Finally an Update!

Sorry everyone that I've been so bad at updating the blog! Pretty much all my recent internet usage has been talking to Jess or planning spring break, but now that spring break is planned, I have time to let all of you know how I've been.

First, not much happened last week after the last update until Friday when I went on a day excursion to Tivoli, about an hour on the outskirts of Roma. Two art history classes were required to go on this trip, but anyone else could sign up to go. The first stop was Villa d'Este, the villa of a former governor of Tivoli. At this villa, there are 2,000 fountains! However, I never got to see these fountains running, because they occassionally shut them off for maintenance or whatnot, so I was really bummed about that. I'm planning on going back when the weather is nicer and I know the fountains are running!




The second stop was Villa Adriana. No fountains on this one, but here is a scale model from 1956 showing the property, and archeologists are still discovering more!


Villa Adriana was built during the Roman times. It is so impressive to see! The Romans were amazing when it came to innovation, design, and construction. They even had heated floors in their bath houses! The ruins were so incredible to see and were possibly one of the coolest things I've seen on the trip.





On Saturday I met some friends at the Colosseum, but because they all took so long to get there (half an hour late), I didn't have time to walk in the Colosseum or the Roman Forum. I'll have to save that for a nicer day as well. Here are a few pictures I took from the outside. The clouds provided some dramatic pictures, but I still wish it would be sunny and warm up. The off-and-on clouds, rain and sun, but mostly overcast weather makes me feel like I'm in Oregon again. I sure do miss Northern California weather.





Starting last week, I began thinking spring break and as of last night, that is all officially planned out. The plan went through several minor changes and I had to cut a few things out, but I'm fine with that decision and I think I'll enjoy the break more because of it. So here's the week:

Jess will be flying out for a week and will be here from March 26 to April 1. On the first, after she leaves, I'll be flying to Milan. April 2 I will visit Il Autodromo di Nazionale di Monza, and then see a few main sights in Milan. The next day I fly to Brussels and transfer to Bruges via rail. I'll be in Bruges for two nights and will be there the day of Easter. On Monday the 5th, I'll take the train to Spa, visiting the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, and the race museum in Stavelot on the 6th. I take the train back to Brussels and fly to Nice, where I'll be spending two nights, on the 7th. While in Nice, I'll sight see in Monaco as well. On the 9th, I am planning on travelling back to Roma.

It will easily be the best spring break ever. I had to cut out visiting the Nurburgring and Genoa from the plan, because it would have been too much in too short of a time to really enjoy each spot. I figured I would rather spend a full day at Spa, taking in that track as much as possible, rather than briefly see it and rush to Nurburg. But also by cutting out those trips, the amount I'll be spending on travel and lodging is much lower (I also found some good, cheap hostels) so I might be able to fit in a weekend trip or two that I wouldn't have been able to do otherwise.

This week will be pretty low-key once again until Saturday when I'll be going to a huge rugby game, part of the 6 Nations Rugby Tournament. I'll definitely have an update after that, but if I do anything cool this week, I'll be sure to let you all know.

Love you all and miss you a ton!