Vici, Part 3: SKYDIVING!

I was really against skydiving. I never had the urge to throw myself out of a plane in the United States so wasn't to excited by the idea of doing it over the Swiss Alps. If my friends weren't so adamant about hurling themselves out of plane 13,000 feet up, I never would have considered it. Especially not for the price I paid.

But they were really adamant. Back in College Park, my friends and I joke about FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). I had a big FOMO about skydiving. I also didn't know what I was going to do with myself for several hours while my friends were parachuting down from the sky. So FOMO got the best of me and I reserved my skydiving spot before we left Rome.

I think my friends thought I was so against it because I was afraid. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared at all but that wasn't the reason I didn't want to do it. The guys you dive with are professionals, who do this over and over all day long. It was the price. I feel like someone should pay me $385 dollars to jump out of a plane over the Swiss Alps and not the other way around, but that wasn't the case. So, $385 dollars later I have an experience that I will never regret nor ever repeat.

The ride to the Scenic!Air airplane carrier was a pretty one. Once again FOMO got the best of me and I ordered the video of me skydiving like my friends. I am so glad I did this. I can't wait to get home and show my friends and family my jump, especially because skydiving is so out of character for me.

We all suited up, looking like astronauts or something out of Top Gun. Unfortunately there was quite a bit of a wait, which didn't help the jitters and increased anticipation. I finally went up in the third plane with Hayley, a friend who is studying in Florence, and a third girl. Hans, my diving partner asked me when I wanted to jump. I said not first and not last because I wouldn't get out of the plane. So I jumped second.

The free fall was the coldest, scariest, longest 45 seconds of my life. I think you are supposed to look up but I looked straight down, watching myself plummet through the clouds to the ground. I don't know if I could even speak or breath but "oh my God! oh my God! oh my God!" kept going through my head or coming out of my mouth. I held my arms out like Hans told me and when the camera was in my face, I gave the thumbs up. I'm still shocked I could manage that.

Forty-five seconds after the jump, or 10 minutes in my mind, Hans pulled the chute and we were floating just below the clouds. I was speechless, even breathless. Hans spun me in a circle but I quickly ended that, barely even able to handle being 13,000 feet about the ground. No tricks for me. The harness was incredibly uncomfortable so he loosened it as we hung out in the air.

I brought my camera on a string around my neck but didn't have a lot of faith in myself to use it out without it falling to the grou. But I did and captured the most breathtaking experience.

Soon enough we were fast approaching the ground and it was over. It was the scariest thing I have ever done but also the most exciting. My friends didn't think I was going to get out of the plane and that I would land in tears. Neither happened. I've been telling people that it felt like an out-of-body experience. Riding up in the plane, I wasn't nervous at all. I was all smiles. I thought I would have been petrified to do anything up in the air, let along take pictures, but I did. When I landed, I couldn't believe that I did it. I felt like someone else did and I was just there watching it all happen. If there is an experience to define "surreal", this was it.

Me and Ilana, ready to jump!

Getting suited up by Hans

On the way up!!

During my dive!

During my dive...there's Hayley!

During my dive...the town below looks so far away!

I LANDED!!!

Telling my camera guy, Andy, that that was the scariest thing I've ever done.

As I relived the dive while I wrote this, I still can't believe I did it! It was an amazing experience that I am so glad I did.

Vidi, Part 5: Switzerland

The nice thing about the internet is that you can disseminate information quickly. So theoretically, my online-journal (a.k.a. this blog) should be the fastest way for you to catch up on my adventures in Europe. But then there is human error and I have a lot of that. I'm sorry that these are so overdue but I promise, the pictures alone are worth it!

I left for Switzerland early in the morning on February 10. Teryn, Courtney, Sarah, Ilana and I went on an organized trip to Interlaken through a company called Bus2Alps. It included a 12-hour bus ride to Interlaken from Rome, accommodations at a hostel, entry to a local bar, a trip leader, and a discount on the extreme activities in Interlaken.

[Side note for Mom: If I don't have a job after college I'm coming back to Europe and working for Bus2Alps. What's better than marketing and sales experience while country-hopping throughout Europe?! You better hope I find a job state-side!!]

