Greece and the Emergence of Winter

It's now December. I have absolutely no idea where the year's gone, let alone this semester. It's gone so quickly. That said, though, these last few days are proving interminable. Home is so close that my heart and soul are there, but there's no escaping this reality I'm in. I'm not wishing time away by any means, not even wishing my time here away, but instead wishing that my time away would cease. I'd be fine in Rome, actually, if the people I love were here. It isn't the location or the language or any that makes home what it is, it's the people that are close to you and that surround you. I need them.

Last weekend I went out to relax and get away from my final project, to get my mind off of home, and make the most of the rest of my stay in Europe by hopping over to Athens, Greece. I had literally no expectations for the city and most of them were met. It was dirty, as I'd been told, and the hotel I stayed at felt like a shallow bunker in a nuclear war of desperation. No matter, though, I went to have a good time and for the most part I did. For starters I got my project done on time. I'm now finished with all of my work and that feels so good. Also, I spent an entire day at the only place I had known I wanted to go in Greece: the Acropolis:

Seeing the Parthenon was one of those moments where I really was just in awe. I'd read all about it in school and thought it looked neat, but never did I imagine going there. The view from the top of the hill was absolutely, spectacular, too:

There are more pictures in the link at the bottom, so feel free to browse those. I'd highly recommend them. The area around the Acropolis was also, as the girls say, "cute." There were a bunch of shops and cafes and things for the less discerning tourist and the even less discerning resident. They were alright. As I said, most of the day was spent there, and to be honest I could have sat atop the hill and watched the people slither around beneath me forever. Being up there made me feel removed from the desperation below and also the world in general. I relaxed and unwound a bit. I needed it.

The next day I journeyed to what's considered a beach in Greece (yeah, Pennsylvanians, it was still warm enough to swim while you were enjoying your snow). The real purpose of the trip had been to go to an island, any island, but every ferry was striking. Actually, I think it turned out for the best, because the place I found was spectacular and just as redeeming for the impoverished country as the view from the Acropolis:


The water, as you can see, was perfect and the mountains flanking the sea rose all around. The rocky coast provided for some dramatic results to meager waves. I sat in that spot for quite a long time until I decided to go down into the water. I walked down a semi-hidden staircase to the only scrap of sand I saw. Some locals were fishing and hardly seemed to notice me. It felt like I had the whole of the sea to myself. I didn't go too far out, because the people had been catching octopus and I didn't feel like stepping on one of those. The water did feel great, though, and gazing out across the vast blue expanse to the horizon, my hands in my pockets and my head up, I came to terms with the fact that I'd be home soon and that the trip I was on would be my last. I wouldn't be alone anymore. I felt at peace as the men kept at their fishing, shouting in Greek. I needed it.

I put my shoes back on and walked back up to the same bench I'd left not long before, the weary sun dragging itself to sleep behind the far off mountains, its last rays glistening across the water like fire flutters in the night:

It ended up being a relaxing voyage, despite all of Athens' shortcomings. When I got back I didn't have much else to do, so I checked the internet and saw the snow in Pennsylvania and noticed that winter weather had started to take hold back at home (and in Italy, too, actually). I miss the homely cheers of winter, the fires and fellowship inside that make the death and emptiness outside disappear. I look forward to getting back to enjoy the people that make the season so pleasant. I need them.

I wrote this in light of my thoughts. It's just a poem that I did in maybe 10 minutes, so don't expect anything too great (and I'm not very good at expressing love in poetry-form anyway), but I hope it sparks something or allows you to understand my feelings:

Grey earth’s back again,
for gloom must have its day.
The exterior stands in stark bleakness,
but the inside, it’s said, must outweigh.

Wholeness there, vibrance there,
solace sought and found at long last.
The elements wear the body thin,
but in the mind, the bitterness is past.

The world will die and fade away,
but affinity holds forever fast.
The sun will rise to hypnotize,
the season’s dismality to outlast.

Come cold, come wind, welcome in,
against your worst an oasis lies in state.
The warmth and sincerity in that one,
the reward for battling yearly fate.

Thanks to everyone for being with me through this tough time as I long for home. I'll post about my adventure to the Vatican to meet the Pope once I can get my pictures online.

Pictures from Greece can be found here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=303477&id=658221001&l=822f1dbf66

Grazie (Studenti di) Roma

When I realized that coming up with an idea for my Culture Making project was more difficult than I anticipated I went back to what has in essence created or shared "culture" for me - my blog. I've been able to communicate my thoughts and feelings with everyone at home about places that you and I got to experience and most of them probably never will. I know I was on my own a lot and went just about everywhere by myself, but I hope you all understand that my personality dictates I sometimes sit in my room and reflect on things, that I go out and get to know a place by myself and on my terms, and that I generally seem distant or standoffish. I am distant, when you get right down to it. My mind is always in places I can't describe so well or like most of you now, at home. I hope you also understand that I've been so much more visible and social these past few months than just about any other time since I was a little kid. I do genuinely value each of you as well as the time we've spent together here. It's cliche as can be imagined, but we really never will forget this and you all have greatly impacted (or been impactful on...) my life. It's such a blessing and I hope that we can agree on that and call one another "friend."

I was trying to figure out what to do or say to set this apart from my other posts, but nothing came to mind until class the morning. I know I'm not necessarily the most outwardly religious one amongst us, but some of the "Psalms" we wrote were fantastic and truly moving. What I wrote in mine was my true feelings regarding the last few months and the struggles we're all apparently having getting through the last 9 days now. I think that when I start feeling down or alone or isolated or any of those other things I'll remember my time here, thank God for the blessings He's given me, and maybe say a prayer:




Praise the Lord, you who wonder and wander,
for spirit and imagination are foundation for truth.
Thanks be to God for second sight and further chances
and seeing and believing without the need for proof.
A gentle hand fashioning, a strong hand guiding,
He speaks and shakes each to the core.
He laments the wicked in deed or thought,
those who turn their backs in search of more.
For he spoke and worlds were created,
and knows you make home through your mind and hearts renewed.
You never left His house, though, in all the miles,
the Mighty One, the All-Knowing Son is always there with you.
In the bravest fight or hardest struggle,
in the tears that fell from eyes that watched you go,
in letters from loves abroad and in boundless human want
just what you require, He knows.
Trust and believe, you wanderers, you opportunists,
trust and believe - for you, through you, and in you His love persists.




No one said her name.

