Chapin in Italia

Roma: Forum RomanumToday We . . .trekked across Rome to the Capitoline Museum. We checked out some crazy cool statues starting off with the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius (the replica outside as well as the real deal inside). Some other highlights were the Romulus and Remus sculpture with their “she wolf” mother, and the temple of Jupiter…or the remnants of it. After visiting the Capitoline museums, we strolled about the forum. We saw the temple of the Vestal Virgins, the arch of Titus, and made some flower garlands for our luscious locks. The Colosseum was our next stop on “the fun bus”. After climbing to the top, we compared different levels of preservation of the north and south sections. The northern side was built on bedrock hence its height. Sadly, we dashed off (left wanting more) to meet up with a past Chapin teacher, Fra’ Elie de Comminges. He showed us an insider’s glance at The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta. The entrance was a convincing optical illusion that enlarges Saint Peter’s Basilica through crafty shrubbery. As one approaches the end of the viney mass, the Basilica becomes smaller. Since we ended a little early that day, we concluded by stretching out at a nearby park (Parco Savello, by Santa Sabina), and the Circus Maximus (where some of us chatted with local students). It was both an exhausting, and productive day.

Best Food/Pizza: The panino we had for lunch, which we discovered from venturing out on our own in Piazza Venezia (at Bar Cin Cin).

Best Gelato: We had favorites ranging from the chocolate to the stracciatella (vanilla with chocolate chips). A new flavor we tried today was nutella, all at Bar Brasile off Piazza Venezia on the corner of Via del Corso.

Best Caffè: Today wasn’t much of a caffè day.

Frase Italiana del giorno: Andiamo! = let’s go (a phrase we heard a lot today)