So our trip to Roma is literally rolling along. It started at 6:30 in the morning as we all rolled our overnight bags down the steep road in Urbino to the Plaza where we meet the chartered bus. Suitcase wheels are startling loud on roads make of bricks and stones. We survived the 4 hour bus ride despite the drivers masterful ability to pass small cars on winding roads, to intimidate other trucks that might want to be in our lane, to stop on a dime when necessary, and to back up across entire intersections when he wants to park. We are staying at the Hotel Pacifica, which is about a 10-minute walk to the Vatican. I took it as a good omen that there is a big display in the lobby of the hotel celebrating the year they opened, which coincides with the year I was born!
Our first outing, led by the students’ Art History teacher who resides in Rome but commutes to Urbino to teach, was the Vatican Museum. After about an hour though, we found ourselves having trouble absorbing any more information. Around every corner there was a picture by someone we had read about, a sculpture made so far back in time that we really couldn’t conceptualize it, or a relic left from the funerals of people who had no earthly idea that their efforts to deal with loss would be on display so many centuries later. The tour was amazing, but also physically and mentally exhausting. I am very happy with how well the Psychology student group is getting along. They have formed smaller groups of course, which is good since they are all working on where they want to travel over spring break but have been very good about keeping track of each other. The Sistine chapel was really crowded yesterday, so when we exited, we accidently left someone behindI it only took them about 3 minutes to let me know, and by the time I found her we easily caught up with the rest of the group, in of course the Vatican Museum Gift shop. There will be a lot of family members in Texas receiving beautiful rosaries for Christmas! Speaking of Texas, we did manage to bring a bit of our own culture to the Vatican. As many of you know the museum is a huge warren of rooms, courtyards, cul-de-sacs and long piazzas. Because they are from San Antonio, the members of our group (both male and female) inevitably held the doors open for others as we moved from room to room. Of course, we all thanked each other, but most of the other European tourists either looked at us with indifference or suspicion. At dinner some of the students who grew up in the very small towns around San Antonio commented that when they were in high school they couldn’t wait to leave. But now they miss knowing the people they pass on the street and appreciate the fact that in Texas you typically make eye contact, or even say hi to people whether you know them or not. Back at the hotel the kids have realized that our rooms, well really sort of walk in closets, all have balconies which face each other, and unlike in Texas, you have to open the windows to get air conditioning. I was sitting on the bed in my room by my window typing when I suddenly heard “Hey MC, (we have moved from the Dr. MC students call me at UTSA to an even shorter abbreviation) we are right across from you.” It made me laugh. Today we go on a walking tour of many of the iconic sites of Rome, so stay tuned for updates from the streets. As I often think when we are assembling to set off on an activity, “Let’s load ‘em up and move ‘em out” Even if I am herding gatii!
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