

Time for a snack in the main plaza of Capri

The view from Capri

Capri by Emily

Text by Emily, photos by Kelli

The view from the top of Mount Solaro, Capri

After getting a solid 6 hours of sleep, the last day in Italy was upon us. While going to breakfast with mixed feelings about leaving the next day, we knew that today was going to be one of the most anticipated and best ones yet. At least for me it was. We were heading to the Isle of CAPRI by hydrofoil. After breakfast and the 45 minute bus ride of napping, we approached the ferry terminal where we were to wait for about a half an hour. The group stopped at some gift shops and picked up the last minute presents for the family and before we knew it, it was time to go to Capri.

The hydrofoil ferry ride consisted of listening to music with friends and staring out the window majestically to the Mediterranean while pretending that we were in a part of a music video. I know we have all been there. As the island approached, it was just like what I thought it was going to be. Sometimes when you see pictures on google images of iconic tourist destinations like Capri, you think to yourself "there's just no way that's what it actually looks like," basking in the sun in all its glory of white hillside houses overgrown with lush greenery and the crystal clear blue Mediterranean, but to our disbelief, that's what it actually looked like. 

The Marina at Capri

After unloading the ferry, taken aback by where we were, I saw each one of our sunkissed faces with smiles from ear to ear. I knew for sure this was going to be one of the best days yet. While on the island, the only way to get up to the little squares filled with cafes and shops was to take a tiny bus up the windiest rode you could ever imagine. The funicular was closed for water damage. The bus was filled to the brim with people so close to the point of exploding and as soon as you think that there isn't any way possible more people can fit in it, 20 more people squished into the small bus with very minimal seating. Take the questionable bus plus a road that in America would have been one way street, but here, it's a two way. Two buses coming at each other on a very thin road literally about to hit each other. A recipe for disaster. Basically what I've taken away from that experience is that Italians just don't really care. You feel like you're being thrown around like a rag doll in an uncomfortable and sweaty bus with a minor headache from the heat and the movement, but looking out the window to the sun glistening uptown the Mediterranean immediately draws your  attention away from anything else that might be happening. 

Emily on the bus

The views from the bus ride up the mountain were incredible.

When we unloaded the bus kissing the ground feeling so thankful that we we out, we got told the news that there was going to be ANOTHER bus up to this chairlift to the top. The chairlift was up to the highest point of the island where Tiberius the second emperor created a lookout where you can see the entire island. The chairlift to the top had individual seats taking each tourist up to the viewpoint. At first, I was very nervous about going up the chairlift because the whole heights thing isn't really my thing, but as I sat down all by myself, all I could hear was the birds chirping in the sun and a full view of the sea and Capri right below me. 

The views of the island from the chairlift

This turned out to be my favorite part of the whole day. After being with a group of 19 for two weeks straight, 10 minutes of utter silence was quite nice. It was a time to think, reflect on everything that we have seen this trip, and take in the scenery around us knowing that we might not ever be here again. When we got to the lookout, it was incredible views of not only the island itself, but the surrounding islands as well. After taking a picnic lunch break and learning some history behind the lookout, we headed back down the mountain for some time to explore the towns of Anacapri and Capri. 

A picnic lunch at the top

We had the opportunity to do some shopping and hang out with friends and embrace our last hours together. Before coming on this trip, I was not very good friends with most people on the trip but as the trip progressed and we began to spend more and more time with one another, I met some people and made some wonderful friends I wouldn't have gotten the opportunity to make otherwise. I got some chocolate and lemon gelato (a classic combination told to us by Sarah that changed my life) and did some last minute shopping for my close family and friends and went into the most high-end expensive shopping knowing that I couldn't buy anything but pretending like I could. As the day wrapped up, with nostalgic faces, we boarded the ferry again and headed back to Villa Vergiliana to pack all of our stuff for the early morning tomorrow and getting our last time with each other before we depart. After all the unforgettable memories I've made on this trip, I'm leaving a part of my heart in Italy.

Emily in Capri