Paris

The long weekend in Paris went by like a flash. I must admit my time in the city of love was spoiled by a stomach bug that kept me debilitated for most of the trip, and so, the highs were high and the lows were low.
Nonetheless I managed to come out of Paris enjoying the famous sights and atmosphere that the city is known all over the world for. As cliche as it sounds, I was in Paris, on Valentine's day. And it at night the city was exploding with excitement as I headed to the PSG soccer arena for an Avicii concert. I also hit all the highlights while I before becoming bedridden, including the Louvre, Versailles, the Eiffel Tower.
The concert was the loudest and largest of the kind I've ever attended, and at some point I managed to find myself at the front of thousands of people while being slightly scorched by the flamethrowers and stunts on stage. The music might have been a little too loud for mom's approval?
Before going to the Louvre I hadn't the slightest idea about the museum or the pieces of art that inhabited it, besides the Mona Lisa. After leaving, I was most struck by how many collections the museum held, but what became a pleasant surprise was the Code of Hammurabi. About as tall as myself, the first written code of man was nearly perfectly preserved and incredibly detailed on a stone pillar. Now that I've started investing my time in learning Italian, I cannot even imagine learning how to read the cuneiform! Maybe someday once I've mastered Italian...
Versailles was another major surprise, as I stood in the massive bedroom of King Louis XVI, staring out into the golden-tipped fences and myriad of elaborate gardens. The palace was certainly not in it's height of splendor because of the terrible weather, but I was still awestruck merely at the size of "the playground", as it is referred to in relation to Louis XVI.
Before I went to my next stop, I managed to experience Paris' cuisine at a local restaurant. Before my trip to Europe, I had told friends and family that one of the top items on my bucket list was to try escargot in Paris. After looking around and even asking locals, it seemed the first day in Paris that I might not get the opportunity because it was difficult to find; the dish is considered a delicacy. However, one sign boasted of the funky entree, and I decided to split an expensive plate with my friend, Kyle. The shells, fourteen in total and filled with green pesto-covered sea snails, were a ghastly sight. However, I can proudly boast I ate my whole share of the plate! It was pretty slimy and strangely fishy.
My last stop before I succumbed to the stomach bug was the Eiffel Tower. Maybe it was the immensity of the iron giant, and maybe it was the green snails swimming in my stomach, but I actually managed to unintentionally regurgitate--the nicest way I can say it-- the snails and rest of my lunch under one of the most iconic monuments in the world. It's a memory I won't forget, and I can't help but laugh at the sight of all my friends laughing their heads off while I sat under the tower, clutching a plastic bag.
Even with being sick, I can't help but smile looking back at all the memories in Paris. I hope to make it back someday in full health and when the weather is cooperating, and hope to keep the snails down where they belong!

Check me out

Versailles Golden Fences

Eiffel Tower Post-Snail

 Bedroom of Louis XVI; whilst working on curling a French mustache

Kyle and I at the Louvre

Code of Hammurabi

 Lovelock Bridge

Rome Is Where The Heart Is

Last weekend has undoubtedly been my favorite thus far while abroad. I took a sponsored trip though my school, Lorenzo de Medici, to the historical epicenter of Italy: Rome. The two-day excursion was thoroughly crammed with various sight-seeing expeditions and cultural adventures, not to mention I got a chance to finally taste authentic Roman cuisine. 

To give background to my long desires to visit Rome, I'd like to share just a quick insight about my studies as an academic. I studied four years of intensive Latin in high school, reading and translating cover-to-cover Vergil's epic, The Aeneid. I took a fond interest in learning about the founding of Rome and it's ancient history under the Empire, so I furthered my studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by taking several courses encompassing the culture and history of the Roman Empire. I'd like to consider myself an expert, but once I got to Rome I was humbly reminded that the city and it's history is much larger than just a fews years worth of studying.

