Who needs sleep?

..........I do.

Bah! It is 03:00 and I have to get up at 06:00 to get ready for the day and leave around 07:00 so that I can get on a tram at 08:00 and then switch to a train at 09:00 destined to arrive in Firenze at 11:00.

I'm tired just thinking about it.

But I'm so pumped!!! Andiamo a Firenze, e poi Venezia, Verona, Vicenza, Milano, e infine Como.

I should be sleeping right now. But I'm so proud of my group's project and wanted to share -- in fact, everyone in studio did really well!

You don't want to know what time it was.

It's simple and gorgeous. The piazza, I mean.

Finished product, all pinned up!

One of six other beautiful projects.

Steve: My name is Steve Riley.

Me: I'm Stephanie Cervantes.

Steph: And I'm Stephanie Coxe.....

Snake Eyes is all packed up and ready to go. Seven days' worth of clothes in a messenger bag!

Almost Done

Piazza di Pietra

Exploded axon diagram of the space; column detail; map of ancient Rome superimposed on a modern figure-ground (".....What..?")

Everything is rendered with graphite pencils, free-hand traced on a light table. We're finishing up this morning; 6 hours to go!

Sibelius in Studio

Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer of the Romantic period and I should probably listen to more classical Italian music while I'm in Rome. but I've loved his Symphony No. 2 ever since I heard it performed at the Kimmel Center. Its final movement is so beautiful. I've been listening to it on repeat for the past few days as I continue to work on producing Project One for the final presentation on Wednesday, which is........ tomorrow.

Oh crap.

So I have Italian class today, then a little break before Sketching begins.

After that, it's crunch time. Forever.

When "forever" is over, I'll be sure to update again with more info about what we're doing outside of studio... and my favorite class (History/Theory -- strange, you'd think Sketching is my favorite. But there's something to be said about adding the sense of touch and smell to a history lesson).

For now... I think you should check out Sibelius. :)

Below is the beginning of the first movement. Here's the link for the playlist of the entire composition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGpCjsxBAEI&playnext=1&list=PL1B6B92495802E4AA&index=26

A Pillar of Rain

It's 7pm here and the bells of a nearby church are ringing. I'm sitting at my studio desk quietly winding down and getting my thoughts together.

To be honest, I haven't been in the greatest mood for the past couple of days. I went about my daily routine with what I think is a blank expression, but always on edge....

Before studio began at 2:30, I was trying to get my drawings together and begin some other diagrams for my project. Unfortunately, I haven't yet visited the art store to purchase any drafting dots; I've been using the tape that was left in studio from previous students. And now we're all out.

Me: Where are the drafting dots. Does nobody have drafting dots..?

Steph: No, I don't think so.

Me: *sigh*... Fine.....

So after spending about 5 minutes trying to get someone else to point out the art store on the map, I quickly ran out the door, flew down the steps, and was on my way in the direction of the Pantheon under a gray sky.

After 15 minutes of walking, I was greeted with a closed door and a dark room. I forgot that the hours here are different. They closed for lunch and wouldn't be back until 2 at the earliest. I considered waiting for it to open again, but I gave up after a while. Instead, I decided I would wander over to the Pantheon. It's like a magnet and I am the paperclip. And I was having a bad day. "You can fix that," I thought.

When I walked inside, I remembered what many teachers and friends have told me before:

Go when it rains.

The center of the floor was roped off because the floor was wet. It rained earlier in the morning, and it was getting darker again.

I walked outside and saw that people were beginning to open up their umbrellas.

So I went back in, took a look around at the somewhat empty Roman-temple-turned-into-a-Catholic-church. Then I turned my head upwards, and it started raining.

Time slows down when you look up.

I left, went back, left again, went back and called Steph to let her know where I was, left again, went back again, and then left for real. I just couldn't go.

I ran in the rain with a stupid grin on my face.

National Museum of Rome

I'm finally getting back into my sort-of-normal studio routine. Work, learn, work, learn some more, work, eat, procrastinate a bit... work, work, sleep. Sketch, erase, repeat.

The only difference is that I'm in Rome (yes, I still don't think I've fully realized it). And my classroom is the city.

Really, though.

We had our first History class on Monday with Doctor Higgins -- and let me tell you. She knows her stuff. For 3 straight hours, she brought us around the now familiar sights that we've seen almost every day since we've been here, including the recognizable Tiber Island that we pass by every morning and every evening. So far, it seems that this class ties together history with mythology. I am beyond excited about this; I used to love reading about Greek and Roman mythology when I was little. It's wonderful to learn about it all over again and see it with new eyes.

After studio on Monday, we were given a new assignment for our sketching class: get lost in Rome.

No, I'm not exaggerating.

We were split into groups of 2 or 3, given a specific Metro stop to travel to, and told to find our way back.

Here are the rules:

1. Look at a map once. After that, you must put it away and navigate using things you know, such as major sites or the sun. (I didn't bring a map, and neither did any of my group members)

2. You must spend at least 3 hours getting back. (We were back in the neighborhood of Campo in a little less than 3 hours; we even took our sweet old time getting there. Whoops.)

3. Don't take the straight route back. Get lost. Get distracted. Explore. (My favorite part)

4. Document the journey through photographs, sketches, or things found along the way. (The three of us were given roses -- sort of against our own will)

5. Have fun! (How could we not?)

6. We have about 3 weeks to work on compiling all of our gathered pictures, sketches, and roses into a presentation for the class.