We checked in on Friday around 7:30 a.m. at our hostel, Backpackers Villa. Across the street from our hostel was the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel and Spa. We could sit out on our balcony and watch paragliders land as they soared down from the mountain. After we settled down I took a nap due to the lack of sleep I got on the bus (who would have known that coach buses in Italy are MUCH smaller than those in the US). Ilana and Sarah walked over to Outdoor Sports Interlaken to change our SKYDIVING(!!!!!!) time from Saturday to Friday. Once I'd regained enough energy I met them at Utopia cafe, where the owner made fresh sandwiches and filled us in on what to do in Interlaken.

View from our balcony.

After lunch (which was at 10:00 a.m.), everyone wanted to nap before our big jump except for Ilana and I so we strolled around the (very) small town. We drooled over many chocolate shop window displays and took lots of touristy pictures throughout the town.

Chocolate store in Interlaken

Posing in front of the Alps

Typical street in Interlaken.

Skydiving was an adventure to great to relay in this post, it deserves its own. But once we all had our feet safely planted on the ground again, we were exhausted and hungry. The ride back to our hostel was a silent one, while we sat quietly taking in what we had just done and preparing to chow down at Hooters Interlaken.

On Saturday we set out to make our way up to a small town called Murren, about halfway up the Alps. This was quite the process, which included taking a train, riding in a cable car, and hiking, which was the most enjoyable part. I thought I took amazing pictures of the Alps while I was skydiving but my pictures from the hike blew them away.

Church in Interlaken

Panoramic view of the Alps from the top of the cable car

In the Swiss Alps!!!

Sun hiding behind a mountain

As the sun began to set in the Alps, we made our way back to Interlaken for some R&R and fondue before the 12-hour drive back to Rome in the morning (which I turned 21 on!).

Switzerland was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, which would be saying a lot if I was a big-world traveler but my repertoire isn't that big. However, if I were a big world traveler, I'm confident it would still be one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. I wish I could say the same for the people; we had several very unfriendly experiences with the locals. I hope these encounters were simply bad luck, otherwise, this was the best weekend I had abroad so far. To date, I have never done so many cool things or laughed as hard. It was well-worth the 12 hour drive.

Vici, Part 2: Firenze, Day 2

It would be a lie to say we rose with the sun. A far more accurate account would be to say that I rose to my alarm, and everyone else rose as a result of my 3-year brewing, burning desire to go to the San Lorenzo leather market. But if it weren't for me, Courtney, Teryn, Ilana and Sarah would have been waken up by the sounds of parade of clamoring pots, protesting something down our street. Lucky for them.

Before the leather market, we went to the Galleria dell'Accademia. While the Gallery hosts lots of beautiful pieces of artwork, its most famous for Michelangelo's "David", which was carved from one 13 foot-tall slab of marble. Taking pictures of The David is completely forbidden, so of course I'm about to incriminate myself, but I got a great shot!!

Michelangelo's "David"

Onward to the leather market, which was my favorite part of the whole weekend. The last time I was here, I didn't do a lot of bartering. My parents bought me a purse (and I found the stand that I got it from again!) and a wallet. This time, I was in the market to shop, and to get a lot for my money. I got a leather jacket, originally intended to be 250 euros, for 100 euros. I also got a leather bag (which still retains that new, rich leather smell) for 60 euro, a couple of wallets for 15 euro each, and several pashminas. The one thing I wish I bought but ran out of time for, as my friends had less of a desire to shop than I did, is leather gloves. I guess I'll just have to go back!!

San Lorenzo leather market

As in the United States, shopping works up an appetite. We had lunch at a restaurant near our hostel called "The Diner", which we walked by several times, drooling over the smell of greasy, American diner food. Inside it was a cosy nook in the wall, filled with American students nursing their hangovers with omelettes and bacon. I actually ordered and omelette for the first time in my life! (Nota bene: Soup is not The Diner's strong point, so just steer clear. Broccoli and cheddar was more like broccoli puree.)

Recharged and ready to go, we walked to the Ponte Vecchio. The Ponte Vecchio spans the Arno River and is famously-known for the shops that line it. Originally, these shops were all occupied by butchers but today the Ponte Vecchio is home to many jewelers and offers some of the best window shopping in Italy. Although I didn't buy anything on the Ponte Vecchio, I picked plenty of things out that I would happily own!