I arrived in Rome early Saturday morning and was happily surprised of the beautiful weather accompanying my trip. Before, I had imagined contemporary Rome to look modernly urbanized and down-trodden, but under the condition of the weather and my ignorance I was taken back by the elegance of the city. The plentiful grass was rich and green, and the monuments were magnificent, truly standing out as landmarks that had survived the passage of centuries. I was immediately dropped off at the Colosseum and ushered inside. Once inside, I began picturing all of the gladiator fights and spectacles I had learned about in class, feeling right next to the action. I took a quick walk around the perimeter of the original stadium and then was asked to meet at our next stop: Palatine Hill.

Palatine Hill is one of the "Seven Hills of Rome" that the city was founded upon. Actually it is the first center of the city, comprised of the Roman Forum, Stadium, and Roman aqueduct system. After touring the hill for an hour and the Arch of Titus, we had a short break and were off to the Vatican. The Vatican, stalwart and sophisticated, took the entire afternoon to analyze all the sculptures and frescos. Most impressive of all was the renowned Sistine Chapel, where I could have stayed for hours reliving the strokes of Michelangelo. 

We stayed in a four-star hotel on Via Cavour, a major street in the giant city that led to most districts. At night we had no required plans, so I decided to accompany a friend to a popular Jazz-Bar that we had read about on TripAdvisor. With seats we had reserved the night before, we were duly encouraged to enjoy ourselves once we realized we had first row seats at a sold out jazz show. The concert was loud and soulful, with a string of solos headed by trumpet, double bass, drums, as well as piano. To me the Roman History was the favored highlight of the trip, but the Jazz-Bar stole the show, as I felt immersed in the richness of Italian culture at this exclusive clue; it seemed I was the only recognizable American.

The next day consisted of a tour of the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. The Pantheon was almost as colossal as the Colosseum once inside, I was enamored by the age and careful preservation of the building that had kept it in such condition still to this day. Once completely gilded, the Pantheon now is massive stone beauty, buried inside is Raphael, one of the historic master painters of Italy.

And finally before we left, we visited the Trevi Fountain, which commemorates all of the old Roman Baths and Fountains no longer in existence. Full of tourists taking photos and making wishes by tossing coins into the water, the fountain's sculptures of Neptune were astounding.

I'd like to conclude my post today with a thank you to my family again for making this trip possible. To bask in the history and grandness of such an amazing city was only possible through them, and for that I must say thank you so much! 

Enjoy the pictures and click to enlarge them. Special thank you to Emily Senes for taking pictures of me throughout the trip! 

 Views from the Colosseum

 Palatine Hill's original Stadium

 Famous sculpture, "Laocoon and His Sons" in the Vatican

 Vatican and Pope's pulpit

 The Pantheon

 Trevi Fountain and wishing in action

Afternoon Adventure In Certaldo

Last Friday I had my first Friday free from school while at Lorenzo de Medici University in Florence. We don't have classes on Friday at the school, which gives me the opportunity to travel during regular three day weekends. I decided Friday morning to catch an early train to a small town slightly South of Florence called Certaldo. I had heard of the city as a rustic getaway, so I figured to make the most of my Friday and head to the late-medieval commune. A couple of friends and I headed out in hopes of making it to the top of the hill overlooking the rest of the city. Once I arrived 45 minutes later, I was enamored by the small slow-life town. The residents were helpful and approachable when my friends and I asked directions to the top of the city. It was a small hike, but once at the top I was all blown away by the view of the rest of the town. I ventured in small museums and artisan shops, and attempted to talk to a few locals about the history of the city while grabbing an espresso. Later I stopped for pizza at a local shop and ordered a prosciuto and artichoke pizza, called "capricosa". The meal was excellent, and the young owner of the shop asked to take his picture with me for advertising the business. In retrospect, I have to admit that Certaldo was another great spontaneous find, with a relaxing atmosphere and a great historical center full of beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

Picture Roll!

 View of the countryside

 A view from the bottom of the hill

 A old outside bath and casual Coca-Cola commercial