Spring break in Italy
Over spring break, I visited Italy along with seven other students from Uni’s second- and third-year Latin classes.
We first arrived in Rome, where we were greeted by a warm and sunny day. As we toured the city in our private bus, I took in the breathtaking views of the town and the countryside. Palm trees spread throughout the fields and the grass was so much greener than it is back at home. Apartment buildings were painted in colorful shades of yellow and orange, and private balconies overflowed with flowers and other greenery. The entire city looked so old and peaceful, a huge contrast from the United States.
During the next few days in Rome, we visited the Pantheon, the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus, and the Vatican. After seeing so many pictures of these places from history and Latin class, it was wonderful to see them in person. The Vatican, in particular, was incredibly impressive. Everything about it — from the ceilings covered with paintings done in gold to the thousands of famous artworks on display — all seemed to point out its richness.
Unfortunately, over the course of the trip, the weather turned cold and rainy. Nevertheless, we still went to Pompeii, Florence, Tuscany, and Milan. Personally, my favorite place was Florence. During our two-night stay there, we sped through the city trying to see all that it had to offer. We saw Michelangelo’s David, the graves of the Medici family, and the massive Duomo that was the symbol of Florence. My favorite display was the painting by Botticelli titled “The Birth of Venus” at the Uffizi Gallery. Even though we’ve learned about it in history class, the brilliant colors and intricate details were so much more beautiful up close.
I absolutely loved shopping in Florence. The streets were filled with vendors, selling everything from fake Gucci and Chanel to replicas of famous artworks. I was especially entertained by how the knockoff sellers ran from the police. It was as if as soon as a police officer appeared, the streets would clear out in literally two seconds.
I also enjoyed bargaining with the vendors. I actually became pretty good at it, managing to get a watch from 35 euros down to 10. However, it was also annoying and a bit scary at times when some sellers came after me when I didn’t buy anything.
The food in Italy was fantastic. I especially liked the pasta and gelato (Italian ice cream). However, Italian dinners last ridiculously long. You get your first course, which is generally pasta. Then about 30 minutes later, the waiter serves the second course. About another half hour later, you get dessert. I even fell asleep during one meal that dragged on for more than two hours.
Over the course of the trip, we also had lots of bonding time. I got to know my roommates pretty well. On the first night in Rome, the boys thought our hotel was haunted, so the girls and I had fun scaring them. Another night we watched Italian MTV. The sophomore boys were obsessed with playing cards, and we were up until 3 one night (or morning) playing a game called 80 points. I think I’ve played enough cards to last me until summer.
Overall, I really enjoyed the trip. Despite the tons of walking each day, the jet lag, and the cold weather in Italy, everything else was even better than I had imagined it could be.
— Elaine Gu