Thanks for the Inspirational Words Salinger!

"The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody’d move. . . . Nobody’d be different. The only thing that would be different would be you."

However cliche, this has been one of my favorite quotes since I read this book. I no longer consider it my favorite book ( and rightfully so I might add), but these lines remain with me, usually when I return home to New England after being in the district for so long. Yesterday, Mel and I walked across the Tiber as we have done many times before, and I realized that although the surrondings changed, it's still the Tiber, with the same views, same crowds, same bus stops.

This is a picture I took on the first night in Rome:

In the summer months and into fall, the Tiber in Trastevere bursts with nightlife. Restaurents set up right againest the water, and there is music, dancing and shopping right along its banks. Now three months later this is how it looks:

Taken from almost the same angle, it now flows with desolate and deserted banks. Still kind of beautiful though ( That's the Vatican standing behind the bridge)

It's funny, how you don't notice things changing until they actually do.

This sounds philosophical which I hate, because I am not like that! I just pretty pictures okay?

xox

Molly( or Mole-y as my Italian teacher calls me)

Herman Hesse Finally Wins.

After a long battle with Herman Hesse, he is winning me over with his Journey to the East. I sat in this little cafe in Piazza Trilussa that Ricki introduced me too, sipping Italian hot chocolate ( the best ever) and reading it on this cold rainy day. I've had a fun last weekend in Rome and visited the Piazza Navona Christmas Market yesterday. It is crazy! They have the best donuts called ciambella and they serve them hot ( calda!) As Rachel Ray says, Yum-o!. I won't lie; I miss her a little bit. I miss my family and my bffs, and New England, but I realize I'm not ready to leave.

Pictures from my time Rome'n Around... God, I am clever :)

Ali and I on top of St. Peter's, the largest church in the world! I don't usually look like such a freak, but apparently scratching my forehead and making cuts are my new things whist having dreams about being attacked. COOL. Also, be proud of Ali... she is petrified of heights and look how happy she is here!

Hi Rome!! From the top of St. Peter's Basilica looking out at Vatican City. Yes, I am wearing a red and green headband to celebrate December 1st.

Col-Col and I being super religious.

You can't see it that well, but the small inner circle of the dome is where you stand and look out into the church. It's also still 320 steps away from the top!

On the Tiber in Winter :)

Home soooon. CRAZY!

Rome Conquers Me

Since Monday of this week, so three days ago I have done:

An Oral Presentation for Italian Media and Pop Culture on the Presence and Importance of Local Identities and their Role in Nationalism for Italy, specifically through a case-study on Frascati.

A 10 page paper on St. Francis' and St. Catherine of Siena's role as both spiritual and political communicators in Medieval Italy for Religion and Spirituality in Medieval Italian Literature

A 10 Page paper on the above Case Study for Italian Media and Pop Culture, more specifically outlining the history of villa culture and wine production and how they build local identity in the Castelli Romani region.

My final creative writing Notebook.

My Italian Oral Presentation.

and finally another 10 page paper for Art History discussing the relationship between artwork and architecture from St. Catherine's Monastery at Mt. Sinai and its significance in the Byzantine Empire.

and now I'm donee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Except for the four finals I have next week.

but I can sleep again!!


Christmas markets this weekend :)

and to clarify. I love that I have spent 3 months in Rome. I don't necessarily love it all the time slash my apartment. but oh wellllll!


x's and o's
Molly

Thanks for the pawn shops St. Francis!

Yes it's true. Good old Francis of Assisi created the idea behind pawn shops. He wanted even the very poor to be able to get money if they needed it without having to go into debt. Really, they should have made him a patron saint on that alone!

In all seriousness, I went to Assisi on Friday with my Religion and Spirituality in Medieval Italian Literature class. Thoughts are:

1) From its posistion on the hill, it is breathtaking. It was a little foggy so I'm not sure my pictures are the best, but go see it for yourself!

2) The basilica is amazing. Even the artwork alone ( pretty much all frescos of Francis' life by Giotto) are worth going to visit.

3) There is not much of a social life, so a daytrip ends up plenty of time and be prepared to walk all the hills! My legs are still hurting.

4) So many quaint shops to buy pressies for people! I found this really charming shop with special made pasta and olive oil because there are a lot of olive trees there! Another shop had speciality soaps that smelled divine and were all made there. I loved the white musk one and bought it for myself and they had soaps made from red wine.... MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

5) There is a beautiful castle to hike up too, which leads to this overlook on the mountain. I felt like I could see forever. Definitely worth it!

Go Francis. You Rock!

Molly