bwaaa-----

In just a few hours, I will be on a bus with my favorite people.

We will be headed toward the airport, where our plane will arrive and let us board for our flight into Asia.

And then we will hop on a bus that will take us to our destination in Europe.

I will be in Istanbul for a week.....for school.. .. . . ..

Just so you're aware, I'm telling this more to myself than anyone else because I still can't quite believe how fortunate I am. I never thought I'd actually go to Istanbul. This is no longer a plan on a piece of paper. My luggage is packed, I have my passport beside me (OMG I'M GOING TO GET A STAMP FOR TURKEY----)

......deep breaths.

I know! I'll calm myself down by uploading pictures of what we've been doing in terms of studio and field studies.

The derive project was a lot of fun. Not stressful at all; actually quite refreshing to be able to be so creative without limitations of regular studio projects.

Not that that's a bad thing, it's nice to be challenged. But it was also really fun to see how everyone was thinking outside of the box while not designing. If only we weren't a bit confused about the requirements (of which there weren't really any, in terms of materials used -- i.e., we didn't have to draw on paper -- we just thought we did because we misunderstood our field studies class as being only a sketching class).

And in terms of studio Project 2, that was just as good. We'd been doing exercises in which we're given a figure-ground map from places outside of Rome with a portion cut out. Our assignment is to fill in the gap with our own scheme, thinking about context, movement, and all other aspects of urban design. For the first two studies, we had one our each to come up with a response. The third, we were given a week, or a few days. The final one that we pinned up was a site in Rome and was done over the span of... a week and a half, I think..?

I stayed up through the last night (don't worry, I napped afterwards) to tone my drawings and saw the market vendors setting up before the sun began to rise in Campo, listened to good working music (from Chopin to The Andrews Sisters to Sleigh Bells), and didn't freak out. That's... a first...

I think it may have something to do with the fact that I didn't get consumed by attempting to build a perfect model.

And finally, for further enjoyment, please.. PLEASE... watch this video. It will make you so happy if you do.

Villa Giulia and Girasole

Just a quick update, since today I'll be busy wandering around Rome, cleaning up my studio space, visiting Notre Dame's study abroad campus for a pin-up, and finally...

packing for Istanbul.

We're leaving tomorrow morning!!!

Let's hope my clothes are dry by tonight.

Earlier this week for our field study class, Marina took us to Villa Giulia and Moretti's Girasole, stopping on the way at several sites including The Spanish Steps,

Villa Borghese (wonderful spot for a picnic),

The National Gallery of Modern Art,

and Rome's University of Architecture.

It was quite a hike. In fact, I just mapped out our route (it's become a habit of mine since the Derive project) -- I don't know how many miles (excuse me, kilometers) we walked. Probably like 6 km. Going one way.

It was amazing.

no stopping

I once made a conscious decision that I was done with this.

No more discovering complications and making them more complicated.

Simply decided to stop.

(in hindsight, perhaps that's why I am the way I am)

But then, of course, I can't control these things.

That decision didn't matter -- do they ever?

Worst timing, too. Istanbul is in one week.

But I don't care, I've decided

that I'm going.

That was months ago.

There's no stopping it and there's no stopping me.

If you don't already know what this is about, I'm not telling.

I just needed a place to go.

Back to work.

Giolitti and...

Last night was one of my favorite nights in Rome so far. A simple trek over to Giolitti ended up being a 2.5 hour-long derive. Or maybe it was longer. All I know is that I went piazza hopping with Marisa, Rebecca, and Steph until a little past midnight, and then sat in the courtyard talking with Andrew for a while.

In chronological order, here's where we went, piazza-wise. Have fun mapping out our path:

1. Piazza Benedetto Cairoli (the site of Rebecca's group Project 1 -- we walk by it every day)

2. Piazza della Minerva (on the way to Giolitti)

3. Piazza di Monte Citorio (right around the corner from Giolitti)

4. Piazza della Rotonda (to see the Pantheon illuminated by a full moon while enjoying gelati)

5. Piazza di Pietra (along the pathway from the Pantheon to Trevi Fountain; the site of my group's Project 1)

6. Piazza di Trevi (per vedere la fontana)

7. Piazza Colonna (in passing, along Via del Corso)

8. Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps, where we were able to go inside the church, Santissima Trinita dei Monti, and also saw a TV show being filmed outside)

9. Piazza di San Lorenzo in Lucina (on the way back from the Spanish Steps; Marisa's site for group Project 1)

10. Piazza del Parlamento (my site for Project 2, which is underway!)

11. Piazza della Rotonda again (completely deserted by this time)

12. Piazza della Minerva again

13. Piazza Benedetto Cairoli again

14. Piazza di Ponte Garibaldi (totally made up that name.... but it's the one on the Trastevere side of Ponte Garibaldi -- Marisa's site for Project 2)

It's become quite a tradition to sit on the steps of the obelisk in front of the Pantheon while finishing up un piccolo gelato con panna che costa 2.50 Euro (I say piccolo, but it's really not that small). When we were finished, rather than go home right away, we collectively decided, Hey, we haven't been to Trevi Fountain yet... It's nighttime and less crowded now, so why not?

Well, it wasn't quite empty at the fountain, but it was worth it. Could've been more crowded. While some of us have seen it before, that was the first time I'd ever laid eyes on the fountain in person, or even seen anything around it. After staring at it for a few minutes, I turned to Steph and asked over the din of flowing water, "Should I throw in a coin?"

