Group Photos..............

Our group at Cinque Terre

Our group at Villa Adriana

Our group in Milan at the Galleria

MORE photos.............

I have added photos to each of the posts to show our activities on that day. Here I have included small group photos of our travelers.........

janet

We're BACK.................

It was a long day, but we left our hotel in Milan at 7am (1am EDT), flew to Newark, went through customs, and arrived at Indianapolis on time around 5:15pm EDT. Some students (and chaperones) were met at the airport, and some rode the Ball State bus back to Muncie with me, but all are back safe and sound.

The last day in Italy................

Bryan Williamson being interviewed

Local Street Fair

Local Street Fair

We started our last day in Milan (and Italy!) by going to a street market. A place for locals, not tourists, it was an interesting addition to our travels. We returned to the Galleria area for lunch, and then back for day 2 at the Milan Furniture Fair, or International Salone del Mobile, as it is called in Italy.

One interesting event from yesterday which I forgot.....................a satellite group of the Furniture Fair, called "Perche Design" was interviewing people on their ideas about design in the storefront window of La Rinascente Department Store. They asked one of our students, Bryan Williamson to participate, and he did great! Strangers were photographing and videotaping him! The interviews are podcast, and Bryan can be found at:

http://www.perchedesign.com/intervistati.php?guestid=226

janet

More in Milan

Palm Sunday mass at Del Duome di Milano

Touring Castle Sforza

Castle Sforza

The Galleria

Del Duome di Milano

Sunday the weather turned cool and drizzling rain. We had been lucky weather wise so far. We had a morning tour of the old part of Milan, including the Castle Sforza, the Galleria (the original shopping mall) and their cathedral, Del Duomo di Milano.
After the tour, some students opted to go back to the hotel, while the rest of us stayed in downtown Milan. We saw a Palm Sunday service at the cathedral (received olive branches and went back later to observe more of the structure itself) Some of us (including the chaperones!) climbed to the top of Del Duomo (well, with the help of an elevator!). Incredible view.................! Certainly not ADA compliant, but little we have seen is! Then on to shopping at the Galleria.

janet

Milan

The Milan Furniture Fair, Salone Internazionale del Mobile

The Milan Furniture Fair, Salone Internazionale del Mobile

The students at the Milan Furniture Fair, Salone Internazionale del Mobile

The Milan Furniture Fair, Salone Internazionale del Mobile

Today we left La Spezia and headed to Milan. After checking in at our hotel, we headed to the "Milan Furniture Fair". HUGE (larger than McCormick Place in Chicago!) with endless designer furniture.....................

We had to leave after a few hours though, as we had tickets (hard to come by!) to view The Last Supper by Leonardo DaVinci. It is painted on a wall at the refectory at Santa Maria de Grazie.

Tomorrow, we sightsee in Milan..............

janet

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre

Some of the group in Cinque Terre

We left Florence today (Friday) and headed to La Spezia, a small town near the coast of the Mediteranean. We took a train ride to Cinque Terre, a group of 5 small hill towns on the coast. Incredible! Four of the towns don't even allow cars. We hiked (yes, hiked) from the first to the seconds, and then split up. Some continued to hike, and some got back on the train to explore the other towns.

A BIG change from what we have seen so far, but we couldn't get this close to the coast and not see it!

Tomorrow we head to Milan for the FURNITURE FAIR..................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

janet

Florence!

A view of Florence

A view of Florence

A view of Florence

We were all on our own, and everyone covered the town. From shopping, to Pitti Palace, to Boboli Gardens, to shopping, to climbing to the top of Duomo, to the numerous churches, we kept busy. Did I mention the shopping? There is everything from street markets to the expensive shops on Ponte Vecchio.

A relaxing day (until it came close to when the stores closed!)...............

janet

We arrive in Florence

Duomo Florence

Ponte Vecchio

Our bus leaving Rome for Florence

Today we moved from Rome to Florence. The weather was cooler, and we checked into our hotel (hopefully the shower head will be taller than Brian this time) - wonderful place, with an old world feel, no hustle bustle. More small town european than Rome, which is great. We did our sightseeing - the Academie (with Michelangelo''s David), Duomo (the cathedral in Florence), Ufizzi Gallery (Botecelli's Venus and a exhibit on Leonardo DaVinci) and Ponte Vecchio bridge.

Tomorrow is a free day to explore and shop..........................

janet

Our last day in Rome

Vatican

Vatican

St. Peters

Today was a full day of sight-seeing. We spent the morning at the Vatican Museum, St. Peters and the Sistene Chapel. Amazing! Then we went to a group lunch at Nautilus, a local restaurant, for some great food. After lunch we toured Galleria Borghese, on the grounds of Borghese Gardens. A former villa of the Borghese family, it now exhibits their collection of paintings and sculptures by artists such as Raphael and Bernini. Being interior design students, the places today were incredible to visit in terms of both the art and the architecture. After we were to go to the National Museum (Museo Nazionale Romano), but we were getting pretty tired, so our tour guide, Paolo, suggested instead we visit the Tomb of the Unknown Solider (which is on a hill with an unforgettable view of the Roman Forum and Colosseum) and Piazza Navona. The Piazza is a huge public square, with a Bernini fountain, street artists, lots going on, shops and restaurants. Paolo took us to the best (says he!) gelato place in town, where he recommended the truffle ice cream, and we didn't argue! It was a relaxing end to a busy day.........
The rest of the day and tonight are free for everyone to check out what they may have missed, such as the Pantheon and Spanish Steps (both within walking distance of our hotel).

Tomorrow we leave at 9am (local time - that is 3am EST) for the 3 hour bus ride to Florence (or Firenze, as they say here!).
Thanks for the posts to the blog, and I am relaying the messages. Everyone is doing fine, and seems to be having a great time!

janet

The latest from Rome.......

Our tour guide, Paolo

Lunch in Tivoli

Touring the ruins at Villa Adriana

Touring the ruins at Villa Adriana

Villa Adriana

Our bus tour last evening showed us how incredible the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain look at night! Very impressive...........

Today we headed to Tivoli and Villa Adriana. Villa Adriana was the holiday home of Emperor Hadrian, wh had it built between AD 118-138. He wanted to be surrounded by the architectural marvels he had visited throughout the Roman Empire, so on the 300 acre estate he constructed replicas (as well as temples, theatres, thermal baths, fountains and gardens). It is mostly ruins, but still incredibly impressive! After, we had a group lunch in Tivoli at Ristorante Antiche Terme di Diana. An underground cavern that has been unearthed, it was amazing to visit, and the food was impressive also! We felt like true Italians.........

Tomorrow we head to the Vatican museums and Sistine Chapel, Galleria Borghese and Villa Borghese Gardens for a full day..........

janet

We are in Rome!

Waiting for the plane in the Newark airport

Our bus to take us all over Italy

Our students and chaperones (Janet Fick, Dan Stephenson and Lee Anne Litchfield) made it to Rome! Our flights went well and everything went smoothly. Our private bus and tour guide took us to our hotel (Sunday am in Italy), where we checked in and then had the day free to explore. The weather is beautiful - sunny and 70 degrees! Tonight after dinner our tour guide takes us on a 3 hour tour of Rome at night..........................!


janet