Busy Week

     Less than two weeks to go now and the pressure is definitely on.  Weather on Monday prevented us from getting the last of our B-Roll, but we were able to find some archived media that we can use.  On top of that, our script is starting to come together, so once we get those last few shots we should be in good shape.   
     Although we still have almost 40% of our trip left, it seems like the end is almost here.  These last dozen days are going to be the busiest of all with editing now underway.  With any luck though, we will be able to finish a little early and get to enjoy the last days here away from the work.  All in all, while it seems like there isn’t that much time left, there’s still plenty to see and do for me. 

Change of Pace

     After a busy week, it was nice to get away for the weekend.  Even though I had never been to Florence, I’d already heard from plenty of people how amazing it was.  They definitely weren’t wrong.  While Florence is still fairly large, it was far more laid-back than Rome.  The streets seemed newer, walkways weren’t as densely packed, and the overall mood was way more relaxed compared to the capital. 
     Of course, being in Florence, I had to see the David.  While the detail in the statue was impressive, I think I spent more time checking out the rest of the small museum where it was located.  The musical instrument section had a few interactive displays and the wing with the statue had other works by Michelangelo, though these were far less impressive. 
     On top of all this, we all got a chance to do some exploring.  I ventured through a huge outdoor market that spanned a few streets.  Later on, I got to see the Duomo, which was really cool from the outside.  If the line wasn’t so long, I would have gone in.  All in all the trip was a nice change of pace for a couple days that I definitely needed.

Around the Vatican

     As it turns out, 551 steps is a lot more than it seems.  That’s the lesson I learned today climbing to the top of Saint Peter’s Basilica.  However, while the trek up was exhausting, the view at the end made it all worthwhile.  Before the ascent, I got a chance to walk around the basilica, which was very impressive in its own right.  The best part?  Compared to the first time we all went to the Vatican earlier in the week, there was virtually no line to get in.  I guess it shows that you really are better off coming earlier, because had we gone in the afternoon, it would have taken an hour just to get in the doors. 
     So, instead of waiting in line, we got a chance to explore the Vatican Museums.  The collection that was on display was immense, ranging all the way back to Ancient Rome (including a random head of Constantine in one of the courtyards).  It was also really cool to see Raphael’s “School of Athens”, which I had seen in textbooks before, but never in person. 

Interview Day

    As I predicted the other day, things are definitely picking up here.  Two interviews in a day in different ends of the city was exhausting, but very productive.  After walking across the bridge the Castel Sant’Angelo the day before, it was pretty cool to see everything from along the river.  Besides the occasional ambulance siren the setting provided some great shots and plenty of footage for the documentary.  Towards the end of the interview, it started to get a little cloudy so the lighting was lower than before.  Luckily, this shouldn’t interfere too much with the final video.
      Strangely enough, we had the opposite problem later in EUR, where the second interview took place atop an eleven thirteen story building.  Our location had a panoramic view of the entire neighborhood, with clear views towards all of the major buildings.  While I was up there, it was really cool to get another view of EUR.  Getting off the train, there’s just small offices and buildings that are still under construction.  But with such a great view, I was able to see way more than my two previous trips. 

Rain and Pasta

     Down below the city, the ancient catacombs extend for multiple kilometers.  Back in the day, these caves were used as tombs for people of all ages and economic status.  While certain older parts were closed off due to deterioration, the open area was still a tremendous sight.  At the same time, it was kind of eerie to be walking around what was once a massive grave. 
     Sadly, due to rain, our scheduled interviews have been postponed, but at least we all got some rest this afternoon.  Tonight, a bunch of us went to a restaurant near the edge of Trastevere.  The food (pictured above), was one of the more unique dishes I’ve seen and was well worth the trip.  Overall today provided another reminder of how while we may be here to make these documentaries, we have all learned and experienced just as much from personal exploration as we have from interviews and filming.