Venice and AS Roma

I mentioned in my last post that going Hungary and the Czech Republic propelled me into my weekend in Venice. It most certainly did and I'm glad now that I was on a little bit of an upswing heading into it, because it was honestly incredible. I expected there to be a few alleyways that looked like the Venice everyone knows, gondolas and canals and all of that, but it was all that way. The two parts I liked most, though, were the fact that there weren't any cars to clutter up the streets and that the town was virtually empty. Being able to walk around, take pictures, "shop," and do all of the tourtisty things without constantly avoiding a painful death by automobile was so nice and the fact that you could sit down in a square, and despite there being a few people around during the day, it was actually still peaceful. There were times, though, in the early evening and sometimes in the middle of the afternoon where I'd suddenly realize that there was no one else around. I literally couldn't see anyone else and it felt like Venice was just for me.

Caleb, Sofia and I decided to skip going to the tourist traps/stupid islands and walk around together taking pictures. We started with the pretense that it was a contest, but in the end it was just neat to see the city with two people that have an eye for art or at least for photo-ops.

Looks like I-Spy, doesn't it?

My dad noted it in a recent e-mail and I've probably said it a few times here and there, but I've really enjoyed the opportunity to develop skills in photography. These skills are most likely only a product of the locations I've been visiting, but I digress. I've just loved seeing things from the camera's eye and trying to make some sort of art. I guess you could say that since I enjoy writing so much, am looking forward to my drawing class next semester, am interested in taking up painting, and sort of try to play guitar that I'm an "artsy" person. I was particularly proud of a picture I took in Venice, so I thought I'd share that before I move ahead with talking about the soccer game:

And about that game - it was probably the best thing our group has done together. Walking in was a bit tense due to the fact that we were mistaken for Germans. In a hostile environment that's never a good thing, is it? The entire experience aside from that was bombastic. First of all, it was great to go out and do something so culturally significantly to the people we've lived around the last 2 and 1/2 months. Also, most people know how much I've fallen in love with the beautiful game over the past few years and to see it in person and be immersed in the atmosphere and everything, it was beyond description. It doesn't hurt that we went to a fantastic game. Bayern Munich is a great team and seeing even their second team was a privilege. As for Roma, I don't know too many of their players, but the way they battled back from 2-0 down at halftime was incredible. My favorite thing about it was being right in with the Italians and being forced to feel all of the emotions they were going through. When Bayern scored to make it 2-0 there was no escaping the disappointment. The goal in the 49 minute brought some hope back and the 81st minute's equalizer was such a triumphant moment. We all stood and pleaded for a penalty to be awarded in the 84th minute and when it was and was converted the stands whipped into a frenzy. Each time Roma got close to scoring the guy next to me grabbed my arm and the arm of the person on the other side of him and shook it. When they did score I was instantly high fived and wrapped in a giant hug. I guess overall it's just one of those things you have to do for yourself to understand.

I loved it.

Pictures from Venice can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=303442&id=658221001&l=4f035bdf60

Budapest and Prague

Last weekend I made the pilgrimmage to the homeland: Slovakia/Czech Republic as well as to Budapest, Hungary. Unexpectedly fantastic weather greeted me as I stepped off the plane in Hungary and persisted throughout. I was grossly unprepared on the kit front, but this time that was welcome. It felt like changing from summer into autumn and the light breeze and moist sensation (although not accompanied by much actual rain) prevaded.

I also stepped off the plane completely unprepared for Hungary. I literally didn't know a single word of Hungarian and my general knowledge about the country was close to nil. I did know about its connection with Communism and to a certain extent it still felt as such. I wasn't oppressed and the people weren't anything but helpful and nice, but there was this transitional feeling. It was so neat. There was great patriotism and pride in country and a movement toward betterment that I quite enjoyed. Also, the place was gorgeous. I went on a walking tour and while learning about the history of the city and gazing upon its Communist-era drabness, I got some fantastic vantage points and was able to see pre- and post-Communist Budapest - significantly less drab, almost to the point of being utterly fantastic.



It is certainly somewhere I'd love to go to again and would like to give more time to. I spent literally no time in Slovakia, merely stepping off the train to say I'd been there. What I was able to see from the train was spectacular and I also look forward to making it back there one day.

Prague obviously also had to endure Communism, but there wasn't the same sense of its lingering. The more modern city, Prague offered more sights to see, a product of its movement ahead and desire to build outside of the bounds of Communist architecture. The river was great as was the weather and despite being surrounded by throngs of tourists at nearly every turn, I was able to find some peaceful parks to sit down and enjoy the scenery. My favorite part of my time there came in one such park when I pushed through some bushes to a tree stump perfectly positioned for overlooking the city and the river winding through its heart. With the wonders of Europe starting to wear thin and home calling, it was relaxing (in all senses of the word) and calming to ponder whilst looking out over the capital of where my family came from. It made me at least feel connected to them, which I thankfully will be shortly enough.



All-in-all, Prague was beautiful and felt so central to discovering my roots. The entire trip was great and propelled me into the short week before the trip to Venice.

Pictures from Hungary can be seen here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=300507&id=658221001&l=c3b30d83a9
and Prague is here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=300513&id=658221001&l=086a831772

A No Travel Weekend

This weekend I stayed in Rome, just watching movies with everyone, missing home, and generally being lazy. It was a good break from my rather hectic semester thus far. I've had a lot of time to think and a few people have heard a lot about my feelings toward them or other things and I've found it to be wholly productive. I hope and trust that it will continue to produce results.

I haven't gotten to doing much work, but other than my final project I'm not all that worried about getting stuff done. I've actually enjoyed school this semester. I know, I know. You all are probably checking to make sure you're on the right blog, making certain Mike Trn is still writing this. Well, he is, and he really is enjoying learning about things. Enough third person, though, and on to why I've liked it. I'm getting to know the places I'm in. It's neat being able to talk about a painting or building in class and then going to see it. Also, my papers have allowed me to be creative. For the first time since I've been in college I feel like I've got the leeway to write the sort of papers I want to.

Furthermore, I sat down and wrote a poem tonight. It took me a bit longer than normal to do, at about 10 minutes, but I don't mind how it turned out (hence posting it). Here's a glimpse into my mind and my mood throughout the entire weekend:

Helical our downward plane,
a fall vivace indeed.
With mouths agape the hopeful sit,
too vain to intervene.

Swollen to the collar,
faux champions build their lies.
But when the woe comes crashing through
realized is their guise.

There are no heroes in our mirrors,
we are ashamed at what we see.
There is no brilliance here,
no fearless repartee.

Scrofulous, tainted, baleful creatures
cannot bear to see drops fall from their own eyes.
And the world will stay forever fallen, forever broken,
unless humanity to itself become apprised.

Sunken into grudging ways,
self-sacrifice fell to malevolent spite.
"I must be the best there is,"
echoed through cities of encyclical plight.

Still in decline, still in denial,
smiles spread on faces daft.
Envy is the edge that ends carnassial,
idiocy the measured haft.