The Ponte Vecchio

Lots of jewelry!!

View of the Arno River

Ilana, Me, Teryn, Courtney and Sarah at the midpoint of the Ponte Vecchio

After a day of sightseeing and shopping we went back to dinner at my absolute favorite restaurant in all of Italy: Aqua Al 2. We met one of Ilana and I's sorority sisters and two of Sarah's, and the ate of use enjoyed a multiple course meal and lots of house wine. I had been telling Teryn about this restaurant ever since we talked about studying abroad in Italy. I went with my family three years ago per the advising of my cousin Caitlin, who studied in Florence. I waited for three years to get the balsamic steak again, advising anybody and everybody to go to this restaurant while they were in Florence. As dinnertime approached, I was nervous I hyped it up too much for my friends. When everything was cleared from the table and we sat there, satisfyingly full, everyone reassured my that my hype was worth it.

Filetto all'Aceto Balsamico!!!!!

We introduced ourselves to our waiter, Velentino, who happened to be our waiter at The Diner, and is a part-owner of both restaurants. We told him we are from Washington, D.C., where the third and newest Aqua Al 2 location just opened. If you aren't lucky enough to eat at Aqua Al 2 in Florence, you better make your way to the DC location. I know that will be one of my first meals back in DC!!

After eating at Aqua Al 2, the rest of our time in Florence pales in comparison. Visiting Florence made me appreciate studying in Rome so much more. In Florence, I couldn't turn the corner without seeing an American girl in yoga pants and sneakers, and I heard much more English on the streets than Italian. Although Florence is considered the most cultural city in Italy (or so says my Italian professor), it felt too small and too American for me. It was a nice break from the bustle of Rome, but I was glad when we pulled in to Stazione Termini.

Vici, Part 1: Firenze, Day 1

This post is long overdue. Turns out only having class three days a week leaves one with lots of free time, which usually is not spent on the computer.

I'll begin by saying why the Florence posts are titled "vici" rather than "veni" or "vici" (and as a former latin student and somewhat self-proclaimed nerd about these things, it is pronounced "weni, widi, wici"). I'm still in the midst of figuring out Rome and am just now, one month later, beginning to feel like I've conquered some parts of it. Florence is much smaller though, and in less than 48 hours I was very comfortable in my surroundings and knew my way around quite well. Additionally, I conquered some tourist attractions and some really, really good food.

Now to begin our weekend.

Very early on February 3, Teryn, Courtney, Ilana, Sarah and I made our way to Stazione Termini to catch the 7:30 a.m. slow train from Rome to Florence, with an anticipated cost of 17 euro. With five minutes to spare we approached the ticket counter only to learn that there is no 17 euro train at 7:30 a.m. and that the next would be departing at 9:40 a.m. So we waited.

It took four hours to get to Florence but it felt much longer. Once we were off the train at the Santa Maria Novella train station, we bought a map from a cart, which proved to be less necessary in Florence than a map is in Rome. All we had to do was walk straight down Via Panzani/Via de'Cerratani, which dumps you at the foot of The Duomo. From there it was a short walk down Via del Proconsolo to our hostel.

The Duomo

I found the hostel through hostelworld.com, the student-traveler's lodging bible. I booked a hostel for five people, called Alex House. I highly recommend it to others, even families. It was a two bedroom apartment with a kitchen, bathroom (with a modern shower!!) and balcony. Our accommodations were more charming than expected, and being our first stay in a hostel, the Alex House has skewed our view of all other hostels. It was a little more expensive than a typical hostel (22 euro per night versus the usual 15-17 euro) but well worth it. It was a really quick walk from both The Duomo and The Ponte Vecchio. The address is Via Borgo dei Greci, 13 for anyone who might be interested in staying there.

Lucky for us the Florence chocolate festival was going on just up the road from our hostel during our visit. I'm not a huge chocolate lover, so to me, chocolate is chocolate. However, some of the chocolatiers did some pretty cool things with their goods.

Chocolate pumps!