Off and Running

     Admittedly, these first couple weeks have been relatively laid back.  But today, I could tell we were all starting to rev things up.  When I woke up and saw the rain outside, I figured it was the start of a very long day.  Climbing up to get to the American Academy in Rome (not to be confused with AIRC or American University in Rome), my gut reaction remained the same.  Though somewhere near the top of the hill, things started to shift.
     As the day went on, the rain began to clear, giving great conditions for shooting.  Professor Brennan from AAR was enlightening and gave some great answers to our questions; we even came away with more than we expected in some cases.  After shooting, we all had a chance to check out the amazing views around the hill before heading down into Trastevere.  This week looks to be as busy as ever between multiple interview days, classes, and more production work, but I don’t think it’s anything we can’t handle.

Acclimation

    Any time you visit a new place, there’s always a time of adjustment to get used to a new environment.  These two weeks have been a major acclimation period for me; new streets, new culture; new people.  While I still have a lot to learn about my surroundings, I’m starting to get used to the major areas we’ve been frequenting lately.  With each day, I have also started to get a better handle on the Italian language.  Though I am nowhere near fluency, I am at the point where I know most basic phrases and some other random vocabulary.
    By the end of this trip, I hope to have a much firmer grasp of the language and a few nearby backstreets that still all look the same.  In the meantime, I hope to get a little bit more out of my comfort zone, at least to experience local culture a more than I have already.  The combination of these things would give me a much better understanding of Rome and probably make things even more fun.

Tracing History

    Just beyond the Colosseum, the Church of Saint Clement is tucked within the middle of a simple street.  Within its walls, the church goes underground multiple levels, with each level dating back centuries.  On the main and most recent floor, the current church can be seen.  The walls were fairly plain, but the ceiling was very impressive. 
    Down below, you can trace the history of the building all the way back to 100 AD.  Going from level to level, it was incredible to see how this one area has changed, and how that change reflects what happened throughout Rome.  On the bottom floor (at least what has been excavated), you can see a mithraic temple.  This was very different from the one I saw at Ostia, where there is a full statue of Mithras.  Above that, there are frescos depicting the life of St. Clement, who was also the fourth Pope. 
    The most amazing thing about this site is how as the city changed and was built over, so was the church.  Each part of this place has been built over as Rome’s elevation has risen.  With each addition, a new chapter of the church’s history can be seen.  I can only wonder what it will look like in a few centuries, where the current church may soon join the rest of the building underneath a new, more contemporary setting.

Ostia Antica

    While arguably the most famous ruins in the world lie in Pompei, it turns out there are still incredible remains only a short distance from Rome in Ostia. At one point, Ostia was one of the Roman Empire’s great economic centers.  
    Even after all these years, there are still signs of a once great city.  The remaining buildings suggest a culture of commerce and wealth, at least until trade moved up the coast.  The structures that still somewhat stand show how Ostia was very much like Rome, consisting of a diverse and advanced people who were crucial to the success of the Empire.  On top of that, without Ostia, Rome would have been more vulnerable and less wealthy due to the lack of what was a major port.
    However, as amazing as these ruins can be, they may not have much time left to be seen.  Ever since they were excavated, the remains have shown signs of wear.  On top of that (or underneath, for that matter), plants and trees have dug themselves into the ancient walls, making the entire area immensely fragile. 

Reflection

    If someone had told me I’d be celebrating my 21st birthday in a foreign country with people I had only met a week before, I never would have believed it.  And yet, I now that it’s happened, I couldn’t picture it any other way. 
    A few months ago, I didn’t know anybody on this trip, but a lot has changed since we landed in Rome.  Among those is the thought that while most of us were complete strangers not long ago, we’ve all gotten along great.
    Over the next three and a half weeks, I get the feeling that things will only continue to get better.  While this dialogue may end in a few weeks, everything else that started here will continue on even when we’re all back in the US. 