Cardiff, Wales

^
Just wanted to let you know, that was the view from my hostel window. Amazing? Yes.

This is the last post regarding my fall break adventures, which is a good thing, I think. I've felt like maybe over the last couple of months I've overwhelmed some people with all of my wonderful stories and fairy tales to the point of apathy.

Well, there aren't any fanciful and/or uplifting journal entries this time, although I did have a marvelous time. Cardiff is a really great city that I'd recommend to anyone going to Europe. The people spoke English for the most part, which was still a very welcome feeling even after having been to London for a few days, it was relatively clean, the weather was probably uncharacteristically fantastic - it was about 60 degrees and sunny with a little breeze, you know, those perfect fall days, it was inexpensive, smaller and navigable on foot, friendly, and... just Wales. It really felt like home.

I know I mentioned it in a journal specifically for Katie and to my parents on the phone, but it felt like a bigger, more modern version of Beaver Falls. It was formed around a river, built largely around the steel and coal industries, and surrounded by modest hills. Katie and I have talked about living in Cardiff after college, because she has an opportunity for a position there and because we dream of living in Wales. It all seems like it's coming together, I suppose. I know I'd live there for a couple of years right out of college. It was just charming. Maybe this is a fairy tale after all?

The main reason I didn't get to write a longer and more public journal was because I didn't have much time to spend in the city and I wanted to get a really good feel for it so I could report back to Katie my feelings on it as our potential home. Also, I wanted to get the most of my last few hours in Wales. We've been over how much I enjoy it there by now, I'd say. I did write a poem, though, the first night I was in Machynlleth that I wasn't too sure about posting until now. I might as well include it to satisfy anyone that really likes reading things I post and those who might not so much, but haven't quit reading this post yet.

21/10/10

Stepping out firmly
into the cold November air
I thought her tears might crystallize
falling from her somber emerald eyes.
The softening tremble in her gaze
matched the hardening of my heart.
And the kicking wind biting at my soul
spread my occupied fingers, let me know it was time to go.
As her finger slipped and left
and her back turned, too difficult to watch,
I felt her fragile, repaired heart break in two,
but in her mind she knew it was what I had to do.

I stood with head down waiting for my feet to move
and saw her glance back, eyes red and wet with sudden sobbing.
Her whimper called and I responded when I could
that I'd be home, she wasn't all alone, and this wasn't for good.
She understood, I'm sure, but I felt as bad
and miss her all the lonely while.
To comfort, "I'll return to you, cariad, at any cost.
It's said that love is true and not all wanderers are lost."

The door slammed shut tight, but the window opened
as I searched for her face in the rearview mirror.
I knew right then that despite my endeavor
her and I would last like this Earth I search, forever.

Extra Special Sort of Thing I Threw Together Regarding an Extra Special Sort of Place

Here's the different thing that I put together for Wales. Hopefully it'll work. It should be as easy as click, download (for a good few minutes), and watch:

http://www.mediafire.com/?5nzjzn6626d2ric

Pfff...the timing on the music got messed up. Pardon the awkward jumps in tracks!

London, Hastings, and Dublin

I guess it seems like a lot to cover in one post, but I'll do my best to be succinct. I did in fact get to go to London twice, Hastings, and Dublin over my fall break as well. Believe it or not, everything you just read about Machynlleth and Barmouth took place in less than two full days so there was plenty of time to venture elsewhere.



London was the scene of my next journal entry:
25/10/10

It's only two months until Christmas, so just over a month until I go back home. Tonight I'm in cold, but utterly bearable London. I got in early after a long day of trying to see things I didn't my first couple of times here, things a bit off the beaten path (but not too far). I've had a lot of time to think then, and with it being so close to the holidays and to my return home I figured I'd reflect a bit on my total experience so far. Going into the whole thing they told us to make sure we patched up any differences with people and that all of our familial and personal relationships be in good standing, because if not, they'd really eat away at us. I, knowing myself better than most people do, knew that everything would eat away at me no matter how it was before I left. And if I'm honest, I'd certainly taken my family for granted (see previous posts) and was unsure of how to approach the then current Katie situation. We hadn't necessarily been doing badly and I wasn't unsure she was the one I wanted to be with, she just hadn't taken care of a few issues I thought needed more attention and effort. They told me it'd change me, the whole experience. And I believed them. As stoic or constantly angry and uncaring of a person I appear to be, little things have a massive impact. Watching a dad hold his child's hand down the street



or a similar group playing soccer in the park, hearing a certain song when I'm in a certain mood (like today walking into Royal Albert Hall



listening to the Led Zeppelin concert at that very place 40 years earlier or walking around London with what emotionally became my soundtrack to the city, making the city make sense and seem to be in a sort of suspended animation. I was blasting my usual Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and The Clash while walking through crowds of unique people in the English capital!), watching any old stupid movie, anything can really leave its mark on me without me even having to pay much mind to it. I try to take everything in and tend to whether I want to or not anyway. I've definitely been some incredible places along the way, too, places I never thought I'd see, didn't think I'd care about, or didn't even know about beforehand. I remember calling my parents after the class trip to St. Peter's and telling them it was absolutely the best place in the world. At the time there was no doubt in my mind it was. Not long after I was privileged enough to go to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. Standing atop the peaks and gazing out over Europe I consciously decided that St. Peter's was the best man-made place ever and that Mont Blanc was the most incredible natural place I'd ever been to. But then I visited Wales. As I said, right now I'm in London and I never thought I'd be even slightly disappointed to be here, but yesterday I was. This concrete jungle is hollow feeling compared to the completeness I felt in Machynlleth, Snowdonia, and Barmouth. It's really made me think: have I changed that much? I've started to realize to the contrary. Everything around me is changing and all it's done is solidify what I knew of myself, my preferences, opinions, and values. As I mentioned, I had taken my family's love for granted, but that isn't to say I didn't already think they were the best family in the world. They are. And even though I knew it before I REALLY know it now. The situation with Katie has improved immensely like I always knew it would and she's starting to unlock the potential I've seen in her the last 8 years and watch other guys force her to bury under layers of anxiety, fear, and self-consciousness. I won't get into it too much, but I love her with everything I have. My feelings are absolute and encompass a thesaurus worth of synonyms and antonyms, really just all the ways love can be felt are right here. I'm Catholic. Of course I knew that before, but after some good and calm discussions with the classmates I have, my professor, and taking into account internal and external aspects I'm quite happy I was raised the way I was. To avoid even possibly offending someone I'll stop there. I'm more interested in the things or people or places that I was into before. I've had a bit of a revival in my interest in Led Zeppelin since I got to the UK (okay, more than a bit). There was something about the train trip up the Cambrian Coast and through Snowdonia, as well as being back in London, seeing concert venues and Jimmy Page's house that sort of made it all click again. And Wales was just unreal. I talked about that enough in my last entry, so I'll leave it at that. It was astonishing how perfect it was (yeah, I couldn't resist one last comment). Writing really feels like what I want to do now. I've never been that confident in my stuff, but everyone has responded so well to everything. It's been wonderful. The blog has turned into more than I could have hoped (and thanks for that, everyone), my school papers have gone much better than I expected, and my poems seemed well received at the talent show. It's made me a lot more confident in my abilities and my choice of focus in school. And all of the traveling I've done has led to a lot of inspiration and valuable reflection. It's been invaluable as I knew it would be. Even other things have been solidified in me. I love baseball and can't wait for the season to start (and to follow the awesome World Series match-up! I called it!!!), other sports are so much fun to play and watch, I love history and cultures (noting the similarities in people from place to place has been ace), I really like pizza (especially "American style"), etc. It feels like every little bit of my has become more pronounced and definite. So, if the Geneva people and everyone else meant that I'd be a different person by being exactly and wholeheartedly myself then they were right. The peripheral ideas and values have all solidified and become part of a mosaic of personal human characteristics, the coquina of the soul. The only change is more confidence in myself and my choices and more outward forthrightness as to simply being me. I guess that really is a pretty big change...

