Slow Week

Sorry I haven't written in a while, not much as been going on this week except for class. I did do a few exciting things though. On Tuesday after class, Danny and I went on a walk to find the Jewish ghetto area. Of course there is a huge menorah and a large synagogue at the beginning of the street. We asked a kind looking elderly man outside the temple where the actual Jewish quarter was and he pointed us in the right direction. As we walked along the street, we saw familiar hebrew letters and foods such as hummus and falafel. I didn't get any, but of course I tried some of Danny's. It was fantastic! The streets not too big, so we left after we got the food, but I know I will be going back soon to get my own hummus and have a nice Jewish meal one night! We told a bunch of people on our program and said we would take them there for a meal so they can try the food!

Last night, my friend Kim and I found a gym right near our apartments that will let us join for 50 euro a month, which is the cheapest we have found yet. We checked out this gym, which isn't that nice, but we were able to take a class for free. The class we took was aerobics/steps. It was a good work out, but not worth 50 euro. Although I still have not found a gym or work out here, I am okay with it...for now. I am so tired when I get home from school because we go from about 9-5 that I have no motivation to work out. I'm glad we got to take a free class though!

Today our Layers of Rome class toured the Roman Forum and the Colosseum! We discussed the history of the forum as the civic center of ancient Roman life. Banks, temples, courthouses, and markets of trade were embedded in this area which stretched the span of two arches, the Arch of Titus and the Arch of Septimius Severus. The Arch of Titus was built to commemorate the capture of Jerusalem over the Jewish Zealots. The Arch of Septimius Severus was built to commemorate the victories of Emperor Septimius Severus in Parthia. The Roman Forum was not very big considering how many people (every Roman citizen) had to fit inside it for numerous years. It was decorated with the ruins of numerous ancient temple and monuments, including the House of the Vestal Virgins, who were the highest and most honored priestesses in the city and the Basilica Julia, which was built Julius Caesar for the reorganization of the forum and used for various public events. While listening to long public addresses, Roman citizens would play a game where you had to throw a pebble into a carved hole. The speech could not be longer than 7 hours, so the game was played often. We tried playing today, but we all missed the wholes.

We then walked to the Colosseum and went inside. We found out that the “Colosseum” is just a nickname given to it because of the colossal statue of Emperor Nero that once stood before it. Its real name is the Flavian Amphitheater. As we walked higher and higher up the Colosseum, I began to truly appreciate the amazing events that had taken place thousands of years before. Besides gladiator battles, there were bullfights and circus events held there as well and during the inaugural performances over a two month span, around nine thousand animals died. Our professor let us go early to explore the rest of the Colosseum on our own. We walked the whole arena, on all levels. I stood in the same spot on the main floor where an infinite number of lives were taken. I have to admit this feeling was quite unexpected, and thus even more powerful. I cannot believe that this place is still standing despite the earthquakes and other natural disasters that have occurred over the past thousands of years. After spending some time taking pictures, we left the Colosseum. On Saturday, a group of us are going to Florence. I will write again once I return from the city of “leather!”