Friday, May 22, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Day 10 - Ciao Roma!
We all woke up at 7:15 AM, a little later than normal. We had our suitcases packed, and we went down into the lobby for one final delicious breakfast at the Kolbe Hotel in Rome. This beautiful 4-star hotel had a full-fleged breakfast complete with pastries, cappuccino machines, and bread rolls. We all ate our fill, and departed on our bus for Fiumicino Airport, not a long ride. As we departed, our tour guide Nick gave us some final details about Rome. The ride was only 30 minutes, a lot faster than we expected. When we arrived, we said our final goodbyes to Nick, and some unexpected tears pretruded. We watched as our suitcases filled with liquor, wine, and souvenirs passed through security, and we walked for what seemed like forever through the airport. When we finally got onto our hot and stuffy plane, the majority of us were probably anxious to get home. Yet when our flight departed, and we got our final glimpse of Rome, the Eternal City, we all felt a sense of loss and emotion. Those final images of Rome will forever remain in all our hearts. This is a trip we will never forget. We are all glad to have shared it with one another.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Day 9 February 20, 2009
Day 9 February 20, 2009
Today was an early day. Wake up call was at 6am… fun right? Breakfast was at seven and we had to leave at 7:30 to go to the Vatican. The group squeezed into a public bus due to the departure of Daniele the bus driver. During our tour of the Vatican we walked around the whole area and stopped at every spot to learn the interesting history of the Vatican. Sadly it was freezing cold and very windy which made it even worse. We also walked around St. Peter’s square and Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel. Then later on we had lunch at the Campo dei Fiori and walked by the Spanish Steps. We then headed to Piazza Colonna to see the Pantheon and for two hours of shopping. We went to the hotel to refresh and walked to L’insalata Ricca, which is located in Trastevere, a very trendy area of Rome on the other side of the Tiber River for dinner. We walked by the Tiberina island where the hospital Fratelli Fatebene is, walked over the oldest bridge in Rome—the Ponte Tiberino, and came back to the hotel for the night to pack. We loved Rome and we will miss Italy a lot.
See you tomorrow!
Submitted By:
Matt Surace
Robert Geitz
Alex Hurd
Today was an early day. Wake up call was at 6am… fun right? Breakfast was at seven and we had to leave at 7:30 to go to the Vatican. The group squeezed into a public bus due to the departure of Daniele the bus driver. During our tour of the Vatican we walked around the whole area and stopped at every spot to learn the interesting history of the Vatican. Sadly it was freezing cold and very windy which made it even worse. We also walked around St. Peter’s square and Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel. Then later on we had lunch at the Campo dei Fiori and walked by the Spanish Steps. We then headed to Piazza Colonna to see the Pantheon and for two hours of shopping. We went to the hotel to refresh and walked to L’insalata Ricca, which is located in Trastevere, a very trendy area of Rome on the other side of the Tiber River for dinner. We walked by the Tiberina island where the hospital Fratelli Fatebene is, walked over the oldest bridge in Rome—the Ponte Tiberino, and came back to the hotel for the night to pack. We loved Rome and we will miss Italy a lot.
See you tomorrow!
Submitted By:
Matt Surace
Robert Geitz
Alex Hurd
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Day 8 February 19, 2009
Day 8 February 19, 2009
This morning we had a 6:30 wake up call and a 7:30 breakfast. After breakfast we left our hotel in Sorrento for a 4 hour bus ride to Rome. We arrived in Rome around 12:30 and dropped our luggage off at the luxurious four star Kolbe Hotel. We then walked into town, and broke into groups for a lunch. After lunch we went on a tour of the Colosseo and then of the Forum. After our tour we returned to the beautiful hotel to freshen up, unpack, and then met in the lobby for a delicious dinner at the hotel. Finally, we bundled up to go on a walk to the Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain to make wishes by tossing a ten cent Euro from our right hand over our left shoulders. On the way back to the hotel, we saw numerous other landmarks, took a lot of pictures, and of course had gelato at the famous San Crispino YUMMY! Lastly, we returned to the hotel to get some rest before our last day in Italy tomorrow.
Submitted By:
Teresa Falbo
Sara LeDuc
Devan Yoder
This morning we had a 6:30 wake up call and a 7:30 breakfast. After breakfast we left our hotel in Sorrento for a 4 hour bus ride to Rome. We arrived in Rome around 12:30 and dropped our luggage off at the luxurious four star Kolbe Hotel. We then walked into town, and broke into groups for a lunch. After lunch we went on a tour of the Colosseo and then of the Forum. After our tour we returned to the beautiful hotel to freshen up, unpack, and then met in the lobby for a delicious dinner at the hotel. Finally, we bundled up to go on a walk to the Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain to make wishes by tossing a ten cent Euro from our right hand over our left shoulders. On the way back to the hotel, we saw numerous other landmarks, took a lot of pictures, and of course had gelato at the famous San Crispino YUMMY! Lastly, we returned to the hotel to get some rest before our last day in Italy tomorrow.
