MATERA [30] July 19th, 2008

I have been in Matera since Monday now. I do not have long on the internet, but will try to update tomorrow. We only get to use the internet (albeit free) in the morning. The moustach-man at the hostel is quite controlling, or not so understanding, whichever.

Update: Back to where I left off in Rome....

After we were rained on beside the Colosseum, explored around the Forum Romanum, trying to find a low spot in the fence and failing, and spotted local Romans running around the remains of the Circus Maximus for sport, we ambled back to our hostel and ate a deliciously pasta and wine filled meal at a nearby ristorante. Guy headed back to his hostel, which I think I mentioned was the one I stayed at a few years ago, and we all agreed to meet up for breakfast the next morning.

Disclaimer: There is something I should mention about Italy. When you go out for dinner, or stay in for dinner, the wine is cheaper than water. So if I mention consuming a lot of wine, it is not because we are all habituals, but only because I am trying to conserve money.

Continuing on: The next day (June 13th, I think) we actually paid to go into the Forum. This is both unfortunate and fortunate. Last year and every year before it, the Forum had no admission fee, but now, it is included on the combined ticket for the Colosseum, the Palantine Hill, Domitian's Palace (which includes the Domus Augustana and the Domus Flaviana), the Farnese Gardens, and the newly restored House of Augustus. In fact, the House of Augustus is open to the public for the very first time.

So imagine a bunch of well-trained Classicists wandering around a Classicist Mecca with some Australian Guy, examining every bit of exposed marble, mosaic floor, architraves, inscription. That was pretty much what it was like. Chris lectured a lot, in a good way, about what everything was and we had plenty of theoretical discussions about what things would have should have looked like, way back in the day. It was fabulous.

After we tired of the Forum and environs, we walked around the Vittorio Emanuel II monument and up towards the Pantheon of Marcus Agrippa, where we dined in the square on delicious Caprese salads and strange pizza with olives, meat, and eggs as toppings. We saw the Fountain of Trevi and the Spanish steps before we returned to the hostel to collect our newest group member, Mike (aka Fergie, Spilly, Chewy, Slow Fish). Guy returned to his hostel earlier than usual, and we ate dinner and drank delicious Barolo wine (Heather: I think it was the Coste di Rose Barolo 2003). We attempted to find a park where we could drink more wine (since drinking in the hostel is prohibited and drinking in bars is very expensive, even if the wine is cheaper than water), but since no one was particularly familiar with the area around Termini, we ended up near some military thingy. Now we know that the park is beyond the base...but since we were ignorant, we found a circular fountain and uncorked our wine.

Disclaimer: It is very legal to drink in public in Europe, in particular Paris, Rome, and the rest of Italy/France.

Dave, Mike, Laura Minore, and I continued drinking by the fountain long after everyone else had left, and Mike had not yet been to the Colosseum, so having finished the majority of Dave's bottle of duty-free whiskey, we headed off across Rome, which is very safe at night, to the Forum again. The colosseum is very beautiful, illuminated, at night. And I must admit, it was quite a sight.

The next day (June 14th, 2008) we met early to eat breakfast but had to wait for Zeyd to cash some travellers checks at American Express, which is open only very strange hours. Then we explored the Piazza del Popola and ate lunch at the Villa Borgehese, which had very beautiful gardens.

We saw the Ara Pacis and the Mausoleum of Augustus (from the outside only, because it seemed to be closed off from the public). We also tried to see the fountain at the Piazza Nuvona, but it was under construction, which disappointed Zeyd tremendously. A lot of things in Europe are under construction or renovation. If there is scaffolding on a building, the building is not susceptible to property tax, so this would explain it.

We walked along the Tiber up to the Castello San Angelo, which had formerly been the Mausoleum of Hadrian, and took the Metro from the Vatican back to our hostel. Chris paid what is referred to as *stupid tax*, by donating money to 'stop the drug use of children in Rome' or something.

That night we went on a pub crawl as organized by the Yellow Hostel and went to a few local student joints and a few dance clubs. Jess became separated from the group, but was able to find her way home (with the help of kind 'religious people', I don't know more, she doesn't want to talk about it, who paid for her taxi back from the centro storico). It was strange, because our group is quite good at making sure everyone stays together and is safe (see below).

The next morning was our train to Mater, but I think the excitement of that story should be left for tomorrow. I hope this blog post finds you all well, I am if you are!

Yours cheerfully (Ciao!),

Laura


I would like to wish Happy Birthday to Kathering "Kiff" Smith who is celebrating her birthday today with us, as we travel to Metaponto, Heraclea, and hopefully a gorgeous beach on the Adriatic Sea!