(Credit: www.dailymail.co.uk)
It was pretty cool at first, but things got annoying fast. All of my museums were closed, my monuments were closed, it was cold, wet, slushy, windy, cloudy. Let's just say I didn't pack the right materials and Rome wasn't handling things very well. Snow removal consists of 3 guys smoking cigarettes with spade shovels and a truck full of dirt.
Things were so bad (please, sense my sarcasm) that our school had to cancel classes last Monday. Apparently, there was ice on the ground or something. Our school president had this to say about the snowpocalypse, "True chaos was seen on Friday, and yesterday and today Rome has pratically come
to a halt."
As if it weren't bad enough already, it snowed again last weekend! There was little I could do this time but join in hibernation with my roommates Anthony and Adam. Rome had closed museums just in anticipation of the snow. That had me frustrated. Joe, on the other hand, was courageous enough to leave the comforts of home and venture to Naples and Sorrento. Although very cold and rainy, Joe says he had a good time.
Adam and I toyed with the idea going to Viterbo last weekend, a nearby medieval town with natural hot springs in the surrounding country side. Unfortunately, the town had shut down completely and there was no longer any practical way to get to the hot springs. Ultimately, I spent the weekend couped up on the couch with a hot bowl of chili watching the snow fall. The snowpocalypse-round-two gave me enough time to read Brave New World. One of the greatest books I've ever read.
Although Italians hadn't managed the snow-fall very well, they sure had enjoyed themselves. They took to the streets, blocking traffic, and were visiting all of their own monuments now covered in snow. It was the first time in a while that the area around the Colosseum and the Pantheon was inhabited by more Romans than tourists. It was pleasant to see and it felt good to be enjoying the same thing as the locals. In some way, the snow temporarily bridged a gap between Romans and Americans, normally filled by a general, unfortunately entitled, distaste for tourists.
If you would like an Italian, 21st century look at the snowpocalypse, visit this facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/Nevearoma?sk=wall&filter=2.
Alas, this week brought good news. The weather has been beautiful! The sun has been shining and I have been able to get back to what I love: wandering the streets of Rome, going to museums, and drawing statues. Our art class met outside Castello Di Sant Angelo and our task was to draw the 10 baroque angel statues designed by Bernini on the adjacent bridge. We were just happy to be in the sun again. Here are two of my favorites.
I haven't blogged in a while. In all honesty, there has been very little to write about. Unfortunately, the snow really did bring things to a halt here. There are a couple of events I would like to highlight when I get the chance. So, stay tuned!