Where were we assigned to go? The Spanish Steps. Unfortunately, I wasn't well-prepared for the trip. I took pictures, but then realized my memory card wasn't in my camera. :(

This is what it looks like, though. Gorgeous, is it not?

(http://www.simonho.org/photographs_italy.htm)

But when we got there, that's not the first thing that we saw.

"Where are these steps....?"

"Are we at the top....?"

Then we reached the end of the block and the sky was opened up to us again, and --

Yes. Yes, we were.

(http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2512558060096468390GLpmEr)

Beyond the obelisk standing proudly in front of the basilica, I spotted some trees covering a neighboring hill. Have I been there yet? I don't know, I don't think so.... All around, we could see majestic domes forming the beautiful Roman skyline. Who needs skyscrapers?

---------

Earlier in the week, I was walking around the Campidoglio to get some pizza with my friends. As I ate outside, I watched seagulls flying around the top of the Altare Della Patria. Wings and walls were flooded with light. Reminded me of bats in flight.

While we were still walking, we passed by a window that read: Museo Nazionale Romano.

And I couldn't help but laugh when I saw a few remnants of Corinthian columns sitting on pedestals. First of all, that's not where they belong. Secondly -- and this, I said aloud -- who needs a museum in Rome?

Rome is a museum.

Now I understand.

I should be up and ready to leave for Campo de Fiori right now, but I have to admit it's nice to lay in bed and relax after days of walking and attempting to absorb everything.

Yesterday morning, we went to see some of the Seven Hills of Rome, starting with the Campidoglio on Capitoline Hill. From there, we overlooked the Roman Forum and saw the Colosseum in the background. Ruins, almost as far as the eye can see.

We stopped by a couple of churches, slowing down our pace to sketch for an hour or so inside San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane. I took a picture of what I was sketching when it was time to leave, but then I remembered. . . .. . ... I could go back anytime in the next few months and finish it there.

I talked to Matt later in the day, it being a little past noon back at home, and told him about my experiences when I realized something very important to me:

Italians are proud of their heritage and I always knew why, but I never fully understood it until I saw what I saw today.

Ruins, almost as far as the eye can see...

Why would they ever turn their back on that...?

The language barrier's not that bad. I know enough that I can understand what someone is saying to me, but I'm not far enough to hold a conversation yet. It helps that my Italian teacher will only speak Italian for the majority of our 2-hour-long class.

There is an old man who living next door who tried telling me one day that we (the students living here) can eat the mandarin oranges from the tree. He laughed a little when he realized I don't speak his language, but we tried to communicate anyway. I intend to be able to actually talk with him before the semester is over....

Now that I'm looking at these pictures from yesterday, I'm thinking, "What am I doing, wasting time on the computer and not exploring the city?? I need to be out there!"

Homesickness, I will not let you get the better of me.

I spy my little guy....

The time has come for me to introduce another member of the study abroad group, other than we architecture students and our teachers.

Dear readers, meet Snake Eyes! Also affectionately dubbed Adventure Guy and my little man. Here he is, captured enjoying the view from my apartment window.

He likes to go places that no one else could. What can I say? I would do the same if I was only 3 inches tall. I mean... I guess I wouldn't have much of a choice.

It takes him a while to get anywhere..... He got stuck in some leaves on the way to studio. I tell him I could keep him in my purse or my pocket to make things easier, but then he tells me that wouldn't be fair. He wants to see the sights, too.

Sometimes, I have to go out of my way to find him and keep him out of trouble. I have a lot of school work to keep me busy, and a lot of things to see and experience in Europe.

I hope he didn't get lost somewhere in Campo de Fiori..... Can you spot him?

Where's my camera when I need it?

Back in the apartment, on my bed, with a dead battery.

I guess that's one way to get someone to start sketching, right?

I don't know where to begin. How do I tell you everything that happened since I first made this blog? Even if I tried to keep things in bullet points, there aren't enough words for me to describe how amazing it is to experience Rome. You really do have to see it for yourself. Everything we've learned about in class, we're seeing in person. You turn a corner, walk down a street, and all of a sudden you've stumbled upon a piazza and you find the Pantheon.

We walked inside during our studio orientation and introduction to Campo de Fiori and the surrounding areas. I stood beneath the Oculus and got chills when I saw a bird flying overhead. I want to go back and see the sunrise; the sunset; a pillar of rain; or even just fast clouds.

Chiesa di Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza.

Santa Maria della Pace.

Piazza Navona.

Area Sacra.

Castel Sant'Angelo.

Il Vaticano.

Basilica di Santa Cecilia, not 2 minutes away from where I'm staying....

The semester's barely begun. :)

It's like an average of 60 degrees Fahrenheit over here, every day. Meanwhile, I'm just now learning about a snowstorm that's travelling up the east coast back at home.

I forget that it's January.

Never been.... but now it's my home.

Well, here I am. And here I'll live for the next few months: The Eternal City.

I am half unpacked, and exhaustion is hitting me hard after not being able to sleep on the plane. But I can't sleep yet! Must avoid jetlag.

Tomorrow is Orientation Day. I've had quite an orientation already in terms of weather (high of 60F -- it's snowing back at home), traffic, friendly people, and narrow streets. Observation of the day: if your car can fit, then you can drive it. Also, brakes seem to be a last resort kind of thing.

I'm excited! Here we go....