London was a lot of fun, again. The highlight was sitting in on The House of Commons at Parliament. It sounds rather boring, but it was incredible. The exchanges got rather heated and they were all British. Enough said there. The Tate Modern Museum was neat, being able to watch soccer matches was premium, etc. It was great to be there and sort of feel like I lived there because I wasn't doing the typical tourist stuff. I guess I'm sort of getting used to London now. OH!!! And they speak English there, which is incredible after 2 months of blurting out incorrect Italian phrases.

I felt like visiting Hastings for a few reasons. The main one was that while Katie and I were in Pittsburgh we say the East Hill Lift featured on one of the bulletin boards. I had to go there.



Also, though, I wanted to see the site of the battle and all of that good, historical stuff that I feel like no one remembers but me. Well, the Gauls picked a pretty good place to attack, let me tell you. There wasn't much there and the people felt like they probably would have been too sluggish to resist. It was neat being in a smaller town, though, and seeing a traditional English fishing village was worthwhile. Of course, whilst there I went for a traditional English seafood meal - Domino's Pizza's two-for-Tuesday deal with pepperoni. I'd recommend going in the summer if anyone wants to visit, because it was so cold and windy. Even the jacket I bought in Wales with an entire lamb inside wasn't enough.

Dublin, well not much to say about Dublin. It was probably my least favorite place that I've been to so far...maybe even including before I came to Europe. I loved the weather there and the chorizo and goat cheese pizza I had. That's about it.

Machynlleth and Barmouth, Wales

Yes, I finally attained my dream. I made it to Wales! It was so exciting I wrote another journal entry and took way too many pictures that people might merely glance through. What I've decided to do is type up the journal entry here and put up the pictures on facebook as usual, but also to do something a little bit special and different (to come soon).

Without further ado, here's the journal I wrote (going from London to Machynlleth and after a day there):

Catching the train at Euston Street I was eager to realize my dreams, but afraid of disappointment. Finally, after 7 or 8 years of hoping, unabashedly rambling to others, and seriously doubting, I was on my way to Wales, Machynlleth to be more precise. Granted, I didn't know much about Mach (let alone how to pronounce the name properly) other than that it was a market town near Snowdonia. I'd read it was a town of no more than 2000 people and even the hostel webpages whose job it is to make you want to visit didn't seem overly enthusiastic about the place. Nearing Birmingham



(where I had to switch trains) my nervousness was on the rise. Everything had been so flat and...not watery that I was scared when I'd return to Rome I'd have no good stories to tell and I'd feel embarrassed about and have to give up my interest in...er, my obsession with Wales and the Welsh (and not to mention wanting to both honeymoon and eventually live there for a few years). I figured my tour of Europe had started with literally and figuratively the highest point when I stood atop Mont Blanc and enjoyed the splendor of the Alps and small-alpine-village and hyphenated charms of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France. Everything there was so beyond spectacular that I wasn't sure if anywhere else I went could possibly match up. Anyone that's ever talked to me for more than a couple of minutes has heard about how much I love Wales, or at least the unrealistic screensaver-like images of it I'd seen on the computer. We zoomed past a personal favorite city of mine, Wolverhampton,



and still we hadn't seen much awe inspiring landscape. As we drew nearer to Mach things started to change, though. I began to realize that those screensavers weren't just a handpicked, select few images out of a bunch of pictures someone had taken. All of those places were real and not even all that difficult to find.



My eyes were glued to the window like a little kid his first time time in an airplane or like a dog during a car trip or something else that might be more relevant. The mountains, although not as high as the Alps, were still just as majestic, but in a medieval, fog shrouded peak sort of way. They looked as magical and mysterious as I'd thought they would and the sheep, bovines, and slate-roofed stone houses that dotted their softer, rolling sides added to the feelings of serenity, hope (oddly enough), excitement, and correctness I had started to feel. The sun was barely peeking through the low, dark clouds as the train pulled into Machynlleth Station at quarter till 3. I nearly leapt off the train and instead of going straight to my hostel decided to set a course for a neat looking bridge I'd seen not far outside of "town".



Making my way down the street that led to the footpath I was absolutely astounded by the landscape spread out before me. Everything was different. The colors were different; I'd never seen grass or trees so thoroughly green.



It was a lot like going to the Bahamas or somewhere like that and not being able to stop marveling at how blue and clear the water is. Brown was significantly more dead and brown feeling, probably because of how vibrant the green was. The sounds were so totally different. There weren't human sounds anymore. All I could hear were sheep (they were as far as the eye could see, even up on the craggy peaks and through the valley), the River Dyfi trickling over mossy stones and fallen trees, birds chirping and playing about, the occasional bark of a dog, and the wind. The smells were different. It smelled moist, like going for a walk in the woods after a rain shower (which, I guess is essentially what it was, really). Really, everything felt, looked, and smelled exactly as I'd imagined. I smiled. I walked over near a bridge with a sign next to it that read "Snowdonia National Park (see last post for this picture)" and turned just before it to follow the path along the bank of the River Dyfi.



The water was so peaceful and calm. The wind wasn't so strong and the utterly pastoral nature of where I was took me over. It enveloped me. I got to the bridge I'd seen from the train and walked on the stones underneath it instead of over it at first. Everything was so harmonious. I just sat on a stone for a while and relaxed. A family with a mother and 3 blonde, curly-haired sons walked by, which made me smile.