Steph: Only if you want to come back to Rome.

Me: "Do I want to come back to Rome?"

Steph: I don't know, do you?

Me: *digging in my pockets* Is that a real question?

Of course I want to come back. I followed tradition and tossed a coin over my shoulder.

Here's to wishing... no, hoping... no, intending to return one day.....

After we left Trevi Fountain, we were still really in the mood to see other things. I felt like nothing was too far away for us. The Spanish Steps were also on our list of things to see at night without the mass of tourists and men trying to sell roses, so we made our way over in that direction. We were still greeted by the sight of others, but more locals than tourists, if there were any at all. The night only got better when we saw a film crew hard at work, taking advantage of clear skies and the empty piazza.

The highlight for me began when I saw the open doors of Santissima Trinita dei Mori, at the summit of the stairs. When I told the others, we practically ran up the steps for fear that the doors would close before we got there.

When we walked inside, we saw that they were open for adoration, and so we spent a few minutes in reverence and prayer.

It was the quietest moment of our adventure, but it was the loudest. Especially when I exited the church to see that obelisk silently calling out to all of Rome.

I realized last night: I'll be back here one day.

Ventitre cannoli, per favore.

Marina: *looking at the clock* Oh. Class ends in five minutes...! But I was thinking--

Everyone else: ...........

Marina: --- that maybe we could all go get cannoli after this...as a group...?

Who says no to that?

That's what I thought.

Sunny skies continue (although I hear it's supposed to rain this week -- which is a perfect reason to go back to the Pantheon. Win-win situation). There's music everywhere you go. The pin-up for the Derive project was as successful as a critique can get in terms of being an involved discussion. These kinds of dialogues remind me of my passion for discovery through architecture and the experience -- continuous, specific, unrepeatable events.

Who was that philosopher who wrote about how nobody else will be able to know what you know, in the way that we each have our own senses? For example, I might tell you to look at what I'm looking at and make you stand where I stand, but our perceptions will never quite agree. Or that nobody will smell exactly what I smell; nobody will be able to touch the exact spot that I am touching at the same time as me. Who was that...? ...Hume? Kant? Nietzsche? Descartes? None of the above?

I really enjoy philosophy. But I'm bad at remembering who said what, which is kind of important.

But anyway. Yeah. That.

I know --

I'm so young. I've got a long way to go before I understand anything.

But trust me. While I don't know what I want to do with the rest of my life, I do know what inspires and motivates me. And if there's anything we should all do, it's to run with that feeling. Don't chase it. Don't lead it.

Do what makes you happy.

I ended the day with a night at an opera theater (I went with Steph and Chrissy and other CUA study abroad students). It was the first time I've ever seen The Barber of Seville. So funny.... And I must say, it feels good to listen to Italian music and be able to pick up words and phrases.

I think it goes without being said that I don't want this semester to end.

..... . . .. ...That was a d*** good cannolo.

Bittersweet

It's too beautiful outside for me to concentrate on my work. It's the perfect weather, recently: springtime (in fact, when I was walking around outside of Parco della Musica earlier this week, it smelled like summer...) -- but without the side effect of allergies.

Not yet, anyway.

I've been zoning out a good deal more than usual, ever since this semester started. I can't help but play out scenarios that can and do actually take place:

- eating gelati outside of the Pantheon with my friends at 9 o'clock.

- opening the windows to let the soft breeze bring in the sweet smell of food from Campo and the surrounding houses.

- sitting in a local cafe (bar, that is) and working on my sketches.

- spending a sunny afternoon in the courtyard of the apartment picking oranges and lemons ("--say the bells of St. Clement's....'You owe me five farthings,' say the bells of St. Martin's...")

- deliberately getting lost in the city of Rome. For a project.

And in barely two weeks' time, I will be on a plane destined for Istanbul ("--not Constantinople.") Don't worry, Shiel, I'll get you your Turkish Delights. I'll get a lot.

Can't focus.... There's so much on my mind.

I've also been kind of sad. Up until just a few hours ago, I wasn't so sure what it could be.

After hours of defining this feeling and trying to pinpoint exactly what's bugging me, I was left with an underlying question:

Does everyone see what I see?

As an outsider (since I will never belong to this city), I wonder if its own people look around and if so, how often? How closely?

There's such a beauty in every physical sense, even down to the feel of cobblestones under my shoes.

But it's like anyone in their own city: you don't do all the tourist-y stuff because you live there. You could do it anytime you want. So, naturally, you never do any of it... (unless you're like me and you do some of it).

And if you're a tourist, you do all the tourist-y stuff that you can fit in a small number of days.

As a student, I have a little more time remaining that allows me to escape the label of a tourist. But I don't live here. And, eventually, I will have to go back home. It's painful to know, but I'd rather have it that way.

I see more.

Do you understand..?

It's perfectly flawed....

Milan

I loved the train station. It reminded me of the Galerie des Machines in France that I learned about last semester.

Rose window of Milan's Cathedral.

The things we do for great pictures.

Note the size of the people beside the columns.

I've seen pictures of Milan's Gallery and I fell in love with it. It was great to see it in person.

After our day as a group was finished, I went to the museum of modern art.

And then we had dinner as a group again. :)

This time, there was a pianist who played, quite beautifully, songs ranging from "Rhapsody in Blue" to Disney and movie themes to Ragtime to Classical music.

I had octopus for my appetizer. The main course was pasta with cuttlefish and squid. So much seafood!

Such great company. I love group dinners.