Though we call it the Rome trip, the senior class trip actually includes visits to 3 major cities in Italy. Here’s a brief overview of the trip with a few anecdotes and stories.
Thursday, September 29
- Depart from BFA. Drive through the night.
- Attempt to find multiple ways of sleeping in bus seats; finally find a comfortable position only to realize you can no longer feel a particular limb.
A full bus load of rambunctious kids
Friday, September 30
- Wake up in Florence. Realize you never truly were asleep.
- Eat breakfast at a rest stop; change into normal clothes in a bathroom full of sleepy but excited girls
- See Michelangelo’s David and some Stradivarius violins at the Academia museum
- Explore Florence!
- Drive to the hotel in Rome
Rest stop at dawn
One of my orchestra students with a Strad. He was really excited and wished he could play it
The real David is inside the museum, but photos were not allowed. This one is the copy outside a church.
Saturday, October 1
- See St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest catholic church in the world. The Pope preaches here.
- Tour Vatican City museum; avoid getting kicked out of the Sistine Chapel for taking pictures. Catch phrase for the rest of the trip: “No Fotos!”
- Take the train back to the hotel.
St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's from above. This was taken on the way up to the cupola, from which there was a nice view of the entire city
In St. Peter's: Michelangelo's "Pieta" - Mary and Jesus.
In the Vatican City: Raphael's "The School of Athens" depicting philosophers.
Sunday, October 2
- Church service on the beach
- Walking tour of Rome: Victor Emmanuel Monument, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and Trevi Fountain
- Find some world-famous coffee right across the street from a great pizza place, which is right next to an excellent gelato shop.
- Beach time before dinner. Beautiful sunset!
- Evening activity: Watch The Italian Job
Yummy coffee
Delicious gelato!
Fountain statue in the middle of Piazza Navona
Trevi Fountain statues
Some girls played soccer on the beach
Sunset
Monday, October 3
- See the Coliseum and listen to Mario’s vast knowledge of history and how it relates to the Christian faith
- Walk through the Roman Forum.
- Free time – see Spanish Steps. Run up and down Spanish Steps in 1 minute 35 seconds. Get free gelato for winning the bet.
- Evening activity: Small group discussion of “community”
Coliseum. Location of many martyrs' deaths.
Cross in the Coliseum
One of the many structures in the Roman Forum
While waiting for the bus, several students started singing. They realized it could be a profitable venture and earned 18 Euros.
Tuesday, October 4
- Beach Day! Run on the beach in bare feet, nap in the sun, swim in the sea, drink a cappuccino, play Ultimate Frisbee and try to avoid the angry sunbathers who do not appreciate getting run over by enthusiastic teenagers chasing a flying disc.
- Elegant dinner in Rome – more food than you ever imagined seeing in one place, and fancy dresses all around!
- Evening stroll to the Trevi Fountain area for ice cream. Get escorted across a street by a student practicing for his sister’s wedding.
- While waiting in line for gelato, stand in shock as an old man walks up, lowers his dentures, and moans. Chuckle at the oddness of the old man.
These boys dug a few large holes in the ground and connected them with tunnels. The boy in the foreground went through the tunnel first, followed by a guy twice his size!
Not sure what the first guy did, but he probably deserved a good splashing
These clever boys dug a hole in the ground, covered it with a T-shirt, and sprinkled sand on the shirt. They weren't so good at luring people into their ingenious trap, though.
My beautiful cappuccino. It was only 1 Euro.
My group, the Vikings, all dressed up, looking good, and looking into the sun. We're that cool.
Orchestra members after the incredibly satisfying dinner
the Trevi Fountain at night
This is the boy who escorted me across the street. Just after this shot, the creepy moaning toothless man appeared.
Wednesday, October 5
- St. Paul’s Outside the Walls – church which supposedly houses Paul’s chains.
- Catacombs – burial places where early Christians gathered to worship
- Ostia Antica – harbor city of ancient Rome. Now it harbors tourists, pine trees, and lizards.
- Beach time and pack up
- Bonfire to end our time in Rome
"Remember my chains."
Catacombs
IXOYC, which meant fish, was an acronym for "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior" The fish has been a symbol of Christians since the early church.
In the amphitheater in Ostia Antica
Pines of Ostia Antica
There's something special about singing around a campfire. On the beach. In the moonlight.
Thursday, October 6
- 4:30am wake up, 5am depart for Venice
- 3pm arrive in Venice. Take a boat to the city.
- Free time. Explore the city. Goal: get lost and find something cool hidden in a corner street, alley, or canal
- Sponsor dinner at a nice Italian restaurant. Fend off flirtatious waiter.
- Attend concert – Vivaldi’s 4 Seasons. Be impressed by students’ attention and excitement about the music.
- Load the bus. Get ready to repeat last Thursday’s procedure, except in the opposite direction
The boat ride into Venice
Gondolas - the trademark of Venetian canals
Found a dead end. You could walk off the street into the water!
On the Rialto bridge
Vivaldi's "Four Seasons"
The cellist was quite interesting to watch. I could see that he was playing the whole piece in his mind, not just the cello part. Watching him, no one would know he had a page of boring notes to play.
Friday, October 7
- Arrive at BFA. Unload and try to regain mental capacity required for things like walking home.