Naturally, it reminded me of Katie. After a short spell next to the river I thought it worthwhile to pick out the biggest hill I could find and climb it. I had one in mind and it took me across the bridge and up this narrow, windy mountain road. I looked for an access point to start my ascent, but everything was sheep pasture guarded by barbed wire. I made a decision to leap one such fence and start climbing. The trip was arduous to say the least, as the peak appeared much higher than I'd reckoned and up a steeper way. Happily, it had begun to rain a bit, so I wasn't too upset, and each time I turned around to glance down through the valley the climb felt more and more worth it. I reached the top and nearly let out a Bear Grylls scream. The valley and surrounding mountains (some shrouded and dark with rain, others highlighted by the glorious, golden sun) were so gorgeous



and the entire journey sort of symbolized my having climbed a mountain of dreams to reach the summit, the peak of natural joy. I'd never been anywhere so beautiful in my life. I started back down the way I came with a confident step and a smile, so ready to take on all of the challenges, triumphs, pain, sorrows, and joys of the life ahead of me. And thus ended my first in Wales.



Also, I went on a train ride up the Cambrian coast to a beautiful town called Barmouth. It was a coastal village (obviously) nestled into the outcroppings of some mountains. The entirety of it was so picturesque that it was hard to believe. The beach was so soft and I had the entire place to myself aside from the occasional dog owner and best friend. I walked around there for a bit and then found some more hills to climb/trespass on so I could get a better view of the city. I found myself in the company of no one, except for the periodic curious sheep. Once at the top of the hills, the views were fantastic. The vistas along the coast melted away into the battering sea. As usual, words won't do it much justice and I've already put up one journal in this post, so I'll stick to letting the pictures speak for themselves.

Pictures from Machynlleth can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=295984&id=658221001&l=f568526f0c
Pictures from Barmouth can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=296006&id=658221001&l=b49978b29a

I'm Back

I've made it back from Ireland and the UK and pictures are uploading onto the computer. I'm going to do something different since this was a longer trip with more sections (and more journal entries). I'm going to do one post for my first trip to Wales and another for the rest of the break, so be sure to look at both!

Here's a look at where I've been so far:

Break

Hey everyone,

Break has gone really well so far. I'm in Dublin, Ireland right now and return to Rome in the morning. My plan right now is to update everything tomorrow: typing up journal entries, uploading pictures, etc. Keep an eye out! I appreciate the continued views and support!

Diolch yn fawr,

Mike

Florence and Fall Break

Hey everyone,

Last weekend the entire class went to Florence and stayed for a couple of days. The weather was wonderful. It's finally turning to fall, so it was in the low 60s and rainy. I loved it. Other than that, the city was great. I didn't like it as much as Rome (which is now starting to feel like home...scary), but the smaller size and less hectic lifestyle was refreshing. Some of the art we got to see was magnificent and the landscape was gorgeous. I can't sit here and type all day, though, because I have to get ready for my fall break trip. Also, sorry for the slow posting. It was midterm week and there was suddenly a lot of work to be done and studying to...sort of be done. Because of strikes and rioting new trips had to be planned as well.

As for those new trips the new itinerary looks something like this for fall break (October 21-31)

October 21 - Depart for London-Stansted
October 22 - Depart London Euston Street for Machynlleth, Wales
I cannot wait to do some walking through the mountains in Machynlleth and for any of you that know me well, you should know that Machynlleth is in Snowdonia. It's been my dream to go there for quite some time and I'm beyond excited.
October 23 - Depart Machynlleth for London
October 23-27 - London
During this time, however, I'll also be taking a couple of day trips. I've got a train ticket for Hastings, which I'll probably do the 25th. I also have a Eurostar ticket that I'm going to exchange so that I can go to Edinburgh, which would be fantastic. Hopefully that will work out.
October 28 - Cardiff, Wales
If you're keeping count that's twice to Wales in less than a week. I'm going to get to see both parts of it, which I really like: the industrialized, populated, and busy South and the agrarian, natural, and beautiful North.
October 29-30 Dublin, Ireland
October 30 - Back to Rome.
October 31 - Sleep until the end of time.

There will CERTAINLY be plenty of pictures after this break and I'd reckon if I get the time there will be some good journal entries and stories as well. Hopefully everyone at home is having a good break, enjoying the weather (fall is beautiful, isn't it?), and getting ready to have a nice Halloween. Thanksgiving will be here before you know it and then I'll be back home!

Pictures from Florence can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=292607&id=658221001&l=a49cea0578
Some of them didn't turn out so well because of the fact that in dark churches where you can't use a flash, it's just hard to get a good picture. Also, there are some other random pictures from St. Peter in Chains and Santa Maria Maggiore churches in Rome.

Spain and Portugal

Hola/Ola/Hey everyone. I'm back from Spain and Portugal. It was a hectic weekend for sure and school starts in only a few hours! I'll try to keep things brief aside from copying the bit from my journal.

As for Spain, I'll let the journal do the talking. It might be a little scatterbrained, but I was on a train to Portugal and it was late at night/early in the morning. Hopefully it at least captures some of my feelings:

8/10/10 I figured out the meaning of life today: to love is to live and to be in love with something, animate or not, is to have life. Human love is easy to spot most of the time and the strength of it has become increasingly apparent over the last month or so since I left home. I'll admit that over 20 years I'd become a little complacent in this department and absolutely took my parents' and family's love for granted. This time apart has made me value each and every phone call or skype chat, even the most mundane, and seeing their smiling faces, smiling from being happy to see me too, is really powerful. I miss every little aspect of being home. I miss going out to eat and talking and laughing a bit too loud, playing basketball with my brother, going upstairs to find my mom watching TV on my bed and falling asleep in the corner before she even leaves, waiting for my dad to get home from work before we do anything, him kindling in the chair, the weekends my sister randomly shows up (usually with some guy we all end up liking; I try to tell my parents she's a smart girl), my bed, laying on the couch watching sports, especially now I miss watching hockey every night, planning my Saturdays around college football, and ordering pizza to stay up way too late watching October baseball. I miss going to my brother's baseball games, playing catch with him and my dad in the highway that is the road in front of our house, complaining about whatever my mom has cooked but always liking it anyway, my bed (again), and this time of year going to the pumpkin patch and finding slim pickings, going on hay rides even though I'm allergic, drinking warm apple cider even though I don't like it, the weather turning crisp like the dead leaves that fall from the trees so I can pick out the especially crunchy ones to step on, rain, telling my dad I'll carve my own pumpkin and explaining to him exactly what I want then leaving after we've pulled the guts out and always getting the perfect jack-o-lantern anyway, taking my brother trick-or-treating and "dressing up" as whatever I was wearing that day because I get jealous at his sugary bounty, trading him some of my nastier candy for all of the sweet-tarts, and getting the fall and winter clothes out from the attic crawl space. I love all of that. I miss the daily rain in Beaver Falls, watching Grandma Donna decorate her concrete pig like a ghost and grandpap telling her she's stupid because she decorates for Halloween and autumn until winter, the cute Halloween cards I get from Grandma Pauline, Grandma Donna saying we need to stay up to see the Great Pumpkin, looking forward to Thanksgiving and then the Christmas season, etc. Those are the types of things that make me love and miss my family and because of my love for them I have a love for home I can't quantify and unfortunately am only now coming to realize. They aren't the only people I miss, though, and not the only things either. I've known about both my love for nature and my love for music for quite some time. My love for nature and its perfect beauty, tranquility, and peace are factors in my general dislike for people. Today in Madrid, though, I found a gorgeous place to sit on a perfect Western European fall day.

