Misc Pics

Our group at the colosseum.

After returning from Orvieto, Nicolette, Shannon, and I decided to take the band down to the river to get a lil practice in before our debue in the Campo di Fiore. The view of Rome looks a bit apocalyptic down here.

At Ostia Antica we tried to pose all statuesque but we're obvioulsy not graceful enough.

Napoli & Pompeii

Nicolette, Shannon, Heather, and I decided that the first weekend spent in Rome should not be wasted. On a whim we decided to catch a 5:00am train to Napoli for 10 E, it was definately worth it.

After arriving in Napoli, we found a hostel, dropped our bags and caught a bus to Pompeii, about 30 mins outside of the city. In the background you can see Mt. Vesuvius which erupted in 79 C.E.. The castatrophy of the eruption lasted 2 days completely covering the city of Pompeii and Herculaneum in ash. These cities contain some of the best preserved mosaics, baths, frescoes, humans, and animals.

The ash that covered humans and animals created a cast of the bodies. This is not the actually body of this man, rather a mold in which the archeologists found during their excavations. The building pictured on the right was probably some sort of bar or restaurant. In ancient times it was custom for people to eat their meals not at home but in bars or restaurants (obvioulsy not the same term). This counter you see would have been the bar and the holes would have held snacks. At the end of the counter you can see a well preserved frescoe.

We decided if Mt. Vesuvius was to blow again we'd like to be found 2,000 years later in these positions. Hahahah we're aweful I know.

As history majors we visit these sites for the educational purpose, but we usally spend a fair amount of time goofing off and making light of the past events.

After returning from our big day at Pompeii we were starving, and I was on a quest. I had read in "Eat Pray Love" that the best pizza in Napoli could be found at De Michelle's. After the locals confirmed this I was on a mission to find this restaurant. This is were it all started. Napoli has mastered the art of making margherita pizzas. There's no menus, only one kind, but you wouldn't want anything else. De Michelle's is hands down the place to go for the famous margherita. Note: I'm almost done with my pizza while the girls start in on theirs hahaha. The photo on the right was taken on Sunday when we were leaving Napoli. Shannona climbed a orange tree so I could try one, turns out oranges from trees planted next to busy streets are DISGUSTING! Go figure.

Ostia Antica

The city of Ostia Antica dates from the 3rd C B.C. It was an important harbour city outside of Rome, and much of the buildings, frescoes, and mosiacs are still well preserved.

After paying to enter, you are turned loose and free to wander throughout the maze of ruins. The city is large and much of it is still grown over with bushes and vines, creating a feeling of being in the secret garden.

This mosaic was the floor in a family's house (a wealthy family). Me and Amy are checking out the public bathrooms.

I was peering into this building and accidentally leaned against the wall and almost crumbled the entire city of Ostia Antica. The wall withstood over 2,000 years of weather damage until I showed up, oops. Don't worry, it was just that one brick haha

Pantheon, St. Peter's Basilica

My apt is located about a 5 minute walk from Hadrian's Pantheon built in the mid 2nd C. It is the oldest standing domed structure in Rome. Rebuilt twice due to fires caused by lightening, the Pantheon was orginally a temple for the Roman gods, but today it is used as a church. The painter Raphael's tomb is located inside. No one knows exactly how the dome was constructed. There are no visible seems on the entire dome, it seems to be one entire piece. At the top of the Pantheon dome is the open Oculus which Richele and I are admiring here.

St. Peter's Basilica at sunset my 2nd night in Rome. The middle pic is approaching St. Peters, and the last is directly in front, which doesn't do it justice because it's absolutely HUGE!

Click pics to enlargen. The first pic is taken at the entrance of St. Peters looking down the nave toward the high alter. The structure in the middle down the nave is Bernini's Baldacchino. This bronze structure sits directly over St. Peter's buriel spot. The Pic on the left is Michelangelo's "Pieta" carved from marble. You used to be able to walk fully around the statue but someone took a hammer to Mary's nose so now you can only view it from glass. Very beautiful but this pic doesn't do it justice. The video in the middle is of the Piazza directly in front of the basilica. I'm doing my presentation to the class on this piazza!

Rome during the Republic

The Colosseum(also called the Flavian amphitheater because it was built during the reign of the Flavian emperors) You can see the underground chambers and trap doors that held back beasts and gladiators. They even flooded up to the first row of seats for mock water battles.

The Arch of Constantine is located right next to the Colosseum. It was built in the early 4th C to celebrate Constantine's victory at the Milvian bridge and his defeat over Maxentius (supposedly with the help of divine intervention). After this battle he became the emperor of Rome, often referred to as the first Christian Emperor because of his tolerance of the Christians and his conversion at the end of his life.

Lots of Arches! This is the Arch of Titus, located up the street from Constantine's arch and the Colloseum. I can't remember much about it other than it was built to commemorate Titus' sack of Jerusalem and the 2nd destruction of the Jewish temple. Under the Arch carved scenes depict soldiers marching through Rome carrying loot from Jerusalem.

Roman Forum: The pic on the far left is the ruins of the Temple of the Vestal Virgins. There were 7 vestal virgins in all. Believe me, if you were a woman living in ancient Rome, you'd want to be one of these girls. The Central Pic is also a temple, actaully taken over by the Christians later on and turned into a Church. Interesting fact, Saint Lawrence was martyred (BBQed) on the steps right in front of the columns. The far right pic is the remains of the Roman Forum.

The man himself. Julia Ceasar!

Viktualien Markt: During Christmas this is a huge Weinachtsmarkt (x-mas market). Good Food!

Munich

AltesRathaus from my hostel window during sunrise.

This is the AltesRathaus located in Marienplatz. At the middle of the tower is the Glockenspiel.

Englisher Garten. You can see the Munich skyline behind me, dominated by Frauenkirche and AltesRathaus.