Serendipity
That's the only word to describe this trip, really. I cannot believe how lucky I've gotten, but these past few days have contained more condensed luck than I deserve.
I went back to the Uffizi on Friday to see a few specific things, one of them being the room with the Rembrandt self portraits. It was closed. I was extremely disappointed and when I asked the woman working the room next door why that was the case, she told me the place was understaffed. We chatted for a few minutes and then she said, "Cinque minuti," got up, and with a finger to her lips opened up the door for me and let me in the room to have a few moments alone with Rembrandt. It was incredible.
That night I said my goodbyes to my study abroad friends but also got more italian culture in the form of Roberto Benigni reciting one of the cantos from Dante's Inferno (in front of the beautiful church of Santa Croce, no less). It is definitely a testament to his charisma that even though a lot of what he said went over my head (he spoke Italian molto veloce!) I was still completely captivated by the performance.
Saturday was a travel disaster but I finally made it to Elba and met up with Jenna. Luckily the only hotel I had been able to book was located in Marciana Marina, a wonderful and quiet fishing village set away from the more touristy parts of the island. We spent Sunday rock climbing, hiking, swimming (a total of three times for me), and seeing more of the island including one of Napoleon's hang outs during his exile on Elba.
I hated to go, and we definitely left regretfully, but after another trying day of travel we reached Rome yesterday evening. On our way to get some food we realized that there was some sort of commotion or public event going on near the Roman ruins. Lo and behold, Bryan Adams was singing just down the street! But it gets better: this was a FREE concert. And he was the just the opening act. The headliner? None other than Billy Joel.
That's right, folks. Jenna and I stumbled upon one of the best musical experiences of our lives last night. We saw Billy Joel perform for free right in front of the Colosseum. AHHH!!!!!!
We've decided we like Rome.
I went back to the Uffizi on Friday to see a few specific things, one of them being the room with the Rembrandt self portraits. It was closed. I was extremely disappointed and when I asked the woman working the room next door why that was the case, she told me the place was understaffed. We chatted for a few minutes and then she said, "Cinque minuti," got up, and with a finger to her lips opened up the door for me and let me in the room to have a few moments alone with Rembrandt. It was incredible.
That night I said my goodbyes to my study abroad friends but also got more italian culture in the form of Roberto Benigni reciting one of the cantos from Dante's Inferno (in front of the beautiful church of Santa Croce, no less). It is definitely a testament to his charisma that even though a lot of what he said went over my head (he spoke Italian molto veloce!) I was still completely captivated by the performance.
Saturday was a travel disaster but I finally made it to Elba and met up with Jenna. Luckily the only hotel I had been able to book was located in Marciana Marina, a wonderful and quiet fishing village set away from the more touristy parts of the island. We spent Sunday rock climbing, hiking, swimming (a total of three times for me), and seeing more of the island including one of Napoleon's hang outs during his exile on Elba.
I hated to go, and we definitely left regretfully, but after another trying day of travel we reached Rome yesterday evening. On our way to get some food we realized that there was some sort of commotion or public event going on near the Roman ruins. Lo and behold, Bryan Adams was singing just down the street! But it gets better: this was a FREE concert. And he was the just the opening act. The headliner? None other than Billy Joel.
That's right, folks. Jenna and I stumbled upon one of the best musical experiences of our lives last night. We saw Billy Joel perform for free right in front of the Colosseum. AHHH!!!!!!
We've decided we like Rome.
posted by Kendall Singleton | 3:14 PM
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