In the shade of a row of trees and beside a lake with an artificial waterfall I watched people feeding fish, the ducks butting in to steal some of the fish food, some kids playing with their parents (which made me miss and love mine even more, all the memories), and the street musicians. The atmosphere of the natural sounds (including the waterfall), the din of the pathway, and the young man seated on a bench across from me playing guitar and singing his lungs out was so entrancing. The slight breeze and the sound of deadened leaves rustling, falling, and being stepped on combined with the aforementioned to give me goosebumps. Surely no love could be greater than this idyllic setting. One great love, though, I found, always must supplant another (or others, like in this case both nature and music). The second the young man began playing The Beatles (whom I still don't love, it's important to note) my mind instantaneously went to Katie. Almost everything I do my mind goes there and being away from her has already been impossibly hard, but at that moment our love seemed so perfect and wonderful that, despite my devotion and feelings toward the place I sat and the beautiful day I sat there, it all faded away and I was alone in an opaque and empty, formless space, almost weeping. Knowing that my loves are often our loves is, to try to assign a useless word to it, so powerful and wonderful. Knowing that she would have been similarly moved by where I sat, I longed for her to be sitting there with me. Looking up and watching the excited and sometimes overzealous Spaniards holding hands, kissing, and laying at picnics near the water made my entire being sink. I had to go. A few hundred yards away it was quiet and, as silly as it sounds, I could feel her with me. Maybe she was thinking of me at the same time? I saw a stray cat sleeping next to a tree and thought of how it'd make her smile. The cat awoke and stretched then began to preen its fur coat. It felt symbolic. I felt that maybe at that moment miles and miles and an ocean away Katie was waking up and thinking about me as deeply as I was thinking about her and as that cat got up to walk into the bushes I thought that she was telling me not to worry and to enjoy my day. I tried to, but all the while I was being torn apart inside. It made me think that the moment I see her again in person will be one of the most special moments of my life. I'm more than looking forward to it and wish that instead of sitting and waiting to board a train to Portugal I was waiting for my flight back to her arms and into the warmth of her smile (this is where the train came, by the way). As a change of pace and to get my mind off of things I stopped to watch some other street performers and that's when this whole notion hit me. I know some people have jobs that they might not enjoy, but typically they're doing it to support the ones they love (and this makes me think how much I want a family to work for and support, but that'd probably take up another one of these journals). Looking at artwork today at Museo del Prado I was awestruck by the amount of passion that had gone into each work, and there was a museum full of them, there are museums full of them, and many are as or more in love with creating art but are undiscovered. Watching the musicians play at the side of the road, in the metro stations, and in the plazas their passion is obvious. They play beautiful music and are so talented and are relegated to the fringes hoping to scrape together a few bucks, but they still play. Why? In many cases they are the undiscovered and I know countless more are too afraid to get out there and do it. Sitting in airports and train stations, on planes, buses, and trains, and going on tours the passion people have to go out and explore their world is fantastic and so many more explore the same sights I'm visiting everyday in books or on the internet, but can't afford to go themselves or haven't been blessed enough to go yet. Having played sports and knowing the passion involved it makes me happy to watch people be able to play a game, the one they love, for a living and I know so many more kick a ball around the park, throw the ball with their dad and brother, and play endlessly just for fun. People all around me are doing what they love, are where they love, or are with the ones they love and it's starting to renew my faith in people. Even being around Geneva kids and hearing about their intense blind love and faith has started to make me happy. Now that I've been a few places and can somewhat comment on "people around the world" I've begun to believe that people are generally very good and, despite either minor or very massive differences of opinion, they'll always follow or strive for what they love. I can relate to that and respect it. It's been said that to love is to know pain (or something like that) and I've found that to unfortunately be too true. At that moment you miss someone or something you think the world has crumbled around you and nothing can replace it, but it must be said that to love is to live and have something to live for. It's true that nothing can replace the ones or the things you love, but that's because to love is to join the human race, to step down off the pedestal and join in. To love is to know true happiness and that happiness is far greater than the pain of loss. And I'm starting to think no loss is permanent. If you believe hard enough (whether you're a "believer" or not) you'll be eternally happy, because your passion or your love will always be right there with you where it (the object), he, or she belongs. Everything my family is doing at home and going through, everything I miss with them or with playing guitar or games or sports, Katie...it's all right here. It's what makes me who I am and no matter where I go, near or far, my passions are blowing in the wind, strumming in the park, on the computer screen on my desk, and in nothingness or its opposite, always on my mind. I'm a human and I'm amongst so many others living out their dreams or passions, being alive.

In there I described a bit of the scenery, which was gorgeous I must say, but the lot of my time there was consumed by those thoughts. It was a frenetic day.

Then I went on to Portugal. The train ride to get there was forever and the rain was apocalyptic, but once I arrived it all died down and faded away. I went on a tour around the city with a group of five others (the majority of whom were English, which made it all the better). The sights were fantastic and the guide treated it more as a friendly-show-you-around sort of thing than a tour. Combining my love of nature and music again, the tour guide asked if anyone had an iPod to hook up. I got to cruise the vistas and enjoy the locality like a local while listening to Led Zeppelin, Guthrie Govan, Pink Floyd, The Clash and Manic Street Preachers! Everyone else on the tour loved my taste in music and to have the soundtrack of my life playing whilst touring such a beautiful place, incredible. The food was beyond words and so was the beach. I've only seen waves so big once before and there was a hurricane involved that time. Cabo da Roca had some of the best and most dramatic seaside views I've ever seen and it was neat going to the most western point of Europe.