Submitted By:
Teresa Falbo
Sara LeDuc
Devan Yoder
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Day 7 February 18, 2009
C’era una volta, as the Italians would say, in a land called Italy… it began to rain, a lot. Morning call on this day was at 6:30 and started in Sorrento. We arrived at breakfast at 7:15 in order to be ready to leave at 8:00 sharp. We drove along the winding road of the Sorrentine peninsula, with a beautiful seaward view towards Pompeii. Upon our arrival the weather took a turn for the worst. The warm sunny day that we were looking forward to, ended up turning into a cold and wet morning. We were greeted at the gate by a man selling umbrellas, what a lifesaver! Our visit to Pompeii was cut short by the rain, but we were still able to learn about the Roman life from over 2000 years ago thanks to our wonderful guide Massimo. There was also an incredibly cute stray pup named Scampers. Our trip to Capri ended up NONEXISTANT as there was inclement weather, *Booooooooooooo!* Instead we decided to enjoy a stroll around the small streets of Sorrento where our hotel was located. For dinner we enjoyed a wonderful meal at La Taverna Dell’800, where we sang Italian songs as Ignasio played his guitar. We also celebrated Donna’s 17th birthday at the restaurant.
Submitted by:
Anthony DiCostanzo
Michael Iacono
Tyler DiMarco
C’era una volta, as the Italians would say, in a land called Italy… it began to rain, a lot. Morning call on this day was at 6:30 and started in Sorrento. We arrived at breakfast at 7:15 in order to be ready to leave at 8:00 sharp. We drove along the winding road of the Sorrentine peninsula, with a beautiful seaward view towards Pompeii. Upon our arrival the weather took a turn for the worst. The warm sunny day that we were looking forward to, ended up turning into a cold and wet morning. We were greeted at the gate by a man selling umbrellas, what a lifesaver! Our visit to Pompeii was cut short by the rain, but we were still able to learn about the Roman life from over 2000 years ago thanks to our wonderful guide Massimo. There was also an incredibly cute stray pup named Scampers. Our trip to Capri ended up NONEXISTANT as there was inclement weather, *Booooooooooooo!* Instead we decided to enjoy a stroll around the small streets of Sorrento where our hotel was located. For dinner we enjoyed a wonderful meal at La Taverna Dell’800, where we sang Italian songs as Ignasio played his guitar. We also celebrated Donna’s 17th birthday at the restaurant.
Submitted by:
Anthony DiCostanzo
Michael Iacono
Tyler DiMarco
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Day - 5 Florence-San Gimignano-Siena
Day 5 February 16, 2009
Today we received our wake up call at 6:15am and were ready for breakfast at 7:15am.
At 8:00am, we were on our way to a fun filled day looking at historic land figures such as the 16th century statue of Neptune, Perseus holding Medusa's detached Head, Palazzo Vecchio located in Florence. In addition, the statue named the rape of the Sabine women. After spending the morning elucidating ourselves on the wonderful artistry of these structures we headed out for our lunch at the beautiful medieval town of San Gimignano in which only 17 towers out of exist today! Wow huh? J We visited the Agriturismo-Fattoria Poggio Alloro where we enjoyed typical Tuscan dishes of which products were produced right there in their farm. Mmmm..delizioso.
Following our scrumptious meal our great bus driver Daniele took us to the hilltop city of Siena where we looked at Church called the Duomo built in the 13th century.
Submitted by:
Claudia Mendoza
Nicole Gannon
Diana Newman
J yeyyyyy
Today we received our wake up call at 6:15am and were ready for breakfast at 7:15am.
At 8:00am, we were on our way to a fun filled day looking at historic land figures such as the 16th century statue of Neptune, Perseus holding Medusa's detached Head, Palazzo Vecchio located in Florence. In addition, the statue named the rape of the Sabine women. After spending the morning elucidating ourselves on the wonderful artistry of these structures we headed out for our lunch at the beautiful medieval town of San Gimignano in which only 17 towers out of exist today! Wow huh? J We visited the Agriturismo-Fattoria Poggio Alloro where we enjoyed typical Tuscan dishes of which products were produced right there in their farm. Mmmm..delizioso.
Following our scrumptious meal our great bus driver Daniele took us to the hilltop city of Siena where we looked at Church called the Duomo built in the 13th century.
Submitted by:
Claudia Mendoza
Nicole Gannon
Diana Newman
J yeyyyyy
Day 6 - Assisi/Sorrento
Wake-up call this morning was at 6:00 AM, early for all of us. The day that lay ahead was long and exausting, but was well worth it. We left our hotel in Florence, Hotel de la Pace, and took an hour bus ride to Assisi. What is Assisi you ask? Assisi is home to the famous Basilica of St. Francis, a famous preacher. His remains are buried under an altar in the famous Romanesque-style church. There are actually three different churches. The first one, under the ground, houses St. Francis' remains in an altar. This church is actually a tomb. The walls are covered with beautiful fresco paintings by Giotto depicting St. Francis and other biblical images. The second church is on entry level, and also houses beautiful frescos. The third church is meant to show visitors that there can be a beautiful afterlife in heaven. It is higher and even more spectacular than the other two churches. After receiving a tour by a Franciscan Monk, we departed on our bus for what would be a long 5-hour bus ride to Sorrento. En route we saw the shadowy figure of Mount Vesuvius in the distance, where it has stood dormant for many centuries after burying Pompeii; however, we will be visiting Pompeii tomorrow. After a long exhausting bus ride, we made it to the Hotel Villa Maria in Sorrento, after driving through Naples. It has been a long day, but the views we saw on our bus were well worth it.
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