After sitting for so long on the train, our legs were itching to get moving. They certainly got what they asked for. We walked to Piazza del Duomo to take in some of Florence's most famous architectural marvels.

Lorenzo Ghiberti's "Gates of Paradise"

Partial Inside of the Duomo

The Duomo was beautiful and all, but the view from the top of The Duomo bell tower was the real show stopper. Four-hundred and fourteen steps later, Florence was sprawled out before us. The view was well worth the 6 euro and the butt work out.

Duomo Bell Tower

Panoramic view of Florence from the top of the Bell Tower

Florence from 414 (narrom) steps up

After our climb we were so tired and recharged our batteries with some nachos, burritos and margheritas at Tijuana's. We showered, suited up for a night on the town, and then crashed, ready to do it all again the next day.

Vidi, Part 4: A Day in Old Rome

A Day in Old Rome was the name of one of my Roman history books for Latin class in high school. As much as I like reading The Aeneid and The Odyssey, I loved reading DinOR, as we called it.

My favorite part about The Eternal City is that it is eternal. I love the ancient ruins and the history-laden streets. It is cool to think that the water coming from a fountain on a street corner was likely once water from an acqueduct.

Teryn, Courtney and I don't have any classes on Thursday, so last Thursday we set out to explore ancient Rome. We covered Trajan's and the other emporers' forums leading up to the Colosseum, the Colosseum, the Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. Several hours and 12 euro later we were exhausted and hungry, but it was well worth it.

Our first stop was Trajan's forum. Not much remains in this forum except for Trajan's column, but that is pretty remarkable.

Trajan's Column

Next was the Colosseum, built in 72 BCE. The name of the amphitheater comes from a colossal statue of Nero. Since the amphitheater compared in size to Nero's statue, it garnered the name "The Colosseum". During ancient times, the Colosseum was used for gladiator fights, mock sea battles, executions and other public spectacles. It was a place of entertainment for the Romans. In its prime it held 50,000 spectators and seating was indication of class, with the poor being all the way at the top. A portion of the top layers is missing due to earthquakes and stone-pillage. Today the most well-preserved features are the alleys along the hypogeum, where gladiators and animals were snuck in and out of the arena. (Nota Bene: The hypogeum was the wood that covered the alleys. It was covered with sand, for which the Latin word is 'arena'.) At some point the Colosseum became a religious place, and a cross can be seen inside. Now the structure serves as a tourist attraction, piece of history and very cool backdrop for concerts.

Walking up to the Colosseum

Courtney, Me and Teryn in the Colosseum

Panoramic view of the Colosseum, including the hypogeum and alleyways down below

We then made our way to the Palatine Hill, which Caesar Augustus called home. Here you can find his lavish private paths, a prime view of the Circus Maximus, and the Palatine Hill Museum. I visited Augustus' palace the last time I was in Rome and expected to be the tour guide for my roommates. However, we visited parts of the palace I had never seen that resulted in amazing arial views of the Roman Forum.

One of Augustus' courtyards

One of Augustus' baths

View of the Roman Forum from the top if the Palatine Hill

Our last stop and my favorite place in Rome was the Roman Forum. A forum is a center for cultural life, often including religious and political buildings, as well as shops and markets. Many emperors had their own forums, but the Roman Forum was the biggest and the best. Most of it is just ruins today, but some crucial buildings are still partially standing like the Atrium Vestae (House of the Vestels), the Temple of Romulus, the Temple of Antonius and Faustina (it later became the Roman Catholic church of San Lorenzo in Miranda), the Temple of the Vestel Virgins, the Temple of Saturn and the Arch of Septimius Severus.

I don't remember the historical significance of all the ruins that remain, but below each picture you can read what I do remember.

At left, the Temple of the Vestel Virgins. Here the Sacred Fire of the Vesta burned. At right, the Atrium Vestae, where 50-or-so Vestel Virgins lived.

Temple of Romulus

Temple of Antonius and Faustina. The raised green door and cross atop the building are indications of its transformation into a Catholic church.

Remains of the Temple of Saturn

View of the Forum from the Via Sacra.

Arch of Septimius Severus

There may not be a lot left in ancient Rome, but there is still a lot to be seen.