The hostel was impeccable and all in all I had a wonderful time. I felt strangely at home in Portugal as its pace of life was slower, the people were friendlier, and it had all of the castles, hills and mountains, good food, seaside, and rural countryside I could want. And that was just around Lisbon! I didn't write in my journal in Portugal, but I did take plenty of pictures both places:

Spain: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=290910&id=658221001&l=02e89e235e

Portugal: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=290925&id=658221001&l=bd053bf336

This Weekend's Trip

I'm packing as I type for my trip to Madrid, Spain and Lisbon, Portugal. I haven't got many plans, so what you'll see are the wanderings of a young man around a couple of foreign countries. I'm happy to be going to Spain, as I know a good deal more Spanish than Italian (and French). I'll certainly be putting up pictures and a good description of the whole thing once I get back. I'm taking my journal and camera both, I promise. I wish everyone a good weekend and my thoughts, despite the grand trip, are back home with everyone there. God bless.

Switzerland/France

Bonjour! I've returned from my trip to Switzerland (and France snuck in there as well) much more enlightened as to how this whole European tour is going to work and the wonders that are in store. Getting through the airports wasn't as difficult as I'd feared. In fact, the only troubles I had were initially finding my hostel (until I worked up the courage to ask a Swiss girl in French if she spoke English, which she did! She was very nice and walked me all the way to the hostel while we talked about PITTSBURGH PENGUINS HOCKEY of all things!), understanding the routing of the buses and knowing where to catch the buses I needed, and money. Since this was my first trip I wasn't so sure of how the money would work other places. One issue was that instead of using euros they used Swiss francs. More pressing, however, was that fact that everything was massively expensive. I went to McDonald's one night because I thought (correctly) that it'd be the cheapest place in town to eat. I ordered off of the l'petit menu, getting two cheeseburgers, a snack wrap, and a small tea. It ended up costing me the equivalent of $12. The guy in front of me spent $41 for dinner...at McDonald's! Also, the tour I went on on Saturday was a pretty penny, but more than worth it.

One of the best things I did was take a cable car to the top of Mont Saleve. It was a wonderful view over the city and lake, but was also affordable, took me into France (on foot no less!) and allowed me to experience a bit of small town Swiss/French culture, which was quite lovely. Stopping in at the mom and pop grocery to buy a tea was "cute" as the girls like to say. I didn't have much time up there (I got there around 5 and the last cable car down was at 6), but once at the top, not only did I have that view of Geneva, but after walking through some fields...well, I'll copy the entry I wrote in my journal:

Today was my first day in a completely foreign country completely alone. I'm happy to report it went rather well. Aside from issues getting to the hostel last night and initial confusion regarding the bus system I've gotten around fairly competently in a French-speaking area. Similarly comforting is the fact that if I'm having trouble almost everyone can speak a helpful amount of English. I essentially wandered from noon until around three, just stopping anywhere that looked or felt interesting, walking along the lake, traversing a number of parks, and getting lost a bit. After that all wore thin I looked for a #8 bus (which proved to be quite difficult), because I had a destination in mind. Following a lengthy bus ride I walked across the border into France. I could see where I wanted to go, but getting there took a bit of effort (and walking along a freeway for a time). Eventually, I came to Telepherique Saleve. The slope of the cable car track was massive and somewhat frightening, if I'm honest. I walked in and bought a reduced price ticket (maybe school does pay?). To my disappointment I was told that the last return journey was in only an hour. Ears popping, I snapped plenty of pictures of Geneve and the ever-nearing mountainside. I felt like Saleve was gigantic and couldn't believe I was atop it looking out over Geneve, Lac Leman, and what I took to be the most stunning, biggest, and most imposing mountains ever. Both because of the altitude and the view's beauty my breath was taken away. Some other people were eating at an outdoor cafe below the overlook I had perched myself on and still more, a couple hand-in-hand, began walking down a path to a different overlook. I thought to follow them down that way to get a different angle for my shots of the lake. Gazing beyond the pair, an open field with wildflowers came into view. I was struck by its beauty, surpassed the lovers, and knelt down to take in the aroma of the clearing's seemingly paramount gifts and to take close-up stills of them. I got the amount of pictures I'd wanted and stood to head back to the cable car, not wanting to stray far in the rural and unfamiliar treasure trove. Out of the corner of my eye then, something white showed itself. I turned to my right and was nearly knocked off my feet by what I'd almost overlooked completely. Spread out before me, the Alps opened their snow-covered arms inviting me nearer. Glancing at my phone I noticed I only had 20 more minutes if I didn't want to be stuck on a mountain for the night. I took off across the field, tearing by picnic tables and barbecue pits. I came to another clearing where even more of the peaks had given up trying to stay hidden. I grinned, used my trigger finger on camera button, and felt high as the mountains I stared in wonder and amazement at. I meandered down through some trampled brush to get yet another angle for jealousy-makers when another path appeared. Feeling that I might be able to get beyond the trees I ran through the forest, not even taking a step as I slid with loose rocks down a comparably tiny, but still rather large hill into another field. I noticed an electric fence on a hill that grew ahead of me and wondered what might be held there. Curiously, I approached the fence and spotted a few horses grazing. The scene was idyllic and utterly relaxing with flicking tails, the occasional bellow, and a valley spreading out behind them as far as I could see. Peering to my right once more I noticed the mountains had grown and become more numerous. Intrigued, I followed the outside of the fence until I came to a road marked by a hairpin corner. I walked down the road and instead of rounding the corner, went straight, ducking under a barbed wire fence whose purpose I never discovered. After pushing aside a few pine branches another clearing appeared and this is when I saw the roof of Europe.

About that tour then, yeah? I took a very touristy bus day trip from Geneva to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France and actually went atop the mountains that had so enamored me the day before. I basically can't even describe what I saw so pictures will have to do. Sorry.

Pictures from my Geneva/Chamonix-Mont-Blanc experience can be found here:

Switzerland/Mont Saleve: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289049&id=658221001&l=8e9fa87343

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289066&id=658221001&l=0ba2124c9d

Geneva Tomorrow/Colosseum Excursion Pictures

I've got a trip tomorrow. I'm going to Geneva, Switzerland and if I'm honest my nerves are a little shaky at this point. I'm not so much nervous about the destination and getting to my hostel and staying there as I am about going through two airports in two different countries of which I know almost none of the language. My Italian talents are minimal. I can say my name, where I'm from, and order pizza (with the aid of hand gestures) and my French skills are unfortunately lagging behind even those as I can only say a few words. It should be interesting and I feel like if I can survive tomorrow and get through everything easily I'll be confident the rest of the way through. We'll see. Another thing I'm nervous about is getting my Humanities paper done by Monday, but that should take care of itself! I'll certainly update this when I get back with pictures and other goodies.

