A little more than a week ago, I never could have imagined we would see and experience some of the things we have in the last few days. Eating octopus and swordfish, exploring two-thousand-year-old ruins, wandering through cities and hiking mountains… it’s been an amazing adventure! Italy is such an incredible country, and almost every day we’ve been here has been better and more beautiful than the last.
We’re still in the “classical” phase of the trip, so the sights we’ve explored have mostly been from ancient Greek and Roman history. Last Wednesday we left Agrigento for Syracuse, and on the way we stopped at a 4th-century Roman villa with the largest collection of classical mosaics anywhere in the world. In Syracuse and Taormina, we visited crumbling temples and enormous Greek theaters. This country has such an amazingly rich history, and I’m finding it fascinating to actually visit the places and monuments we studied in class earlier this semester!
Now that we’ve gotten over our jet lag, most of us are adjusting to the slower Italian pace of life. In America, many people seem to rush through their days and their lives, seldom taking the time to just relax and enjoy the day. Here, businesses close at midday, and people take a few hours just to eat, rest, and enjoy their time with the people they love. A few days ago, a few friends and I gave it a try. We sat outside at a restaurant by the water, talking and eating, barely noticing the three hours that passed us by. This entire lifestyle is truly incredible, and a part of me wishes me never had to leave!
For me—and, I know, for many others—the highlight of the trip has been Taormina. The city was built into the side of a mountain, and our hotel had the kind of view poets used to write about. Mount Etna towers over the horizon, covered in snow, almost too beautiful to be real. As the sun sets, stars and city lights burn against the darkening sky, and the Mediterranean Sea spreads off into eternity. It is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen, and words and pictures can never begin to capture it. Honestly, I don’t think anything can ever top that experience… but I’ve said that before on this trip and been proven wrong. I just can’t get over how amazing this country is! Now, we’ve left Sicily and arrived in mainland Italy, and I can’t wait to see what adventures await us in the days and weeks to come!
– Brian
Blog Team
Italy 2012
