Coming Home

It's been a great ten days, but I think everyone is looking forward to the trip home tomorrow, although not the 4:30 wakeup call.   We spent the day on Capri and like every other day of the trip, the weather was perfect.  I did require one last hike to a Roman ruin, the Villa Jovis of the emperor Tiberius.  The walk was hard but the views of the bay were spectacular.  After a long lunch in a restaurant with windows looking down over the island and the sea, we all had some last time for shopping and gelato.

 

The ride home reminded us of the difficulty of everyday life in Naples.  We took nearly two hours in traffic for a 45 minute trip.  We arrived home tired, but the Sgariglia family had a feast prepared for our final meal in Italy (not counting airline food).  Now everyone is packed and off to an early bed for the long day ahead.

The Epic Continues...

As Helios, the sun god, drove his chariot across the infinite heavens, we again ventured on our cosmic journey to Paestum where we set our gaze upon a trio of sybaritic, colossal, Hellenistic temples.  We divided and conquered our grumbling stomachs with a vast array of edibles.  With full bellies and tired limbs, we reboarded the bus and headed for the illustrious city of Naples.  As our bus driver elegantly wove his way through the labrynth of tumultuous traffic, we anticipated our long-awaited arrival at the National Archaeological Museum.  There we took our fill of mammoth statues, intricate mosaics and myriad artifacts.  We are now back at the villa enjoying some well-deserved relaxation before another home-cooked dinner of the finest Italian cuisine.  Stay tuned for a continuation of the epic tomorrow after we cross the wine-colored sea to Capri.

AN EPIC RECAP

When Dawn with her rosy red fingers crept upon the villa, we set out on
an epic odyssey to the lost city of Pompeii where the ancient ruins of
a civilization once submerged under volcanic ash mesmerized our
inquiring minds. Dr. Hartnett satiated our curiosity about the Pompeian
forum, while Ms. Bryant enlightened us with an intensely vivid
description of the bustling theater life and Mr. O'Donnell captivated
us with his entertaining depiction of gladiatorial combat in the oldest
and most well-preserved amphitheater in the known world. Mr. Conti
shared with us his omniscient wisdom about the triangular forum-a
rarity in Rome. After a fabulous morning in Pompeii, we quenched our
thirst and satisfied our hunger at a charming pizzeria. While we were
waiting for our meal, a float fully equipped with wild beasts (plastic)
graced us with its presence. With full stomachs, we journeyed to
Herculaneum where we saw the remains of a city buried in 60 ft of
volcanic debris. On the return voyage back to the villa, we were
surprised by an impromptu visit to a sulfuric volcanic crater which
overwhelmed our olfactory senses with an aroma of rotten eggs. Having
retired back to the villa, we are now resting our weary limbs as we
reflect upon the scintillating experiences of the day.

The epic continues tomorrow...

from alex

We just arrived at the villa in Naples after climbing Mt. Vesuvius this morning. Right now we are sitting in the library playing different games, like Uno and chess.  Everyone is having a great time and is excited to spend the day in Pompeii tomorrow. Ciao.

On top of Vesuvius

I'm writing as we stand along the crater of Mt. Vesuvius. It's a beautiful, clear day, so we can see all across the Bay of Naples. Dr. Hartnett is explaining the eruption of 79, reminding the students about the description we read in Pliny.
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Packing again

It has been an exciting visit to Rome but it's time to get ready for the second part of the trip. We visited two museums earlier today. We started the day at the Vatican where for the first time in many years we were able to see the Augustus Prima Porta.

After one last Roman pizza for lunch and a final visit to the Spanish Steps, we made our way through the park to the Borghese Museum.

Hopefully everyone has used the late afternoon to pack so we can be ready for an early start tomorrow.
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Ostia

The day started with a tour of some impressive churches, S. Maria Maggiore and St. John Lateran. We then walked back through Rome's history at San Clemente which has four levels, from an eleventh-century church to a first-century home.

After a stop at Keats' grave, we took a train to Ostia. I'm sitting in the sun as the students take some time to explore following the formal tour.

Tomorrow is our last day in Rome, just as everyone is becoming comfortable in the city. I expect they'll be excited for a break from the crowds.
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Trajan's Column

Today has provided some excitement and some rest. We started the day in the Imperial Fora and talked about the transition from Republic to Empire as seen in architecture. The high point of the morning was a chance to walk up Trajan's Column for an unparalleled view of the city.

After lunch, we visited several churches, including the Pantheon. We're now all taking a short break for shopping and sitting in piazzas, just like the rest of the Romans.
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A Day in Ancient Rome

Today was spent in Rome's past.  Dr. Hartnett led us on an exciting tour of the Forum and Mr. O'Donnell helped us make sense of the different levels on the Palatine.  After a lunch of pizza, we were all renergized for the trip to the Colosseum.  Ms. Bryant took us through the building,  mixing important architectural details with stories about the exciting events there.

We're taking a coffee break in a piazza before a trip back to the hotel and a well-deserved rest before dinner.

Morning in Tivoli

We were treated to a tour of Hadrian's Villa this morning by Dr. Hartnett. We were dragging a bit at breakfast after a long day on Sunday, but the site was invigorating. Everyone was amazed by the vastness and complexity of the villa. We had a pleasant lunch in Tivoli and now we're off to Licenza for Horace's much more modest villa and the Fons Bandusiae we have read about in Horace's poem.
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Safe in Rome

After a long and uneventful flight, we've arrived safely in Rome. After dropping our bags at our hotel, we will head out on our initial tour of the city.

Everyone is a bit tired, so we'll have a brief rest after lunch. I'll encourage everyone to get in touch somehow soon.
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Warm Weather in Rome

We've seen a return of winter here in Southborough, so it may be cruel to point out what the weather will be in Rome. It is important that everyone pack based on the forecast and it does look like there will be some rain while we're there. Here's the ten-day forecast.

We will depart from the Front Circle at 2:45. If you don't plan to ride with us, please let Mr. Conti or Dr. Hartnett know.

Countdown to Departure

We met last night to discuss some details about the trip. As students come home for midwinter weekend, I hope that they remember to discuss these details with you. In case they miss something, here are the main points:

- Packing. We talked about the weather in Rome and the need for some layers. It won't be so cold that they'll need heavy coats, but they will need a sweater or a fleece along with a raincoat. They will also be in charge of their own luggage, so they should be able to carry everything they bring. Good walking shoes are essential. We'll have an opportunity to do laundry in Rome, so they won't need ten different outfits for the ten days. Checking that they have the proper adapters (voltage and plug) for electorinc devices is important.

- Money. There are lots of options here, but perhaps the easiest is an ATM card and a credit card. As long as you check with both the bank and credit card company before we go, they should be fine. Some banks charge high fees, so you should check that as well. Of course traveler's checks and cash will be fine, of course.

- Readings. Several of you have asked about readings for the trip. We have not asked the students to do anything to prepare, although I did remind them last night that almost all of them studied Rome in Third Form Seminar and that I'll expect them to remember something about buildings they studied. There are historical novels about Rome and Pompeii which students have enjoyed in the past, including those by Stephen Saylor, Robert Harris and Barbara Yourcenar.