Sette

Last Tuesday night (1/24) my school took us to the opera! As a music student I am required to go and write a review of the show (though of course I would have gone anyway!). Our seats were amazing and I had no trouble seeing the sensational opera. It was an fantastic modern update of Rossini's "Viaggio a Reims." Highlights include: an actual pool on stage, fantastic voices, amazing scenery, lots of humor, and super-titles only in Italian! Luckily my music history professor explained the plot to us the week before. Ok! I better go work on my review (it is due on Thursday) Stay tuned for pics from my trip to Rome this past weekend!

Sei

For my Italy, Europe, and the European Union class we took a little field trip around the corner from the school. Though you probably can't tell from these pictures, this very nice apartment complex actually used to be a prison! It was converted into very classy apartments, restaurants, and an exhibition space. Which leads me to the reason behind the field trip. This past Friday (January 27) was International Holocaust Remembrance Day - a holiday that seems to be given more attention in Europe than in the US. The exhibit (2nd picture) was on the life and trial of Adolf Eichmann, a Nazi officer tried in Jerusalem. It was a very detailed exhibit and the information was well presented. In both my EU class and Italian language class we discussed Eichmann, the Holocaust, and WWII. I realized that there is a profound sense of guilt that still permeates Europe, and especially Italy.

Cinque

My program, Sarah Lawrence College organizes a copious amount of trips for its students. The first two photos are from a field trip we went on to the Teatro della Pergola on Friday. I am going there again tonight for a concert (free tickets from SLC!). The next photos are from an Art History trip we took yesterday. In order: the Piazza dei Medici; the Basilica of San Lorenzo; outside the Medici library (you can see the Duomo in the background); inside the Medici library. You may notice that the church of San Lorenze looks rather ugly on the outside. That is because Michelangelo - who was commissioned to make the facade - got another, better paying offer elsewhere (by the same family - the Medici) and so left the church unfinished. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take pictures inside the church, which was designed by Brunelleschi. However, I can assure you it was breathtaking.

Quattro

The first picture is the view from my window in my host family's apartment. The name of the street my room overlooks is called Viale Giuseppe Mazzini. The second photo is of my bedroom, and the third of my special Company B bear some of you may recognize : )

Tre

These are pictures of the beautiful walled city of Lucca - a town about an hour outside of Florence. We had the good fortune to spend the weekend here for our orientation. Activities included a guided tour of the city, a walk on the famous wall, a climb to the tallest tower, a visit to an old palace, museums, churches, and galleries. The last picture portrays the first pizza I ate in Italy. It was deliziosa!

Due

This is the Church of Santa Croce, which is the namesake of the street and town where my school is located. Most of my classes are less than 20 feet from this magnificent piece of architecture. More pics of this area and all of Florence to come!