Another note is that I've put up pictures from our class excursion to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Maritime Prison (where Saints Peter and Paul were imprisoned). The pictures can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=288008&id=658221001&l=751346c477

Pompeii

Today we went on our first class trip outside the city of Rome, heading to Naples and then finally stopping in Pompeii. I must say, I was very much looking forward to this trip and it didn't disappoint at all. It was actually better than I expected it to be. I got plenty of time to walk around by myself, chat with a myriad of Englishmen about football, see all of the sites I had wanted to see (including the amphitheater where Pink Floyd had played years before), practice using my Italian to manage to get back in after I had wandered outside, etc. Being in the amphitheater by myself at one point was magnificent and probably my favorite part was the completeness and perfect preservation of the Villa of the Mysteries. The fresco in there was great. What made it better than I expected was the landscape that totally surrounded the area. Obviously I knew of Vesuvius, but the mountain range that rises up 360 degrees around the city was utterly majestic (and watching the rain clouds tumble over them was a treat) and the view of those same mountains fading off into the water at the horizon was simply gorgeous. I couldn't help but think, though, that one day those sort of mudmen, those who died and remained at Pompeii could be us at any point. It put the day in perspective.

I did put the pictures from this trip into a new album and they can all be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=286669&id=658221001&l=55e37c9833

More Pictures Up

I uploaded over 100 new pictures from my trips to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City and the Capitoline Museum. I should have made a new album for them, but I didn't. The next time I upload I'll be making a new album, but until then here's the link for the new set of pictures:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=7162763&l=29d1be7f5b&id=65822100

The new ones start at #87 and go until the end!

Planning Update

An update as to my plans, I'll be taking the following trips:

I'll fly to Budapest, Hungary on Thursday, November 11th. After a night there I'll be taking a train to Prague, Czech Republic to try to at least act like I don't deny my heritage and wish I was Welsh. The train will take me through Austria and change over in Linz, so the scenery should be spectacular and I'm very much looking forward to Prague. The German leg of the trip has been cut due to lack of time, but I prefer getting to do a few things in both Budapest and Prague anyway.

Also, I've booked a trip to Spain and Portugal. I'll fly to Spain on Thursday, October 7th and spend a night there then take the long train ride to Lisbon, Portugal and fly home on October 10th. This was sort of spur of the moment, but the cost of flights and the train made it worthwhile. The fact that I know a little bit of Spanish factored in, too.

One other note on the confirmation front is that whilst in England I've decided to indeed ride down to Hastings on October 26th. I made this promise to myself when Katie and I went to the Duquesne Incline in Pittsburgh this summer:

When we were there we were looking at a bulletin board full of other "famous inclines" from around the world and I saw the one in Hastings, the East Hill Lift:

I look forward to going to the top of that as well as seeing where the Battle of Hastings took place in 1044. There are a few castles and a few sites to browse as always. I'm still trying to book myself a day trip to Edinburgh as well, but we shall see if that materializes.

Finally, I'm considering going to the Plitvice Lakes region of Croatia. This would have to be on one of my only remaining free weekends and would cost a fair amount, but it looks worth it. More updates to come!

School? What is that?

Sorry I haven't been updating this as much as I'd like. It's crazy, I've gotten busy with schoolwork. I know, I know, it's hard to believe seeing as I came here for school and all. One good thing for anyone that reads this on a regular basis (and that means you Amy) is that I just booked my flight to Switzerland. I haven't posted my itinerary for anything yet I guess, so here it goes:

(Along with the previously scheduled school field trips)

Geneva, Switzerland and possibly Nice, France - September 30th - October 3rd

Paris, France - October 21-22

London, England and possibly Hastings, England and Edinburgh, Scotland - October 23-27

Cardiff, Wales - October 27-28

Dublin, Ireland - October 29-30

A flight to Budapest, Hungary followed by a train ride through Slovakia and into Prague, Czech Republic followed by another train ride to Dresden, Germany is still in the works along with a weekend trip to San Marino. I'll post all of that as soon as I get to it. I'm very much looking forward to Friday's excursion to Pompeii, after which I'll be viewing Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii which I astutely remembered to bring.

For anyone interested, too, I've been listening to a few different things as of late. The albums I'm currently listening to include:

Guthrie Govan's Erotic Cakes

Steely Dan's Two Against Nature

Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros's Global A Go-Go and Streetcore

The Clash's Combat Rock

Led Zeppelin's Led Zeppelin IV

and Joe Grushecky's A Good Life

Vatican City

Today we went on a class trip to the Basilica of Saint Clement in Rome and then made our way to The Vatican. Saint Clement was neat. Parts of the church are from the 1st Century AD and I drank out of a spring that's been flowing since then. I enjoyed that part as well as seeing all of the frescos and tombs and thinking that they basically dated back to Jesus's time. Peter could have potentially been there and Christianity was still very much illegal. To think of it in that context is amazing, but, and all due respect to Saint Clement, nothing can compare to The Vatican. I just used the word amazing to describe a tiny little church (because it really was amazing), but I can't even begin to think of the words to tell you all how incredible The Vatican was. It gave me goosebumps and literally took my breath away. The scale of it is simply massive, but the grandeur and history and spirituality associated with St. Peter's and the area in general is so tangible. To give an underwhelming description for an English major I'll say that it was overwhelming. I'll definitely be going back there to be in audience of the Pope and then also to climb to the top of the dome and maybe even to catch a mass.

We Made It, Contrary to Popular Belief

Our flight arrived in Rome on September 10th around 11am and since then I've been waiting to connect with the outside world in any way, shape, or form. The internet on this street (Via Nomentana) has been down due to user error involving a backhoe. Everything so far has been both overwhelming and spectacular. It was incredible to be on the way here from the airport and to look up and realize, "Oh, there's the Colosseum." It seems like everywhere you turn there's an historical building or monument or fountain or something. It's not at all like being in DC where each thing like that has its own sort of space. The Washington Monument is off by itself and sticks out from its surroundings. The other day our site director gave us a sheet of things to take pictures of and my group was looking around for some random thing. We got lost on a back alley and suddenly came to the Pantheon. It was just in the middle of a confluence of a bunch of back streets! But I've seen so many things that most people only get to read about and that's one of the main reasons I wanted to come. I've only been here a few days and I feel like I've seen so much, so I can't even imagine what the next 87 days are going to be like.

See more pictures from these few days here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=283848&id=658221001&l=1c8a0e26ad

At Home in Fredericksburg

I'm currently at home in Virginia. I'll be posting updates as I make travel plans and as I become more sure of how much funding I will have. As of now the only dates I have are as follows:

Pompeii, Italy - September 24th

Florence, Italy - October 15th-17th

Venice, Italy - November 17th-21st

with a mid-semester break on

October 22nd-31st