Ready, Set, Go

    After a week of getting to know Rome up close, it’s time to get down to business.  While plenty of pre-production work had already been done, it was nice to get out into the field and start filming.  The sun was a bit brighter than ideal, but there we were able to compensate for the most part. 
    Today’s filming was in various parts of EUR.  Starting at the Square Colosseum, we tried to encapsulate the entire neighborhood.  Along with Mussolini’s obelisk, it provided a great location to show how EUR is set up as a whole.  We managed to get plenty of shots at each place and even at some that weren’t on our original shot list.  With any luck, we’ll be able to put most of them to good use over the next few weeks. 
    Walking through the neighborhood, it was easy to see what Mussolini’s fascist government hoped to create for the exhibition.  All of the architecture was of the same style:  very simple, but with a somewhat classic touch.  It was kind of odd walking down one of the streets and have all of the buildings look almost identical.  At every corner, there was some sort of rectangular, columned structure.  Though the shape of these places is similar to more ancient buildings, the style is much plainer and “rational”.

Weekend Getaway

    After spending about a week in the city, it was nice to get out to the coast for awhile.  The first half of the day seemed to last forever.  We had a two hour train out of Termini and then another hour or so from Napoli to Sorrento.  Once we got there, it took some time to find the beach, but the sight of the ocean from the cliffs was amazing. 
    The “beach” (lounge chairs on a pier) was incredible, with our view facing the cliffs.  While the sun got the best of me in the end, the day was still great.  Sorrento provided an interesting comparison to Rome.  Both cities have a historic vibe, but just like any town compared to the big city, Sorrento seemed a lot calmer.  People weren’t in such a rush and most people were in a good mood. 
    Even the hostel we stayed at was better than expected.  There was some live music going on and the building itself was pretty nice.  It gave everyone a chance to rest up and get ready for our return trip the next day.  Before this trip, I had already heard of how beautiful the Amalfi Coast was, but to see it for myself was an unforgettable experience.  If I ever get the chance, I’d like to explore some other parts of the coast.  I’ve heard each part has its own quirks that make it stand out, and as good as the beach was, I’d like to see more of the scenic views as well.

Walking into the Past

    Having read about Ancient Rome countless times in history books, it was incredible for me to be able to visit what was essentially the oldest part of the city.  To stand in the same place as some of the earliest Romans did almost 3000 years ago was a tremendous experience.  On top of that, just thinking about how long those structures have been around really shows how advanced they were as a people.  I also applaud the efforts of modern Romans in their preservation and restoration of this historic site. 
    Standing on the Palatine Hill where Rome was said to have been originally founded, I looked out and saw the massive city it has become over the millennia.  It was almost surreal as I stood at the oldest point looking out to some of the newer areas.  At the same time, as much as we may know about these people, there are still some mysteries left to be answered.  Nonetheless, from what I have learned, there are still many parallels from then to now.
    Much like other major capitals, Ancient Rome was a hotspot for politics, business, and everything else.  The people had a multitude of ups and downs with their government and those with power were eager to show it.  However, the key to everything was the regular people who kept it running and determined who was fit to lead them.

Greetings from Rome

    Walking through Rome, one can’t help but notice the immense connection between the city and its ancient heritage. Even after four days,  I am still amazed by the sight of these classic buildings and old ruins mixed in amidst a bustling, modern metropolis.  In a sense, the city is somewhat of a living museum with enough exhibits to keep someone occupied for longer than I will be here. 
    Having grown up learning about the history of Rome all the way back to the Roman Empire, it has been incredible to see everything up close.  At the same time, despite my previous knowledge, there is still even more that I have learned in the past week.  Up until yesterday, I can’t recall having even heard of the Etruscans.  Now, I have great appreciation for their past, and see a lot of parallels between their traditions and habits compared to our own.  Even back then, there were a multitude of rituals, a sense of equality, and a desire for whatever is seen as the best or most popular.
    So far, there is still a lot for me to learn about the city, its people, its culture, and its past.  In the past few days though, I’ve learned a lot about each, even gaining some familiarity with my surroundings.  Over the next four weeks, I hope to see and learn even more, but know that even after five weeks, there will still be even more left.  This blog will act as a means of conveying my experience here and hopefully inform or entertain whoever may stumble across it.